March 7, 2019
Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson’s fifth and final early Blue Note album is his only one with a group larger than a quintet. Henderson welcomes quite an all-star band (trumpeter Lee Morgan, trombonist Curtis Fuller, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Joe Chambers) and together they perform originals by Henderson (including “A Shade of Jade”), Walton and Morgan (“Free Wheelin'”). The advanced music has plenty of exciting moments and all of the young talents play up to the level one could hope for. Mode for Joe has been reissued on CD several times over; the 2004 Blue Note reissue remastered by Rudy Van Gelder is recommended, although the difference in sound is minimal and the bonus version of “Black” has been placed at the bottom track list instead of as an alternate in the middle.] ~ Scott Yanow
