SFJAZZ Collective's Robin Eubanks: Notes on Joe Henderson's "Black Narcissus"

Robin Eubanks © Jay Blakeberg

“I researched and listened to many different recorded versions of Joe Henderson's classic ‘Black Narcissus.’ Most were very similar to the original. Why mess with a classic, right? But I wanted to try and approach it differently. I got the idea for the drone tones from the melody. Joe composed the melody beginning with four B-flat dotted half notes. I stacked perfect 5ths to build the harmony and added a melody to set up the intro. Joe's melody is untouched but I re-harmonized it, slowed down the tempo and added a semi-funky beat to create a different feel for the composition.”

— Robin Eubanks, album notes from the SFJAZZ Collective's new album The Music of Joe Henderson and New Compositions, now available!

SFJAZZ Collective's 2015 Spring Tour begins this Thursday (4/9) at the Jazz Standard in NYC!

In Rehearsal, Pt. 2: SFJAZZ Collective plays Joe Henderson's "Black Narcissus"

Check out footage of the SFJAZZ Collective rehearsing trombonist Robin Eubanks' arrangement of Joe Henderson's standard "Black Narcissus" in the SFJAZZ Center's Joe Henderson Lab. The Collective takes the music of Henderson + original compositions on the road throughout 2014-15. Next up: a 4-night residency and live recording at SFJAZZ this week (October 23-26).

Also, check out the Collective's new live retrospective album!

Video: SFJAZZ Collective on Joe Henderson's music

In conjunction with the Joe Henderson Hotplate Festival this weekend, the SFJAZZ Collective talk about the music of Joe Henderson, the late saxophone giant and longtime SF native who had a long association with SFJAZZ. The Collective are back on tour throughout 2014-15 playing the music of Joe Henderson + originals, including a 4-night run at the SFJAZZ Center, Oct. 23-26, 2014.

See all their Tour Dates.