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
Fly or Die cover

Fly or Die

Jaimie Branch
Out Front cover

Out Front

Booker Little
Day Is Done cover

Day Is Done

Brad Mehldau
When the Heart Dances cover

When the Heart Dances

Laurence Hobgood, Charlie Haden, Kurt Elling
Weltentraum cover

Weltentraum

Michael Wollny
The Spoiler cover

The Spoiler

Stanley Turrentine
Come on In cover

Come on In

Vital Information, Steve Smith
Pal Joey cover

Pal Joey

Kenny Drew Trio