The story behind puzzle No. 29

Blue Bossa

Joe Henderson · Page One · Blue Note · 1963

Blue Bossa has been recorded so many times that it became a jazz standard. It started on Joe Henderson's first album.

The record

Joe Henderson recorded Page One for Blue Note on June 3, 1963. Blue Bossa is the opening track. It was written by trumpeter Kenny Dorham, who plays on the album and may have been influenced by attending the Rio de Janeiro Jazz Festival in 1961.

McCoy Tyner played piano, but he was under contract to a rival label, Impulse!, so the front cover listed him only as ETC.

What to listen for

The tune blends hard bop with the Brazilian bossa nova rhythm. Listen to how Henderson and Dorham trade the melody and then stretch out over the Latin groove.

Who's on it

Joe Henderson
tenor saxophone
Kenny Dorham
trumpet
McCoy Tyner
piano
Butch Warren
bass
Pete La Roca
drums

Keep listening

Play Song for My Father, puzzle No. 6, for more of Henderson on a Latin-flavored groove.

Hear it on Apple Music Find Page One on vinyl Play today's puzzle

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