In his eight decades and more on this earth, trumpeter Eddie Henderson has – as the title to his new disc has it – witnessed plenty of big history. His first trumpet teacher, in 1949, was Louis Armstrong, whom he met through his mother, a dancer at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Dr Henderson – a qualified doctor, he practised medicine for a time while pursuing a musical career – also made history himself when he became the first black man to participate in national figure skating competitions in the US.

So he’s an individual of great and varied talents. But this album is – of course – all about his music-making, and marks half a century since the release of his debut as a leader, Realization (1973). He’s joined by a fine set of collaborators, including George Cables, who first appeared with him on Comin’ Through in 1977.

There are eight tracks, including Cables’ ‘Why Not?’, lovely versions of Rodgers and Hart’s ‘It Never Entered My Mind’ and ‘I’m Going to Miss You, My Darling’ by Natsuko Henderson, the leader’s wife, and ‘Freedom Jazz Dance’ by Eddie Harris – the latter, like ‘It Never Entered My Mind’, strongly associated for Henderson with Miles Davis.

A fine set of tunes, delivered with verve and a great feel for atmosphere.