Eric Gale's guitar surfaces first in 1961, and within a few years the thread runs through Joe Henderson in 1964 and Joe Chambers in 1966, the kind of credits engineer Rudy Van Gelder kept capturing tape after tape, with Herbie Hancock recurring at the keys across those same dates. Henry Franklin arrives in 1967, then Joe Farrell and Miroslav Vitous in 1968, bound to the others by bassist Ron Carter and flutist Hubert Laws, whose names keep reappearing as the personnel deepens. By 1969 the baton reaches Jack DeJohnette and Jerry Jemmott, with that rhythm-section spine — Buster Williams, drummer Bernard Purdie, guitarist Billy Butler, and the recurring presence of Arthur Clarke — tying Jemmott back through Gale, Farrell, and Henderson on session after session. The hand
The spine, inception to now
1961Eric Gale
1964Joe Henderson
1966Joe Chambers
1967Henry Franklin
1968Joe Farrell
1968Miroslav Vitous
1969Jack DeJohnette
1969Jerry Jemmott
1976Mark Nauseef
1979Terry Bozzio
1980Morris Pert
The threads that bind it
Herbie Hancockmusician — Eric Gale, Jerry Jemmott, Joe Chambers, Joe Farrell, Joe Henderson
Rudy Van Gelderengineer — Eric Gale, Jerry Jemmott, Joe Chambers, Joe Farrell, Joe Henderson
Hubert Lawsmusician — Eric Gale, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Chambers, Joe Farrell, Miroslav Vitous
Ron Cartermusician — Eric Gale, Joe Chambers, Joe Farrell, Joe Henderson, Miroslav Vitous
Billy Butlermusician — Eric Gale, Jerry Jemmott, Joe Farrell, Joe Henderson
Buster Williamsmusician — Eric Gale, Jerry Jemmott, Joe Farrell, Joe Henderson
Bernard Purdiemusician — Eric Gale, Jerry Jemmott, Joe Farrell, Joe Henderson
Arthur Clarkemusician — Eric Gale, Jerry Jemmott, Joe Farrell, Joe Henderson