Usually, all star summits, be they in sports or in music, end up with polite and sterile affairs. The SF Jazz Collective has been able to avoid this pitfall, maybe because they keep stirring up the lineup and material to get everyone on their collective toes. Miguel Zenon/as has been with the group the longest, and keeps the rest of the band quite inspired. The band consists of stud muffins David Sanchez/ts, Avishai Cohen/tp, Robin Eubanks/tb, Warren Wolf/bib, Edward Simon/p, Matt P enman/b and Ebed Calvaire/dr, and during this gig at the SFJazz Center in 2014, they explore the Joe Henderson songbook with creativity along with bringing some new material into the picture.
They do some clever arrangements, such as the lithe groove on “ Recorda-Me” which features Cohen’s muted horn, and a cleverly constructed “Black Narcissus” which has Eubanks doing some wonderful pastel work. A reading of “Inner Urge” includes some fascinating mix of jazz and almost modern classical modes and themes, while “Fire” has a nifty bass line that takes the music on an intriguing path.
Original pieces are splattered around, with Wolf’s “Four Stars From Heaven” a beautiful exposure on the vibes. Zenon’s three part “Synthesis of a Band” features a Sanchez’s warm tenor which segues to spotlights for Eubanks and Cohen. This full feast of music could have been a cerebral and sterile affair, but the sparks fly throughout the session, showing the mix of macho chops and clever minds along with celebration of one of the greats in jazz. A cooker on this limited edition set.
This limited edition 2-disc set, recorded during the Collective’s four-night residency in October 2014 on the Robert N. Miner Auditorium stage at the SFJAZZ Center, documents the SFJAZZ Collective’s fresh arrangements of the work of Joe Henderson—the late saxophone giant and longtime San Francisco resident who had a long association with SFJAZZ—as well as their own stimulating compositions.
Featuring Miguel Zenón (alto saxophone), David Sánchez (tenor saxophone), Avishai Cohen (trumpet), Robin Eubanks (trombone), Warren Wolf (vibraphone), Edward Simon (piano), Matt Penman (bass), and Obed Calvaire (drums).
DISC 1
1. Recorda-Me – Joe Henderson (arranged by Miguel Zenón)
2. A Shade of Jade – Joe Henderson (arranged by Edward Simon)
3. Big Tent, Little Tent – Matt Penman
4. Cross Currents – Robin Eubanks
5. Inner Urge – Joe Henderson (arranged by Avishai Cohen)
6. Four Stars From Heaven – Warren Wolf
7. Eternal Wait – David Sánchez
8. Fire – Joe Henderson (arranged by Obed Calvaire)
Disc 2
1. Y Todavia La Quiero – Joe Henderson (arranged by David Sánchez)
2. Afro-Centric – Joe Henderson (arranged by Matt Penman)
3. Synthesis of A Band, Parts 1, 2 and 3 – Miguel Zenón
4. Black Narcissus – Joe Henderson (arranged by Robin Eubanks)
5. Locura – Edward Simon
6. Evolution – Avishai Cohen
7. Absolvents – Obed Calvaire
8. Jinrikisha – Joe Henderson (arranged by Warren Wolf)
Executive Producer: Randall Kline
Producer: Jeff Cressman
Recorded by: Masanori Yura
Mixed/Edited by: Jeff Cressman
Mastered by: Jeremy Goody
SONIA
