La Mesha

Joe Henderson (tenor sax), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), McCoy Tyner (piano), Butch Warren (bass) and Pete La Roca (drums). From the album Page One (1963).

This is the first album recorded by jazz tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, contains the standards “Blue Bossa” and “Remember me”, and is one of his most acclaimed works by critics. In several of his tracks he demonstrates his mature compositional skills that would accompany him throughout his legendary career. Mixing Brazilian influences with bop and hard bop styles, the songs are interesting, inspired and beautifully constructed.

Joe Henderson’s solos are fantastic and it’s a real pleasure to hear the way he uses notes and rhythm to create melodies, and Kenny Dorham is soft and lyrical. Henderson recorded six albums with Dorham at that time and accompanied by Tyner in the period when still was playing hard bop produce true alchemy. The group in general is very well integrated, and although the album was recorded 55 years ago, it still maintains its freshness.

This touching ballad contains beautiful harmonies. The introduction is made by Tyner and Warren, and then the rest of the band joins in. The melody is played by Henderson while Dorham makes a sound mattress underneath. Henderson begins with a pleasant and slow solo, introducing faster phrases from time to time. His speech is rich and colorful in its execution. Then Dorham enters with a clean and sensitive solo, as required by these kind of themes. Tyner follows him playing unconventionally, but still fitting well into the environment until the group re-exposes the theme.