For the past decade, Jazz Dispensary has carved out a singular lane in the jazz world—one rooted in crate-digging, deep listening, and a curator’s instinct for the overlooked. Since its launch, Craft’s homegrown imprint has become a trusted destination for groove-forward compilations, cult classics, and essential reissues that reward curiosity and repeat listens.
That ethos takes center stage in 2026 as Jazz Dispensary celebrates its 10th anniversary. Leading the year-long celebration is a cornerstone release from the vaults: Tetragon, the 1968 post-bop gem from tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson. Long out-of-print and unavailable on vinyl for more than 50 years, the album returns as the first Top Shelf title of the anniversary year.
Arriving March 13, Tetragon will be released with all-analog mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Fidelity Record Pressing. Housed in a Tip-on gatefold jacket that faithfully replicates the album’s original design, the reissue also marks the album’s hi-res streaming debut.
This release sets the tone for a full slate of special releases, events, and deep-cut discoveries to roll out throughout 2026.
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FROM THE VAULTS: JOE HENDERSON'S TETRAGON
Originally released on Milestone Records, Tetragon was Joe Henderson’s seventh album as a leader and his sophomore effort for the label. Recorded in 1967–68, the album captures Henderson at a point of creative expansion—balancing compositional rigor with a growing appetite for exploration.
The record brings together a world-class lineup of collaborators, including Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette, Kenny Barron, Louis Hayes, and Don Friedman. Their presence underscores both the album’s intimacy and its ambition, anchoring Henderson’s saxophone within shifting rhythmic and harmonic frameworks.
By the late 1960s, Henderson had already established himself as one of the most versatile voices in modern jazz. After launching his career in Detroit and relocating to New York, he became a prolific force on the Blue Note roster, appearing on landmark sessions alongside artists like Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, Andrew Hill, and Lee Morgan. His ability to move fluidly between post-bop, avant-garde, Latin, and R&B-inflected styles soon caught the attention of legendary producer Orrin Keepnews, who signed him to Milestone Records.
Tetragon followed closely on the heels of The Kicker, but charted a more focused course—one centered on the quartet format.
LISTENING NOTES
• “Invitation” — Bronisław Kaper’s moody standard opens the album with spacious phrasing and elastic time, establishing the quartet’s conversational dynamic.
• “R.J.” — Composed by Ron Carter and named for his son, the piece unfolds with subtle propulsion, giving Henderson room to explore melodic variations over a supple rhythmic base.
• “First Trip” — Another Carter composition, marked by shifting momentum and tight interplay between bass and drums, balancing structure with spontaneity.
• “Tetragon” — Henderson’s angular title track anchors the album, pairing assertive tenor lines with rhythmic urgency and controlled tension.
• “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” — Cole Porter’s familiar melody is reworked into a more probing, modern setting, stretching harmonic expectations while keeping the tune intact.
• “The Bead Game” — An expansive eight-and-a-half-minute improvisation that closes the album, pushing the quartet into more exploratory territory and foreshadowing Henderson’s later experimental directions.
A LANDMARK RELEASE FOR A MILESTONE YEAR:
Over time, Tetragon has earned its place as a standout in Henderson’s extensive discography. Jazz Desk has hailed the album as a “Masterpiece,” calling it “one of the greatest tenor saxophone quartet albums of all time,” while London Jazz Collector praised Henderson’s “imaginative twists and turns” and probing harmonic extremes.
Tetragon is just the beginning of Jazz Dispensary’s 10th anniversary celebration, with more out-of-print cult classics, groove-forward compilations, special releases, global listening events, and additional surprises set to roll out throughout 2026.
Fans and collectors can follow @JazzDispensary for ongoing updates as the celebration continues.