It is no secret that most popular music is here today and gone tomorrow.
Yet, if you know music and the music business, then you know of the outstanding
exception. There is absolutely nothing temporary about the fine music
from the great age of the American Popular Song. The songs of Gershwin,
Carmichael, Porter, Rodgers, and so many others, simply get better with
time. They become permanent. They are "classics" because those
who wrote them brought to their magic the skill of blending beauty of
word and melody, a feat that is at once the despair and dream of every
real songwriter.William Henderson brings to those classics the styling of the jazz artist, combining the precision of pitch, the warm and sophisticated voice, and the fluid phrasing which recall a time when "jazz" and "popular music" meant much the same thing. Interestingly, besides the songs that "need no introduction," Henderson has a delightful talent for singing great songs from other languages, such as Italian and Portuguese. Witness his versions of Torna a Surriento and Manha de Carnaval; they are classics in their own musical cultures, and, through Henderson, items as diverse as Neapolitan dialect and joyous rhythms from Brazil are woven seamlessly into the fabric of all good music. You might hear him perform a few of his own songs, as well: A Slice of the Moon and Like a Star. They are songs that speak for themselves: good tunes, good lyrics. They fit perfectly with all of Henderson's music. It all sounds true, and finding true music in an age of commercial fluff and computerized responses to popularity polls is like sifting through ashes and finding a diamond: it's too good to be true. Yet, here it is: very, very good — and true.
Henderson is a fine guitarist and often accompanies himself, but,
like most honest jazz singers, admits that he prefers singing with good
jazz combos, and especially, fine big bands.Henderson has appeared at clubs in Boston; Washington, DC; Panama City, Florida; and extensively in Naples, Italy. He has performed a number of times on Italian television. He has made 3 albums: Live at the AOC (1994), Dual Cool, with trumpeter Hunter Hustus, and his newest, A Slice Of The Moon (available now, on line or in the store), with a fine big band of young American musicians. Among many performances in Italy, he has appeared in Sanremo, Rome, and Milan with the US Navy 6th Fleet band, and with that band also sang at the 2000 Split, Croatia, Jazz Festival.
So, indeed, there is a common lament that "They don't write songs the way they used to,” and, alas, there is some truth in that. But they do still sing them! At least some people do. William Henderson, for one.
Jeff Matthews
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Songs on the Album 1. Almost Like Being in Love 2. A Slice of the Moon 3. Fly Me to the Moon 4. The Lady is a Tramp 5. I've Got You Under my Skin 6. When I Fall in Love 7. The Girl from Ipanema 8. Int Had To Be You 9. Laura 10. Manha de Carnival 11. Deed I Do 12. New York, New York Bonus Tracks 13. I'm Through With Love 14. More Than You Know |
For further information on William Henderson's availability and CDs: Nuova Canaria
For U.S. Booking call Dennis Hill at 1 850 784 1527 or e-mail: Dhillstudios@aol.com
To buy CD on line (U.S. and International):CD Baby
To Contact William Henderson Call (39) 081 714 1005 or e-mail: info@william-henderson.com