EDDIE HENDERSON — Sunburst (review)

EDDIE HENDERSON — Sunburst album cover Album · 1975 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Sean Trane
Well, I’m still not aware if Henderson had a musical professional background (he was a professional figure ice-skater and medical student, though) before being part of Herbie’s Mwandishi group (I’d imagine Hancock not hiring rookies), but since the dismantling of that magic group, its three hornmen (Maupin, Priester and Eddie) made some brilliant solo JR/F albums, this being Henderson’s second of third effort. Eddie’s first two solo effort (Realization and Inside Out) bore many Swahili-tribe skin-scars, but Sunburst kinds of disengage somewhat from that realm. Don’t get me wrong though, there are still some heavy Mwandishi friends on Sunburst as both Priester and Maupin are present, but so are Williams and Hart (for only one track, though), but check out George Duke, Hutcherson, Harvey and Alphonso’s presence as well. What a friggin’ line-up.

Despite being released on the then-fledging Blue Note album, Sunburst sports a convincing and appropriate red-hot modern artwork that describes the volcanic musical fusion. The ultra-funky opener of Explodition features a funky Alphonso bass line with Henderson’s trumpet soaring high over sun-burned soundscapes made from Duke’s Rhodes and synth, and un-credited funky guitar lines (low in the mix). The following Kumquat track could find a spot on Hancock’s Head Hunter album and it features a bit (way too few, IMHO) of Maupin’s delightful bass clarinet, while Henderson is trump(et)ing Miles’ effect-laden horn. The steaming title track might just be my fave of the album. It is a little unfortunate that the album’s lengthiest track takes a little to long to unravel its fierce nature after a tamer intro, but Duke’s keyboard works in the calmer (at first) middle section partially makes up for it. The short ultra-funky Hop scotch is the album’s weakest track, even if the musicians do strut their chops. The spacey Galaxy piece is quite a change from its preceding sister, and after a cosmic intro, Maupin’s bass clarinet is finally unleashed and running amok in the Universe’s naught. Amazing stuff!! The closing aptly-titled We End In A Dream sports a slightly different line-up and hints more at Crossing the Sextant.



Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

6 Eclectic Fusion
KROKOFANT
Buy this album from MMA partners
Spring In Stockholm Live At Konserthuset, 1959 Cool Jazz
GERRY MULLIGAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple vol.3 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple, Vol.1 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikołaj Trzaska / Ingebrigt Håker Flaten / Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple Vol.2 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

FASCINATING RHYTHM - The Amazing Keystone Big Band feat. Neima Naouri
THE AMAZING KEYSTONE BIG BAND
snobb· 1 day ago
Alicante
RENAUD GARCIA-FONS
js· 1 day ago
She's Forty with Me
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Tall Tillie's Too Tight
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Rhoda Scott Ladies and Gentlemen - special guest : David Linx
RHODA SCOTT
snobb· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed