James Rohr , Nate McBride, John McLellan - They Sent Three Henchmen Live At Willow Jazz

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Review by Zach Rowe

They Sent Three Henchmen Live At Willow Jazz – A Wild Ride Through Free Improvisation Alright, buckle up, because They Sent Three Henchmen Live At Willow Jazz by James Rohr, Nate McBride, and John McLellan is not your grandma's smooth jazz record (unless your grandma is secretly an avant-garde genius). Released in 1998 on Day Job Records, this album dives headfirst into the chaotic beauty of free improvisation. It’s raw, unpredictable, and kinda feels like eavesdropping on a musical conversation that doesn’t care if you’re listening. Let’s talk tracks. First off, there’s "And Sitting In On Crazy Drunk..." — yeah, that’s the title, no joke. This tune grabs you by the ears and shakes you awake. James Rohr’s piano work here is all over the place but in the best way possible. He seems to be chasing some invisible muse, hammering out chords that sound like they’re tumbling down stairs. Meanwhile, Nate McBride’s bass lines slither around like they’re trying to escape the mix altogether, while John McLellan’s drums just go “nah, we’re doing THIS now” every time you think you’ve got a handle on where things are headed. The whole thing is messy and brilliant, like watching someone paint a masterpiece with their feet. Then there’s "Strange Faraway Smiles," which hits different. It starts off slow, almost shy, like it's testing the waters before diving in. But once it gets going? Wow. The interplay between Rohr’s keys and McBride’s bass creates this eerie, dreamlike vibe—like walking through fog at midnight and wondering if something’s following you. By the time McLellan kicks in with those loose, cymbal-heavy beats, you’re fully immersed in whatever strange world these guys have conjured up. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you what story they were telling, but damn if it didn’t stick with me for days. The credits deserve a shout-out too. Becca Solomon and Don Rohr killed it with the artwork, giving the album cover a scrappy, DIY charm that matches the music perfectly. And props to Peter Kontrimas for engineering this chaos without losing its soul—it can’t have been easy. What strikes me most about this album is how alive it feels. You can practically hear the musicians reacting to each other in real-time, making decisions on the fly. It’s jazz as experimentation, jazz as rebellion, jazz as pure joy. Sure, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but isn’t that the point? So here’s my reflection: Listening to They Sent Three Henchmen made me realize that sometimes the best art isn’t perfect—it’s human. These guys weren’t aiming for perfection; they were aiming for truth. And honestly? That’s worth more than any polished pop hit. Now excuse me while I go listen to "Just Get In The Van" and pretend I’m cool enough to understand exactly what they were going for. Spoiler alert: I’m not.

Download James Rohr , Nate McBride, John McLellan - They Sent Three Henchmen Live At Willow Jazz
Artist: James Rohr , Nate McBride, John McLellan
Album: They Sent Three Henchmen Live At Willow Jazz

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: james-rohr-nate-mcbride-john-mclellan-they-sent-three.zip
  • MP3 size: 22.5 mb
  • FLAC size: 125.4 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Strange Faraway Smiles26:08
And Sitting In On Crazy Drunk ...25:21
Just Get In The Van19:24

Images

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Catalog Numbers

DJR-002

Labels

Day Job Records

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Formats

  • CD
  • Album

Credits

RoleCredit
Artwork ByBecca Solomon, Don Rohr
BassNate McBride
DrumsJohn McLellan
EngineerPeter Kontrimas
Graphic DesignRed Notebook, Steve Norton
PianoJames Rohr
Art DirectionJames Rohr
ProducerJames Rohr

Notes

Recorded 3/97 at Willow Jazz, Somerville MA

About James Rohr , Nate McBride, John McLellan

American pianist

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *They Sent Three Henchmen Live At Willow Jazz* is a hidden gem in the world of free improvisation jazz. Released in 1998 by Day Job Records, it features James Rohr on piano, Nate McBride on bass, and John McLellan on drums. What makes it stand out? The entire vibe was captured live, giving it an unpolished yet electric energy. Tracks like "And Sitting In On Crazy Drunk..." and "Just Get In The Van" feel raw and spontaneous—like you’re right there in the room with them. Plus, Becca Solomon and Don Rohr helped with the artwork, adding a personal touch to this gritty masterpiece. It’s not your typical jazz record; it’s more like a snapshot of pure creativity in motion.