Be Cool Archive

Eddie Henderson – Be Cool – Smoke Session Records 

by Audiophile Audition | Jul 13, 2018 | Jazz CD Reviews

The many dimensions of cool explored with elegant style Eddie Henderson – Be Cool – Smoke Session Records SSR-1802 76:56****: (Eddie Henderson – trumpet; Donald Henderson – alto saxophone; Kenny Barron – piano; Essiet Essiet – bass; Mike Clark – drums) The 77-year old trumpeter Eddie Henderson, has a backstory quite unlike most jazz musicians of his generation, or any other generation for that matter. His mother was a dancer at the original Cotton Club in Harlem. His father sang with Billy Williams and The Charioteers, a well-known singing group. Growing up he received an informal trumpet lesson from Louis Armstrong, and later on ( age 17) he played a gig with Miles Davis who was one of his early influences . He graduated from Howard University in 1968 with a medical degree. He continued his medical education as well as starting a general practice in San Francisco from 1975-85  In the early 1970s he was part of Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi band. This musical and life journey continues as Henderson explores the many dimensions of cool in his newest release Be Cool. The band that Henderson has assembled for this adventure is filled with suppleness as exemplified by saxophonist Donald […]