Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn cover

Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn

Released

In his final decade, Henderson recorded a number of tribute albums, but he always made the material his own. This was the first, and he approached the tunes from multiple angles: while “Isfahan” was a duo with bassist Christian McBride, “Lotus Blossom” showcased pianist Stephen Scott, and “Take The A Train” was stripped to sax and Gregory Hutchinson’s drums, three other tracks featured the full band plus trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, and the title piece is an album-closing solo excursion. It’s all beautiful, and because it’s all from Billy Strayhorn’s pen, it flows together seamlessly.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
In My Element cover

In My Element

Robert Glasper
Ascension cover

Ascension

Black Art Jazz Collective
The Elements cover

The Elements

Joe Henderson, Alice Coltrane
Teddy’s Ready cover

Teddy’s Ready

Teddy Edwards Quartet
Canyon Lady cover

Canyon Lady

Joe Henderson
Salt and Pepper cover

Salt and Pepper

Sonny Stitt, Paul Gonsalves
Rainbow Mist cover

Rainbow Mist

Coleman Hawkins