JOE HENDERSON
Mode For Joe (Blue Note)
Reviewed by Ron Saranich

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Mode For Joe is the last of Joe Henderson's five Blue Note albums; all are uniformly excellent. Originally recorded in 1966, when Henderson was a member of the Horace Silver Quintet, Mode For Joe has just been rereleased as part of Blue Note's Rudy Van Gelder Edition series featuring remastered 24-bit resolution.

For this recording, Henderson was joined by a group of young musicians, all with talent to burn. Featuring Henderson on tenor saxophone, the rest of the group included Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, Cedar Walton on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums. These superb musicians complimented each other's playing, inspiring passionate, furious, and remarkably inventive solos.

The songs on Mode For Joe are all original compositions by Henderson, Walton, and Morgan. For me, the summation of Henderson's Blue Note years is Walton's title song, "Mode For Joe." From the opening note, Henderson demanded the listener's attention, obviously profoundly inspired by Walton's lyrical number. His solo was a model of 60s modal, semi-free playing. Next up was Hutcherson for a scorching vibes solo followed by a trombone statement so flawlessly articulated it demonstrates why Fuller was considered the heir apparent to the great J.J. Johnson. Carter, Walton, and Morgan all played perfectly, concise and taut.

Good music is for all time, never going out of fashion. Mode For Joe is vintage Henderson, recorded during one of his most creative periods in his long, wonderful career. All his Blue Note music is essential, but with remastered sound, Mode For Joe is a must buy, guaranteed to bring you endless listening pleasure.

© 2003 - Ron Saranich