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
Prayer Meetin' cover

Prayer Meetin'

Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine
When the Heart Dances cover

When the Heart Dances

Laurence Hobgood, Charlie Haden, Kurt Elling
The Artist cover

The Artist

Jeremy Pelt
Tribute to Irakere: Live in Marciac cover

Tribute to Irakere: Live in Marciac

Chucho Valdés, The Afro-Cuban Messengers
Brilliant Corners cover

Brilliant Corners

Thelonious Monk
Straight Ahead cover

Straight Ahead

Oliver Nelson, Eric Dolphy
Somewhere cover

Somewhere

Jack DeJohnette, Gary Peacock, Keith Jarrett
The Flying Pig cover

The Flying Pig

Stan Tracey Quintet
Venture cover

Venture

Amund Kleppan