Recorded October 1973 at Fantasy Studios (Berkeley, CA.)
Personnel:
Joe Henderson – tenor saxophone
Mark Levine – acoustic piano
John Heard – double bass
Eric Gravatt – drums
Carmelo Garcia – timbales
Victor Pantoja – congas
Julian Priester – trombone (A1, B1, B2)
Luis Gasca – trumpet (A2, B1, B2), flugelhorn (B1, B2)
George Duke – electric piano (A1, A2, B1)
Oscar Brashear – trumpet (A1, B1, B2)
John Hunt – trumpet (A1)
Hadley Caliman – flute (A1), tenor sax (B1)
Ray Pizzi – flute (A1)
Vincent Denham – flute (A1)
Nicholas Tenbroek – trombone (A1)
Francisco Aguabella – congas (B2)
This album has trumpeter Luis Gasca featured as a co-star with tenor-saxophonist Joe Henderson. Gasca arranged \"Tres Palabras\" which is played by a 13-piece group (Oscar Brashear takes the trumpet solo) while the other three originals (two by pianist Mark Levine) use either a sextet or a nonet.
It is a peculiar album, one of Henderson's most experimental efforts. Far from being a classic jazz project, Canyon Lady incorporates very strong Latin American influences in the brass section, percussion and rhythm. Henderson's playing is at times characterized by ostinato sequences. The first two pieces also feature unusual electric piano solos and patterns. Many musicians are involved in the project–\"Tres Palabras\" is performed by a 13-elements ensemble.
