This is one of the odder
Joe Henderson
recordings. The four lengthy selections not only feature the great tenor-saxophonist but the piano and harp of
Alice Coltrane
(during one of her rare appearances as a sideman), violinist
Michael White
, bassist
Charlie Haden
, percussionist
Kenneth Nash
and
Baba Duru Oshun
on tablas. The somewhat spiritual nature of the music (
Henderson
's compositions are titled
"Fire,"
"Air," "Water" and "Earth") and the presence of
makes these Eastern-flavored performances rather unique if not all that essential: an early example of world music in jazz. This recording has been reissued as part of
's eight-CD Milestone box set. ~ Scott Yanow