Tom Harrell- Time's Mirror

[B. Goren.]

I'm quite familiar with Tom Harrell's recordings as a leader and I find this one as one of his best. Harrell leads here a big band which sounds like they have been playing together for years, but in fact they put together for just this session. Xavier Davis, who's sitting at the pianist chair, is doing an amazing job.

If you like the music and playing of Tom Harrell, dont miss this one.

Edited August 21, 2007 by B. Goren.

[BFrank]

Agreed. I picked that up on a whim on a BMG remainder sale.

A pleasant surprise.

[david weiss]

I'm quite familiar his Tom Harrell's recordings as a leader and I find this one as one of his best. Harrell leads here a big band which sounds like they have been playing together for years, but in fact they put together for just this session. Xavier Davis, who's sitting at the pianist chair, is doing an amazing job.

If you like the music and playing of Tom Harrell, don’t miss this one.

Actually I think we did a few gigs before we did this recording, maybe a week at Iridium (with Jon Faddis playing lead) and perhaps one other gig. Tom's big band writing is great, this was a fun, challenging date to make.

[B. Goren.]

I've just noticed that today is Tom Harrell's birthday (61) so I'll take this opportunity to wish him good health and all the best.

[sal]

I'll have to add this one to my "wish list"! I dig Tom's recordings quite a bit. "Labyrinth" is my favorite.

And happy birthday wishes to Mr. Harrell as well.

[AndrewHill]

Time's Mirror is the sole disk that I own by Harrell and its a good one. The arrangements seem fresh and exciting which is sometimes hard to do with a band this size. I like his effort on Lavano's Village Vanguard set too.

[B. Goren.]

This one is also a must for every Harrell's fan:

[sal]

This one is also a must for every Harrell's fan:

[Larry Kart]

Bringing this back up again because I just got a copy and am knocked out by what I'm hearing. Have always respected Harrell as a player, without being overwhelmed by him, but his writing here is exceptional and quite personal -- great range of "colors," but Harrell doesn't wallow in the paint box; there's a strong rhythmic and harmonic drive to his writing, with a very attractive IMO touch of acidity in the latter realm. Also, Harrell is unafraid to use the sections of the band as unified sections when that suits his ear; some writers these days break things up so much, and/or in such a "bitty" manner, that one wonders (or at least I wonder) why 16 or so players were assembled in the first place. All the more impressive that some of the more adventurous charts and/or pieces here were written by Harrell in the early 1960s -- e.g. the dance of seven veils setting of "Dream." Also, it shows that, as David Weiss said, the band played several gigs before recording. Lovely, very together performances.

[kh1958]

He's got a new one out on High Note after a long gap. Has anyone heard it?