Joe Henderson: 'Tetragon,' 1967-'68

Craft has just re-issued this long out-of-print Milestone LP on 180-gram vinyl

Along with John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Hank Mobley and Stanley Turrentine, Joe Henderson was among the leading tenor saxophonists of the 1960s. By 1967, he had released five spectacular Blue Note albums—Page One, Our Thing, In ‘n Out, Inner Urge and Mode for Joe. A live album, Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs, was issued by Blue Note in 2024. [Photo of Joe Henderson above by Francis Wolff © Blue Note Records]

Henderson was a muscular player and a brilliant and fast improviser with a rich tone. What made him special was his ability to tell a story when improvising, which made him highly engaging.

Now, Craft Recordings has re-issued Tetragon, originally produced by Orrin Keepnews for his Milestone label in 1967 and ‘68. The new LP appears on 180-gram vinyl cut from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.

The record features two different quartets and is a powerful reminder of how gifted Henderson was playing straight-ahead, modal and avant-garde jazz. The two quartets featured Joe Henderson (ts), Don Friedman/Kenny Barron (p), Ron Carter (b) and Jack DeJohnette/Louis Hayes (d).

In a Q&A interview on the back of the album, Keepnews asked Henderson about the experience of recording with two different groups…

Orrin Keepnews: Listening to the results, can you find much difference in your own playing on the two dates that you would attribute to the influence of the different sets of players?

Joe Henderson: Well, for example, listening to Invitation, I was aware that Don [Friedman] has probably a little more of a romantic approach; his music is a little more sensual, a little softer—while Kenny, I think, is more involved with rhythm. Kenny’s things sort of land on the beat a little more, while Don just sort of flows. On that level, I think anyone would be influenced by what’s happening around him, by the musical context; and I certainly do react and sound different.

The tracks:

1. Invitation

2. R.J. (Ron Carter)

3. The Bead Game (Joe Henderson)

4. Tetragon (Joe Henderson)

5. Waltz for Sweetie (Walter Bishop Jr.)

6. First Trip (Ron Carter

7. I’ve Got You Under My Skin

The personnel:

Tracks 1, 2, 3 and 5: Joe Henderson (ts), Don Friedman (p), Ron Carter (b) and Jack De Johnette (d), recorded on May 16, 1968

Tracks 4, 6 and 7: Joe Henderson (ts), Kenny Barron (p), Ron Carter (b) and Louis Hayes (d), recorded on September 27, 1967

As a late 1960’s recording, Tetragon has it all. Invitation is a mid-tempo ballad with loads of Henderson’s sleek improvisation; R.J. is a modal work; The Bead Game is free jazz; Tetragon is straight-ahead; First Trip is a smart blues; Waltz for Sweetie captures an intellectual joy prevalent in 1960s New York; and I’ve Got You Under My Skin is straight-ahead and marvelous.

To buy, go here.

Here’s Joe Henderson’s Tetragon, track by track…

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You can read my 2007 interview with Orrin Keepnews here.

You can read my 2009 interview with Don Friedman here.

You can read my 2008 interview with Ron Carter here.

And you can read my 2010 interview with Louis Hayes here.