Born in New York City and the son of a Cotton Club dancer, Eddie Henderson grew up surrounded by some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis. He began playing the trumpet at the age of 10 and studied music theory at the San Francisco Conservatory, before later completing a degree in medicine at Berkeley.
It was Miles Davis who convinced Eddie to become a professional jazz musician and after gigs with Miles and John Handy, Eddie joined the legendary Herbie Hancock Sextet (who also recorded as the Mwandishi Band) in 1968. This highly experimental and successful band delved deeply into fusion and free jazz for three years. Eddie continued in the fusion style during the seventies, making albums for Capricorn and Blue Note and joining Art Blakey’s band for a while.
He jammed around the Bay Area with great musicians such as Joe Henderson and Pharoah Sanders.
In the early nineties he moved back to New York where his career took off again with a series of exceptional albums for Steeple Chase and Milestone. A highly respected veteran on the international jazz circuit Eddie still tours regularly as a member of the All-Star band ‘The Cookers’.
Jazz pianist and composer Bruce Barth has been sharing his music with listeners the world over for more than two decades. Deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, his music reflects both the depth and breadth of his life and musical experiences. In addition to traveling widely performing his own music, he has also performed with revered jazz masters, as well as collaborated with leading musicians of his own generation. And most notably, his performances feature material from his large book of very powerful and imaginative original compositions, written in a voice that is both deeply personal and expressive.
Bruce has performed on over one hundred recordings and movie soundtracks, including ten as a leader. He is equally at home playing solo piano (American Landscape on Satchmo Jazz Records), leading an all-star septet (East and West on MaxJazz), and composing for a variety of ensembles. His trio has recorded live at the legendary Village Vanguard in New York City, and he recently released a new DVD, Live at Café del Teatre, on Quadrant, recorded live at the Lleida Jazz Festival in Catalunia.
In addition to travelling widely playing his own music, he has also performed with revered jazz masters, and collaborated with leading musicians of his own generation including Tony Bennett, Steve Wilson,Terell Stafford and David Sanchez. He has performed with James Moody, Phil Woods, Freddie Hubbard, Tom Harrell, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Art Farmer, Victor Lewis, John Patitucci, Lewis Nash, and The Mingus Big Band.
Band lineup:
Eddie Henderson – trumpet
Bruce Barth – piano
Arnie Somogyi – bass
Stephen Keogh – drums
“One of jazz’s top drawer musicians” – The Financial Times
“I have a great love for excellent musicians and Bruce Barth is one of my favourites.” – Tony Bennett
