Joe Henderson's follow-up to his hugely successful
Lush Life disc is another concept album, this time involving ten songs (including many lesser-known ones) associated with
Miles Davis.
Henderson only actually played with
Davis for a few weekends around 1967 but he shows a great deal of understanding for this potentially difficult music. With particularly strong assistance from guitarist
John Scofield, bassist
Dave Holland and drummer
Al Foster,
Henderson revives such forgotten songs as "Teo," "Swing Spring" and "Side Car" in addition to coming up with fresh interpretations of "Miles Ahead," "Milestones" and "No Blues." He is to be congratulated for not taking the easy way out and sticking to the simpler material of
Davis's earlier years. ~ Scott Yanow