Blue Mitchell Step Lightly LP Japanese Import Joe Henderson Herbie Hancock RVG Mint Archival Sleeve OBI
There are few trumpet/tenor pairs as brilliant as Mitchell/Henderson, and this record is an exceptional example of the two complementing each other throughout. Mitchell's style is more traditional, a la Clifford Brown, while Henderson is just a little more edgy. In addition, there's Herbie Hancock on piano. What a treat!
The arrangements are adventurous with some bold improv. Highlights include "Mamacita", "Sweet And Lovely", and old beautifully lush arrangement of"Cry Me a River". Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.
This Japanese Pressing Sounds Fantastic
Step Lightly is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell featuring his first session recorded for the Blue Note label in 1963 but not released until 1980 - Blue Mitchell - trumpet
- Leo Wright - alto saxophone
- Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone
- Herbie Hancock - piano
- Gene Taylor - bass
- Roy Brooks - drums
- Richard Allen "Blue" Mitchell (March 13, 1930 – May 21, 1979) was an American trumpeter and composer who worked in jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock and funk. He recorded albums as leader and sideman for Riverside, Mainstream Records, and Blue Note
- Mitchell then joined the Horace Silver Quintet, playing with tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer Roy Brooks. Mitchell stayed with Silver's group until the band's break-up in 1964, after which Mitchell formed a group with members from the Silver quintet, substituting the young pianist Chick Corea for Silver and replacing Brooks, who had fallen ill, with drummer Al Foster. This group produced a number of records for Blue Note. It disbanded in 1969, after which Mitchell joined and toured with Ray Charles until 1971.
- Joe Henderson (April 24, 1937 – June 30, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than four decades, Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent labels, including Blue Note, Milestone, and Verve.
From 1963 to 1968, Henderson appeared on nearly 30 albums for Blue Note, including five released under his name. The recordings ranged from relatively conservative hard-bop sessions (Page One, 1963) to more explorative sessions (Inner Urge and Mode for Joe, 1966). He played a prominent role in many landmark albums under other leaders for the label, including most of Horace Silver's Song for My Father, Herbie Hancock's The Prisoner, Lee Morgan's The Sidewinder and "out" albums with pianist Andrew Hill (Black Fire, 1963 and Point of Departure, 1964) and drummer Pete La Roca (Basra, 1965).
In 1967, there was a brief association with Miles Davis's quintet featuring Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams, although the band was never recorded. Henderson's adaptability and eclecticism would become even more apparent in the years to follow.