Henson Jazz - Henson Originals and Wayne Shorter Memorial

194 2nd Street,Amherst VA 24521

25 March, 2023

Description

Joseph Henson wrote to say that Henson Jazz will take the opportunity of their Amherst Java and Jazz concert at Second Stage Amherst on March 25, 2023 from 6 pm to 8 pm to celebrate the life and work of the late saxophonist Wayne Shorter, who died on March 2nd at the age of 89. Shorter was known especially as a hard bop and fusion collaborator with such groups as Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis, and Weather Report. Henson said on March 9th, "If we had a Mount Rushmore of jazz legends, Wayne Shorter would most certainly be there. His timeless compositions, deeply emotional solo style, and keen musical leadership have always been highly revered in the jazz world. He passed away on March 2 of this year, and left behind an indelible mark on the greatness of the music he loved---jazz." Henson added, "We're also coming back with a number of new original songs of mine." Joseph Henson, formerly a member of the U.S. Army Blues Jazz Ensemble from Washington, D.C., retired in December 2018 to become Associate Professor of Commercial Music and Jazz Studies at the Liberty University School of Music. He played saxophone and wrote music for the Blues for 21 years and was also the band’s Musical Director for a number of years. Mr. Henson hold degrees in music from the University of South Carolina and the University of North Texas. He performs regularly in the D.C. and Lynchburg areas, with a wide variety of groups, including his own Henson Jazz. He and his wife Mary live in Forest, VA with four of their five kids.