Product Details
Power to the People

Power to the People
Joe Henderson

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Track Listing

  1. Black Narcissus
  2. Afro-Centric
  3. Opus One-Point-Five - Joe Henderson
  4. Isotope - Joe Henderson
  5. Power to the People
  6. Lazy Afternoon
  7. Foresight and Afterthought (An Impromptu Suite in Three Movements)

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #222786 in Music
  • Released on: 2004-08-09
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Format: Import

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson (1937-2001) was the elliptical alternative to John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter when these sessions were recorded in 1969 on the Milestone label under Orrin Keepnews' production, with Miles Davis' sidemen: Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter on electric and acoustic piano and bass and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Their jazz-fusion sound is evident on the super-bopped "Afro-Centric" and the ostinato-anchored title track, which both featured the little-known trumpeter Mike Lawrence. The angular, radioactive blues "Isotope" and the lilting waltz "Black Narcissus," which debuted on this date, are two of the leader's compositional contributions to the jazz canon. The standard "Lazy Afternoon" and Ron Carter's darkly moody "Opus One-Point Five" are the only non-Henderson contributions. The last track, the pianoless, spontaneously-created "Foresight and Afterthought (An Impromptu Suite)," previews the groundbreaking trio recordings Henderson made for the Blue Note and Verve labels in the 1980s and '90s, when his genius was fully appreciated. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews

brilliant pieces5
Joe Henderson's mastery of the tenor saxophone and brilliance as a composer are the pillars upholding his legend, and "Power to the People" demonstrates this clearly for listeners. Herbie Hancock lent his faculties to this project and pulled off some very nice piano work for the session. In fact, the entire rhythm section on this album are veteran musicians themselves, including Ron Carter on bass and Jack De Johnette on drums.

"Black Narcissus" is a great opener for this album of thematic allusions to Africa and the African experience. "Afro-Centric" is as equally pleasant as the starter, with Henderson sweeping us up in the dazzling sounds of his horn. The title track is an emotive locomotive, with Henderson and company hitting those fast notes with precision and ease. All around a solid album that belongs in the collections of jazz fans everywhere.

Personnel:

Joe Henderson (tenor sax)
Herbie Hancock (piano and electric piano)
Ron Carter (bass and electric bass)
Jack De Johnette (drums)
Mike Lawrence (trumpet)

If You Liked In a Silent Way4
Okay first of all forget the title. This is not a revolutionary free jazz diatrebe. What you get though (and nicely remastered with intelligent liner notes) is a classic fusion album along the vein of "In a Silent Way". This actually is closer to a Herbie Hancock album and has much of the same players as "The Prisoner", his album for that year which was rather uneven. However, "Power to the People" does not have those flaws. Nice ambient jazz work that still remains within a post bop tradition. Electric keyboards are used but piano also enters the mix. With Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Jack De Johnette, all Miles alumni you have a good thing going here and unlike much jazz fusion at the time or later on its not a bunch of flashy chops that is basically watered down rock trying to pass for jazz. Okay this is no "B-Brew" or "On the Corner" but as fusion it succeeds. Joe Henderson would later get into full blown fusion that was closer to jazz funk and then jump back to hard bop but "Power to the People" and the acoustic hard bop albums that preceeded it by Joe Henderson are part of the essential jazz roster.

Maybe the best Fusion record?5
I don't like most fusion, but this album is a killer. Actually, the second half of this record is all-acoustic. But what ever it is, it should be in every drummer's collection--Jack D. is incredible (and very young) here. I disagree with another reviewer's guess that Mike Lawrence is Kenny Wheeler. But it is nice to see that everybody wants to give 5 stars (the big handful) for this one! Go, Go, Go, Joe!