4 August 2014

Album Review: Jason Henson – Plays Wes and Benson

Jason Henson: Jason Henson Plays Wes and Benson

    The Wes Montgomery classic Road Song features a great solo from Jason Henson where he relaxes and stretches out. This is the only track on the album that goes over the 5-minute mark. I would have liked to have heard some longer solos on the rest of the album, especially as this style of music starts to really cook in the second chorus of a solo.

    Drummer Matt Home provides some solid grooves, particularly on Unit 7 where he really nails each section and drum fill. Saxophonist Ian Price provides some of his typically-strong soloing, most memorably on Full House.

    There are some minor problems with this album. The tracks on the CD cover aren’t numbered (which I found annoying) and the organ sound on Unit 7 sounds slightly distorted in places but overall the sound quality is good and well-balanced.

    I’d like to hear some of Jason’s original compositions. The album is clearly a collection of his favourite tunes and influences and the organ trio setting is obviously an idiom that he enjoys and excels at. Now that he’s absorbed these influences, I’m looking forward to hearing future albums from him.

I give this album 9/10.

 

Musicians:

Jason Henson, guitar; Pete Whittaker, organ; Matt Home, drums; Ian Price, tenor sax (except tracks 2 & 6); Dan Sheppard, bass (except tracks 2, 4, 6 & 8).

 

Tracks:

  1. Clockwise
  2. Road Song
  3. Unit 7
  4. Full House
  5. The Cooker
  6. Four On Six
  7. Benny’s Back
  8. Return of the Prodigal Son
  9. Ready ’n Able

 

Availability:

www.jasonhensonguitar.com

 

If you like this:

George Benson: The Cookbook

George Benson: It’s Uptown

Wes Montgomery: Smokin’ at the Half Note

 

Reviewed by Charlie Anderson

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