The Eddie Henderson Interview Set II

"Infinite Void" The MWANDISHI Band was evolved out of things that came from the past like from the Miles Davis (Bitches Brew) type of thing and the avant garde music of John Coltrane. This particular band was so unique in that it incorporated all those aspects of things from the past and brought it right to the forefront. It encompassed what was going on, from the racial turmoil, the revolutions that were going on. It was right at the forefront of society and was reflective through the music that was created. It was on the cutting edge of creativity. Coltrane inspired everybody individually in the band but he passed in 1967. We didn't start until 1970, but Bitches Brew was in at interim. The music from BB influenced the "wide open spaces" that the MWANDISHI Band went for. Rather than just getting bogged down by chord changes, going around playing the same chord changes. Coltrane brought the avant garde part of it, it was like looking out into the infinite. Every night it was something different. We couldn't wait to get to the gig because we knew we would go into the infinite void somewhere." Louis Armstrong was always smiling, grinning and catering to the audience and an incredible artist. Miles took a different approach. He wanted to get into the fabric of the music itself and not be distracted by the audience, whether they were smiling or clapping a lot. He wanted to get into the essence of the real creative aspect of his musical endeavor without being distracted by applause. Miles had vocal chord tumor so his voice was very raspy, I think he was self conscious and that's why he never talked unannounced. Just the way he moved, it was like he was walking on air. His presence that he commanded whether you saw the front, the side or the back of him was such a mysterious event. Just talking about it gives me chills, but it impressed me when I was just a teenager. When I saw Coltrane live people would go, "boooo," and walk out. When Coltrane was with Miles, they used to tell Miles, "get somebody else, he sounds horrible." It sounded gorgeous to me but people are so accustom to hear what's pleasant to their ears and don't want to do anything new. That their incapacity to look past their nose.