Joe Henderson
Our Thing
★★★½
Joe returns to Blue Note with a star studded lineup and a promising album. The avant and ever powerful, Andrew Hill. The flavorful and inspiring drummer, Pete La Roca. The bassist Eddie Khan, and trumpeter Kenny Dorham. I'd argue that at certain points it's almost as if Dorham takes charge, and three of his compositions are played out on this album.
And when it comes to these compositions I like to think that Henderson's reign supreme. The songs by Dorham, which include "Pedro's Time", "Back Road", and "Escapade", all have a similar feel to them. They seem a bit sluggish and like to borrow off other popular songs. I do think that "Escapade" is the best of them, as Joe really puts his soul into that piece, bringing some real life.
Throughout the album actually, this rhythm section kills it. Hill and Roca paint beautiful landscapes with their keys and drum sticks. And Eddie Khan is there the whole time to center it all out. In a lot of ways I'd argue that the rhythm section is better than the two horn players; which I don't say often. They shine brightly on the two Henderson joints too, "Teeter Totter" and "Our Thing".
"Teeter Totter" is a high energy bluesy opener that opens up the listener to the large variety that they'll hear not only in this album but in all the music created by this quintet. I love the high pressure exchanges held on "Our Thing" and Hill puts all he has in the keys to make it swing in its own unique way. I just wish the majority of this was like those Henderson pieces, maybe it would feel a bit more cohesive and interesting to me.
Favorite Song: Teeter Totter
And when it comes to these compositions I like to think that Henderson's reign supreme. The songs by Dorham, which include "Pedro's Time", "Back Road", and "Escapade", all have a similar feel to them. They seem a bit sluggish and like to borrow off other popular songs. I do think that "Escapade" is the best of them, as Joe really puts his soul into that piece, bringing some real life.
Throughout the album actually, this rhythm section kills it. Hill and Roca paint beautiful landscapes with their keys and drum sticks. And Eddie Khan is there the whole time to center it all out. In a lot of ways I'd argue that the rhythm section is better than the two horn players; which I don't say often. They shine brightly on the two Henderson joints too, "Teeter Totter" and "Our Thing".
"Teeter Totter" is a high energy bluesy opener that opens up the listener to the large variety that they'll hear not only in this album but in all the music created by this quintet. I love the high pressure exchanges held on "Our Thing" and Hill puts all he has in the keys to make it swing in its own unique way. I just wish the majority of this was like those Henderson pieces, maybe it would feel a bit more cohesive and interesting to me.
Favorite Song: Teeter Totter
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