Septet Reviews

COMPOSITION

“AL HENDERSON SEPTET. Jazz composition is a neglected art, frequently diminished by musicians who quickly toss off a batch of themes on worn chord changes to serve as impetus for improvisation. But bassist Al Henderson is the real thing, a composer in the tradition of Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, whose works have distinctive energy and melodic and harmonic character, often reflecting the specific personalities of the musicians for whom they’re crafted. That skill has distinguished Henderson’s career, from the collective quartet Time Warp to his own quintet, which he recently expanded to a septet, adding cellists Matt Brubeck and Mark Chambers to the saxophones of Pat LaBarbera and Alex Dean; pianist Richard Whiteman and drummer Barry Romberg complete the ensemble.”
JAZZ By Stuart Broomer
Toronto Life, January 2009.