As I'm sure you are all aware, Scott Henderson's impressive work over the years as co-leader of the group TRIBAL TECH, leader of his own ground breaking trio, and sideman to some of the best jazz artists of their generation, has brought him kickin' and screamin' to the fore of the Jazz and Blues musical world that he inhabits.

Personally, I was a big fan of Tore Down House, which was Henderson's second blues release, which he showcased a righteous expansion on the musical territory first explored on Dog Party. For my money, Henderson plays the cleanest blues you're likely to ever hear; yet it's soulful and searing, all at the same time. Hendrix, Beck and Santana rolled into one and sprinkled with jazz!

Here on the upcoming Vibe Station, the talented trio of Henderson, Travis Carlton (bass) and Alan Hertz (drums), bring us an instrumental album that will send you running for the repeat button once heard for just even the first time. Trust me, this album is just that extraordinary. Kicking off with the brazen 'Church of Xotic Dance,' that flows into the mid-tempo 'Sphinx,' before he heat of the beat is turned up again for both the title track and then the aptly-titled, 'Manic Carpet.'

The methodical, Christopher Crossesque 'Calhoun' is next, and is backed by the delightful romp of 'The Covered Head.' That, in turn, is followed by one of my favorite tracks from Vibe Station, the lush 'Festival of Ghosts,' before the album is rounded out by both 'Dew Wut?' (which is a brilliant guitar and drum rock adventure), and then the mellow 'Chelsea Bridge.'

Henderson is a master blues guitarist, with an amazing sense of feeling, of power behind is instrument, safe in the knowledge that he is as good as the people make him out to be. Henderson himself has said: “I'm really excited about this record because our trio has been touring a lot and that energy came through on all the performances. The music is still blues-based, but also has a lot of harmonic content. The big change is no vocals, which challenged me as a guitarist to write material which can be played in a vocal way on the guitar, while incorporating my own chord-melody style."

If that doesn't sum this album up I don't know what does! In closing, for my money (again), nobody gets tone like Scott Henderson. The wildness of his fusion, cajoling the tones from out of the notes, whilst delivering incredibly thoughtful, tasteful lines of sheer speed, with Jeff Beck-type artistry, is simply incomparable. The authority in Henderson's playing is so amazing. He holds it down and plays groove solos like a man possessed and is the strong glue between the other two fabulous musicians.

www.scotthenderson.net