Joe Henderson Trio with Ron Carter and Al Foster - The Village Vanguard NYC November 12, 1985

I saw Joe Henderson at the Village Vanguard in March of 1985 with a sextet and it was great to see one of my favorite sax players live for the first time. So when he came back to the Vanguard in November with the same amazing bassist and drummer, I had to go. This recording is the first set of a five-night stand that was memorialized on the two Blue Note albums, "State of the Tenor Vols. 1 and 2." Perhaps because it was the first night, the band really stretched out, and the hour-long set consisted of only four tunes, none of which versions were included on the Blue Note albums. Although three of these four tunes were included on the albums, much shorter versions were selected. The Charlie Parker tune was not represented on the albums. So here you have a lot more Joe and Ron soloing. Ron Carter's bass playing really blew me away (as did Joe's tenor, of course). Ron's solos were so inventive I didn't tune out the way I sometimes do when the bassist steps out front. Coincidentally, Joe Lovano was sitting at the table next to mine, so I got to say hello and tell him how much I appreciated his playing.

Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone
Ron Carter - bass
Al Foster - drums

00:00 Introductions
00:30 All the Things You Are (J Kern O Hammerstein)
19:00 Beatrice (S Rivers)
31:45 Ask Me Now (T Monk)
45:32 Relaxin' At Camarillo (C Parker)

Recorded on a Sony Walkman Pro D6C with Sony ECM-102 stereo microphone. This is uploaded solely for educational purposes and historical interest. Enjoy.