Eddie Henderson

Henderson has a sound that's somewhere between the fluid Bebop of Lee Morgan and the spacious, atmospheric possession of Miles Davis. Henderson has recorded in a variety of contexts, from straight-ahead jazz leader to Herbie Hancock sideman, showcasing his intensely developed skill on both trumpet and fluegelhorn. His early 1970s albums may be hard to find, but they're well worth the search as they're extensions of Herbie Hancock's Warner Brothers and Columbia recordings. Some of his early albums have the feel of an arranged ensemble -- bluesy with heavy grooves -- while Heritage features members of the Headhunters laying down a thick, improvised Funk so solid that modern hip-hoppers have found a wealth of sampling material within its cuts. When he's not busy in his other profession as a psychiatrist, Henderson currently gets inside your head playing standards and ballads. Just watch out for his sub-par Disco years.