Eighty-Eight's

The real tribute album to Miles Davis
So What / Eddie Henderson

VRCL 6006 (CD) \3,045 (tax in)
VRGL 8806 (SACD) \ 3,360 (tax in)
VRJL 7006 (LP) \ 3,360 (tax in)


1. Prince of Darkness (Wayne Shorter) 2. On Green Dolphin Street (Ned Washington, Bronislaw Kaper) 3. Footprints (Wayne Shorter) 4. Well, You Needn't (Thelonious Monk) 5. So What (Miles Davis) 6. Old Folks (Willard Robinson) 7. Someday My Prince Will Come (Frank Churchill) 8. All Blues (Miles Davis) 9. 'Round Midnight (Cootie Williams, Thelonious Monk)　 Recorded at Avatar Studio, New York on March 13 & 14, 2002 Eighty-Eight's will record all master tapes using both Direct Stream Digital (1-bit digital), the latest technology which is completely different from PCM system, and traditional analog formats simultaneously. In addition, in a first for the recording industry, three audio formats - SACD (Super Audio CD), analog LP, and traditional CD - will be released simultaneously for every item in the catalog. Analog LP masters will be cut from 2 track half inch master tapes. Each master will be created based on the format in which it will be heard, to produce the highest quality sound and best recreate the recording studio environment. The Eighty-Eight's label is the perfect answer to the audiophile's needs. Click for vinyl (analog) LP song sequence

Personnel: Eddie Henderson (trumpet and flugelhorn) Bob Berg (tenor saxophone) David Kikoski (piano) Ed Howard (bass) Victor Lewis (drums) Billy Hart (drums)

What is the real tribute? To respect the music and also the spirit!
It is more than ten years since the great Miles Davis has passed away. Many musicians have made a tribute album to Miles since then, but this latest album of Eddie Henderson is surely one of the best. Knowing Miles personally from late 50s, Eddie was strongly influenced by his sound, style and the way of thinking. Henderson himself says that he "was so thrilled to make a tribute to Miles. But even as a tribute album, it doesn't mean anything if the musicians play completely the way Miles did. You should better listen to Miles' original album in such case. What is important here is to create a new music and to express our originality through Miles' music. I thought that will be a real tribute to Miles. So I have asked the musicians to play different from the original." When talented musicians who can express their language through instrument meets the carefully considered arrangements, the well-known-standard are freshly revived. The recording was full in good tension that most of the tunes you here are the first takes; it was needless to require another take! Henderson's trumpet and flugelhorn creates a nuanced sound, deep contrast from darkness to light. This album is not only a tribute album, but the best example describing what Henderson is investigating with his sound and style up to date.

Eddie Henderson Born October 26, 1940 in New York City. Having a mother who was a dancer in the original Cotton Club and a father who sang in Bill Williams and the Charioteers, Eddie was inspired in music from his childhood. After his father died, mother remarried with a doctor in San Francisco who was a doctor for Miles Davis -- the giant who truly influenced Eddie to dig in jazz music. Eddie studied trumpet, flugelhorn and music theory at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music from 1954 to 57, and after three years in the Air Force, he enrolled at U.C. Berkeley, graduating with a B.S. in zoology in 1964. He then studied medicine at Howard University in Washington D.C., graduating in 1968. Though he did his residency in psychiatry, he practiced general medicine. Until the late 80s, Henderson mixed music and medicine, and received his first major musical exposure as a member of Herbie Hancock's sextet (1970 -73). Henderson's challenging spirit made him utilize electronic instruments in his own band, and later leading a rock-oriented group. In late 80s, he moved back to New York and returned to play more acoustic jazz.