The Kicker is a jazz tune written by Joe Henderson and serves as the title track of his sixth studio album, The Kicker. The album was released in late January 1968 on Milestone and was recorded on August 10, 1967 at Plaza Sound Studios in New York City, with one track from a later session on September 27. The Kicker features Henderson on tenor sax, with Mike Lawrence on trumpet, Grachan Moncur III on trombone, Kenny Barron on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums. The track runs 4:09 and showcases Henderson’s adventurous post-bop approach, a continuation of the acoustic exploration he pursued on Blue Note. The album also includes Henderson originals and standards such as Chelsea Bridge, If, Nardis, Without a Song, and O Amor Em Paz, highlighting a bold, inventive lineup in a pivotal Milestone release.
