This is the first Smoke Sessions release to be recorded in the studio (Sear Sound, with excellent production by the label's Paul Stache) rather than the club itself and could be a good omen for the label's future longevity. Veteran Henderson and pianist Cables are now permanent members of The Cookers and my spies tell me that Gary Bartz was given a great reception when he also played some recent gigs with the band. Most of the material is retrospective. ‘Sunburst’ is a reworking of one of Henderson's 1970s semi-hits, while ‘Dreams’ was the first tune he ever wrote while with the Jazz Messengers. ‘Morning Song’ comes from another 1970s album, the fusion record Coming Through, as is ‘Beyond Forever’. The others are salutes to his big mentor, Freddie Hubbard (‘First Light’) and Woody Shaw (‘Zoltan’), plus a composition by his wife Natsuko, one by a Polish pianist he's toured with named Lesek Kulakowski, a seldom-heard Duke Pearson ballad (‘You Know I Can’ from Joe Henderson's Inner Urge) and a blistering ‘Ginger Bread Boy’ as a tribute to Miles. The liner notes interview by Damon Smith tells us a lot about Doctor Henderson's early life. Wherever he finally decided to make his career, he would have achieved great things. Quite a guy!