Scott Henderson: Tore Down House

With a fusion of jazz, blues and rock, guitarist Scott Henderson put together a set of his own songs; the lone exception is Jaco Pastorius’ "Continuum." Most of the album features Thelma Houston with a blues trio; Houston wails while Henderson smokes in a contemporary electric blues vein. Most of the guitarist’s career has been based on fusion; leaders with whom Henderson worked early on include Joe Zawinul, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Chick Corea with his Elektrik Band. Complete information on the guitarist may be found at http://www.ejn.it/mus/s_hender.htm . In 1986 Henderson and Gary Willis founded the first edition of Tribal Tech, a fusion band who’s released eight albums since. More information about Tribal Tech may be found at http://home.earthlink.net/~scottkinsey/tribal.htm .

Alongside Henderson’s ferocious guitar and the fluid singing of Houston is the propulsive team of bassist Dave Carpenter and drummer Kirk Covington. The title track is a slow vocal blues with emotional guitar fills and an exciting interlude. The Bo Diddley beat of "Meter Maid" carries the singer’s tale of urban living with a comfortable feeling that makes the background pleasurable and the lyrics understandable. There are places on the album, however, where the lyrics’ meaning may seem offensive to someone who’s never had a serious long-term relationship. The horns only appear on "Dolemite." Carpenter and Covington rip off a genuine "Continuum" with support from Scott Kinsey at the organ and Henderson on acoustic guitar. The up-tempo "Harpoon" pushes the envelope with a syncopated New Orleans shuffle and exciting solos from Henderson & Pat O’Brien. The music is fun, and the artist is quite talented.