Joe Henderson - 1981 [1993] "Relaxin' at Camarillo"

Relaxin' at Camarillo is an album by American jazz saxophonist Joe Henderson recorded in 1979 and released on the Contemporary label.

Henderson had been doing quality work for years on numerous independent and foreign labels, and 1979's Relaxin' at Camarillo, is just one among many examples of that. There are five selections, only one less than eight minutes long, with the usual Henderson attributes: full, deep tone, keen ideas, and an ability to sweep through registers and across octaves with ease. Chick Corea made an excellent partner, playing with none of the self-consciousness that crops up repeatedly in his fusion and electric fare. Bassists and drummers were interchangeable, although you can certainly tell Tony Williams from Peter Erskine (and that's no knock on Erskine).

Joe in his good mood is receiving a packet in velvet and lace, indigo-blue and tomato-red. Gets in the vanes and the bones, gets in, good for relaxing, working, cardriving and...saying it to someone.., it all is there, yeah. Muscular, straight ahead Joe like I've never heard him before. met him back in days of my military career in Norfolk, Virgia where he was playing. Like its title, this album is really the one to listen to if you want to relax. joe henderson's version of my one and only love is simply beautiful and the rest of the album are just equally great.

Joe Henderson's Relaxin' at Camarillo I recommend, not only for Joe Henderson's tenor saxophone playing, he is one of my favourites, but Chick Corea's piano playing, interpreting the lone Joe Henderson composition, first cut on the album, as if he wrote it himself and of course on the two Corea wrote for this album, his playing stands out. Charlie Parker and George Gershwin composed the other two tracks making five enjoyable compositions. Henderson and Corea are great musicians but Tony Williams on drums (on some tracks its Peter Erskine) is always welcome by me. Richard Davis and Tony Dumas take turns on bass.

FANTASTIC SAXOPHONE RECORD! On here Joe Henderson is every bit as good as Sonny Rollings, Dexter Gordon and other all time great saxophonists. He reminds me of John Coltrane before he went Free Jazz (ca. My Favorite Things Album). There is also an excellent backing band supporting him. (chick corea not only plays the piano but also wrote two of the songs here).

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Track listing:

    "Y Todavia la Quiero" (Joe Henderson) – 11:42
    "My One and Only Love" (Robert Mellin, Guy Wood) – 9:59
    "Crimson Lake" (Chick Corea) – 5:26
    "Yes, My Dear" (Corea) – 8:44
    "Relaxin' at Camarillo" (Charlie Parker) – 9:21

Personnel:

    Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone
    Chick Corea - piano
    Tony Dumas - Bass (tracks 1, 2, 5)
    Richard Davis - Bass (tracks 3, 4)
    Peter Erskine  - Drums (tracks 1, 2, 5)
    Tony Williams  - Drums (tracks 3, 4)