Tyler Henderson: Love Endures

CELLAR MUSIC (RELEASED MAY 30, 2025)

I go to our local farmers’ market for fresh, clean, crisp, flavorful and tasty fruits and vegetables. The freshman release from pianist Tyler Henderson has those same qualities. Having workshopped the material in New York’s finest clubs, Henderson and his trio bring a fresh approach to the tried-and-true piano trio format on Love Endures. The sound of trio is crisp and clean. Henderson’s playing in the higher registers is crystal clear as is drummer Hank Allen-Barfield’s sensitive brush work and Caleb Tobocman’s resonant bass playing. Kudos to the recording and engineering team for capturing the pure sound of this wonderful trio. Love Endures is packed with various flavors, including Henderson’s favorite standards and five originals (which have the qualities to become standards as well). Avoiding the cliches of typical cocktail bar trios, the band’s arrangements of the five standards on Love Endures keep your interest with their shifting rhythms and captivating solos. Henderson chose five of his favorite standards for this session — “On a Clear Day,” “I’ll Never Smile Again,” “Get Out of Town,” “The Good Life” and “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” (performed as a piano solo). Henderson’s originals are just as tasty. These include: the up tempo “West End Promenade, with its nod to Bud Powell’s “Parisian Thoroughfare;” the slightly Latin, Cedar Walton inspired “Hazel and Cedar;” the tender balladry of “Why Are You Not Here;” the conversation of Henderson’s right and left hand on the title track, “Love Endures;” and the strong backbeat and walking bass line of “The Architect.” The music of the Tyler Henderson Trio is ripe for the picking, so if you’re craving fresh, clean, crisp, flavorful and tasty piano jazz, you can’t go wrong picking up Love Endures.

BOTTOM: Pianist Tyler Henderson did his homework before releasing Love Endures.
He crafted wonderful arrangements for five of his favorite standards and composed
five equally wonderful originals, He choose the perfect bandmates — Caleb Tobocman on bass and Hank Allen-Barfield on drums. He workshopped the material in New York City’s finest clubs. Now that his work is done, it’s time for your assignment — sit back and enjoy the artistry and beauty of Love Endures.