Once the British Invasion took hold, times were tough for all sorts of competing genre, not the least of which was jazz. So, what was happening in jazz after the Beatles made their debut on the Ed Sullivan show and all things mop-top and yeah-yeah-yeah became the rage?
For one, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson was putting out music. In ‘n Out was his third album on the Blue Note label. It was released on April 10, 1964, with Henderson joined by Kenny Dorham (trumpet), McCoy Tyner (piano), Richard Davis (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums).
About the album, Scott Yannow at AllMusic writes: “Henderson always had the ability to make a routine bop piece sound complex and the most complicated free improvisation seem logical.”
The authoritative and weighty Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD says this:
Henderson’s … [tunes] are standout pieces, [like] the quizzical title track, the haunting theme of “Punjab,” [and] the charming “Serenity.” Dorham seems to be thinking through his solos rather than punching them out, while in general the temperature seems rather lower than on Henderson’s other Blue Notes; it’s fascinating music.
Very nice indeed.