Gene Harris - Big Band Soul: Live at Town Hall, N.Y.C./World Tour 1990 MP3 Download

Big Band Soul: Live at Town Hall, N.Y.C./World Tour 1990 CD music Recorded live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Berkeley, California on August 3, 1992. Includes liner notes by Jeff Levenson. The blues piano artistry of Gene Harris is well known to jazz fans, and this rare solo concert CD is worth acquiring. The leisurely "Lu's Blues" is beautifully understated, while "Elephant Blossom Blues" is an uptempo romp in the mold of Oscar Peterson, and "Blues for Rhonda" emphasizes a percussive, boogie woogie-like approach. His approach to standards is also fresh. "Angel Eyes" brings to mind a closing set in an after-hours club, while his jubilant rendition of "Erroll's Theme" shows he has energy to spare. Don't miss this excellent date. ~ Ken Dryden Solo performer: Gene Harris (piano). Personnel: Gene Harris (piano). Liner Note Author: Jeff Levenson. Recording information: Maybeck Recital Hall, Berkeley, CA. Photographer: James Gudeman. ...

Big Band Soul: Live at Town Hall, N.Y.C./World Tour 1990 buy CD music The Gene Harris Quartet was quite consistent in its many Concord recordings of the 1990s. The group on this disc (pianist Harris, guitarist Ron Eschete, bassist Luther Hughes, and drummer Paul Humphrey) performs soulful and bluesy versions of such songs as "I Remember You," "The Brotherhood of Man," Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder," and even "September Song." All of Harris' records from this era are easily recommended to fans of soul-jazz, soulful hard bop, and blues-oriented jazz. ~ Scott Yanow Recorded at Master Track Studios, Hayward, California on August 4 & 5, 1992. Includes liner notes by Chris Albertson. Personnel: Gene Harris (piano); Ron Eschete (guitar); Paul Humphrey (drums). Audio Remixer: Phil Edwards . Liner Note Author: Chris Albertson. Recording information: Master Track Studios, Hayward, CA (08/04/1995/08/05/1995). Photographer: Pam Benham. Gene Harris Quartet: Gene Harris (piano); Ron Eschete (guitar); Luther Hughes (bass); Paul Humphrey (drums).

Big Band Soul: Live at Town Hall, N.Y.C./World Tour 1990 songs A big-band date that slightly predated pianist Gene Harris' association with the Philip Morris Superband, this CD is ostensibly a tribute to the recently deceased Count Basie, but surprisingly, only two of the eight songs ("Swingin' the Blues" and "Blue and Sentimental") were played by Basie, although one original ("Captain Bill") was written in homage of the bandleader. Harris' 16-piece orchestra does bring back the spirit of Basie's band in spots, with a lightly but steadily swinging rhythm section and such soloists as trumpeters Conte Candoli and Jon Faddis and tenors Plas Johnson and Bob Cooper. But in reality, Harris dominates the solo spotlight, and the music (which includes a memorable version of "When Did You Leave Heaven") is a bit predictable. ~ Scott Yanow Gene Harris All Star Big Band: Gene Harris (piano); Marshall Royal, Bill Green, Jackie Kelson (alto saxophone); Bob Cooper, Plas Johnson (tenor saxophone); Jack Nimitz (baritone saxophone); Jon Faddis, Snooky Young, Conte Candoli, Frank Szabo, Bobby Bryant (trumpet); Bill Watrous, Thurman Green, Garnett Brown (trombone); Herb Ellis (guitar); Ray Brown, James Leary (bass); Jeff Hamilton (drums). Recorded at Evergreen Studios, Burbank, California in March and June 1987. Includes liner notes by Nat Hentoff and Bennett Rubin. Personnel: Gene Harris (piano); Herb Ellis (guitar); Bill Green , Marshall Royal (alto saxophone); Plas Johnson , Bob Cooper (tenor saxophone); Jack Nimitz (baritone saxophone); Conte Candoli, Jon Faddis, Snooky Young, Frank Szabo, Bobby Bryant (trumpet); Bill Waltrous, Garnett Brown, Thurman Green, Bill Watrous, Charles Loper, William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); Jeff Hamilton (drums). Recording information: 03/1987-06/1987.

Big Band Soul: Live at Town Hall, N.Y.C./World Tour 1990 album for sale Recorded live at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 10 & 11, 1995. Includes liner notes by W. Royal Stokes. Gene Harris was a very consistent pianist, always infusing the standards and ballads that he interpreted with soul and the blues feeling. On this live set (recorded in Pittsburgh), Harris and his regular quartet of the period (with guitarist Ron Eschete, bassist Luther Hughes, and drummer Paul Humphrey) perform typically soulful versions of "Summertime," "You Don't Know Me," "Lady Be Good" (taken at a relaxed tempo), and "That's All." Veteran tenor saxophonist and flutist Frank Wess is featured on four other numbers: two of his originals plus "Straight No Chaser" and "My Funny Valentine." The music overall is predictably excellent, for all of Harris' Concord recordings are easily recommended. ~ Scott Yanow Gene Harris Quartet: Gene Harris (piano); Ron Eschete (guitar); Luther Hughes (bass); Paul Humphrey (drums). Personnel: Frank Wess (flute, tenor saxophone); Gene Harris (piano); Ron Eschete (guitar); Ron Wess (flute, tenor saxophone); Paul Humphrey (drums). Audio Mixer: Phil Edwards . Liner Note Author: W. Royal Stokes. Recording information: Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, Pittsburgh, PA (03/10/1995-03/11/1995). Photographer: Bob Bowman . Additional personnel: Frank Wess (tenor saxophone, flute).

Big Band Soul: Live at Town Hall, N.Y.C./World Tour 1990 CD music Gene Harris was always predictably excellent, particularly during his final decade. This CD has his quartet of 1993 (with guitarist Ron Eschete, bassist Luther Hughes, and drummer Paul Humphrey) performing such tunes as a soulful "Take the 'A' Train," the sly "Ma (He's Making Eyes at Me)," "My Little Suede Shoes," and even "Ode to Billie Joe." Harris, who is heard playing a concert in his adopted state of Idaho, often sounds in exuberant form talking to his hometown crowd. His fans will have little difficulty enjoying this happy date. ~ Scott Yanow Recorded live at the Ste. Chapelle Winery, Caldwell, Idaho on July 18, 1993. Includes liner notes by Wayne Thompson. Personnel: Gene Harris (piano); Ron Eschete (guitar); Paul Humphrey (drums). Audio Remixer: Phil Edwards . Liner Note Author: Wayne Thompson. Recording information: Ste. Chapelle Winery, Caldwell, ID (07/30/1993-07/31/1993). Photographer: Nick Phillips. Unknown Contributor Roles: Carl Jefferson; Luther Hughes; Paul Humphrey ; Ron Eschete. Gene Harris Quartet: Gene Harris (piano); Ron Eschete (guitar); Luther Hughes (bass); Paul Humphrey (drums).

Big Band Soul: Live at Town Hall, N.Y.C./World Tour 1990 buy CD music In 2001, Concord Jazz described Live at Otter Crest as a "never-before-released live recording." But, in fact, this CD is actually a reissue of an obscure, little-known LP that originally came out on the Bosco label. When Live at Otter Crest was recorded at an Oregon gig on April 24, 1981, Gene Harris was in semi-retirement -- he was still performing, but not very often. And it wasn't until 1985 that the pianist's very productive association with Concord would begin. Because Harris had recorded some overproduced commercial projects in the late '70s, bop's hardcore was calling him a sellout. But on Live at Otter Crest, a 47-year-old Harris is hell-bent for straight-ahead, hard-swinging jazz -- funky and earthy, yes, but definitely straight-ahead. Forming a hard bop/soul-jazz trio with drummer Jimmie Smith (not to be confused with organist Jimmy Smith) and bassist John Heard, Harris sticks to the acoustic piano -- no keyboards, no electric piano, no synthesizers -- and he is as inspired on Frank Foster's "Shiny Stockings" as he is on Neal Hefti's "Cute," and an 11-minute version of the traditional "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (which lends itself surprisingly well to a bop interpretation). Harris is confident and focused; it's as if he's assuring audience members that his commercial ventures of the 1970s didn't take away his desire to play straight-ahead jazz. Although not quite essential, Live at Otter Crest marked a welcome return to form for the soulful pianist. ~ Alex Henderson Recorded on April 24, 1981. Includes liner notes by Howard Mandel. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Personnel: Gene Harris (piano); Jimmie Smith (drums). Audio Mixer: Paul Aronoff. Liner Note Author: Howard Mandel. Recording information: Otter Crest, OR (04/24/1981); The Inn At Otter Crest, OR (04/24/1981). Personnel includes: Gene Harris (piano); John Heard (bass); Jimmie Smith (drums).