Joe Henderson, In ’n Out

Album of the Week, November 7, 2026 We’ve seen saxophonist Joe Henderson a few times in our jazz record reviews, as a sideman for Alice Coltrane, Ron Carter, Freddie Hubbard, Miroslav Vitouš, and Herbie Hancock. But before any of these recordings were the classic albums the Lima, Ohio-born Henderson made as a leader, starting with a string of recordings for Blue Note Records that reflected both a more conventional hard bop and a broader, more original compositional palette that was informed by modal jazz but came with its own unique compositional and melodic sensibilities. We’ll explore a small selection of these albums over the next few weeks, refracted as always through the prism of my vinyl collection, and we’ll start with this album, Henderson’s third for Blue Note, which has one of the most distinctive and memorable covers in jazz record history. Of the ingredients in Blue Note Records’ long-lasting success, Reid Miles’ album covers are certainly the most visible, and In ’n Out…

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