In general,
Joe Henderson's take on
Porgy and Bess meets the high standards of his latter-day records for Verve. Working with arranger
Bob Belden and a wonderful combo -- including guitarist
John Scofield, pianist
Tommy Flanagan, bassist
Dave Holland, drummer
Jack DeJohnette, trombonist
Conrad Herwig and vibraphonist
Stefon Harris --
Henderson brings
Gershwin's music to life with subtle beauty and grace. Furthermore, he demonstrates his uniqueness --
Henderson's
Porgy and Bess may share the same source as
Miles Davis' legendary
Porgy and Bess, yet it has an original sound, relying less on orchestration than that classic. While this disc is not flawless -- instead of enhancing the music, guest spots from vocalists
Chaka Khan and
Sting actually stop the momentum, calling attention to themselves -- it nevertheless is another valuable addition to
Henderson's catalog. ~ Leo Stanley