All the finest jazz that has been handed down to us on recordings are impossible to separate from the cultural and social baggage of their time. This album, recorded in 1970, is no exception. Its title, taken from the writings of Eldridge Cleaver, resonates powerfully with an America then in ferment – Civil Rights protest, major riots in American cities, protest at the war in Vietnam, the invasion of Cambodia, the Kent State shootings. Post his distinguished Blue Note period, Henderson was signed by Orrin Keepnews’ Milestone label, with albums such as Tetragon and Power to the People maintaining the tightly written closed forms of the earlier era, but also beginning to take account of the changing musical landscape around him – the latter album has Herbie Hancock on both acoustic and electric pianos. On If You're Not Part of the Solution he experiments with more open forms – ‘Caribbean Fire Dance’ and the title track – while remaining in touch with the repertoire of the Blue Note period – ‘Round Midnight’ and ‘Mode for Joe’ (with an open, discursive introduction) but presenting them in more edgy, updated and aggressive versions – his inventive solo on ‘Mode for Joe’ with just bass and drums accompaniment, for example, is classic Henderson. The long title track is essentially an open jam, but with Henderson and Shaw in fine form, its hardly any wonder this album is considered one of Henderson's finest of this period, especially with its excellent recasting of his ‘Blue Bossa’ with its exuberant, yet powerful solos. Henderson's originals from this period – ‘Power to the People, ‘Afro-Centric’ and ‘Black Narcissus, for example – reflect the febrile racial climate of the time, while ‘If You're Not Part of the Solution…’ makes its point strongly through the song title. It speaks of disenfranchisement, of being excluded from society. It is simply tragic that events in America in the last 18 months (and overnight as this is written) reveal how little things have moved on.