mikeweil

SONY should have produced a double CD reissue with all of Eddie Harris' sessions for the label - there are some unissued tracks listed that could be worthy of a release. Maybe that would have helped. Eddie's playing is excellent, on the ballads in particular.

I re-listened to all three Columbia LPs: The take of "People" on Here Comes The Judge and Cool Sax From Hollywood To Broadway is the same; but the piano sound on the whole session is narrow and mixed to the extreme left or right, piano but not grand. the guitarist on Judge is not Burrell, whose sound is recognizable on the Cool Sax albums, but the guitar on the organ session must be someone else - different sound and phrasings. Who can it be? Joe Diorio?

Found a copy of the European CD reissue of this, his third Columbia LP. Seven of the eight tracks have sax, organ, guitar and drums, only one (People) has a piano trio. The piano sound is weird - at first I assumed it was an electric keyboard, but the solo revealed Cedar Walton mixed to the extreme right channel. There are minimal liner notes (from the LP), no personnel listings. Those found in the Lord Disco must be incorrect - there is no piano on the other seven tracks. Should be Sonny Phillips, who played with Harris in those years. Can't say whether it is Kenny Burrell on guitar as Lord says, no solos; but the drummer definitely is Billy Brooks, immediately before his trip to Paris with Woody Shaw, Nathan Davis, and Larry Young. Good music. The drummer gets two spots, otherwise it's all Eddie, playing flawlessly with great feeling.

Received it, and gave it a listen, and was pleasantly surprised. As JSngry stated, the man had chops, and a broad palette of influences. Sometimes his classical training shines through, although he never uses two-part invention techniques like Nina Simone did, there is reference to older pianistical devices, boogie woogie in particular, and some serious bebop, although not as fluent or elegant as Bud Powell. The nicest surprise are the tracks with a conga player (Frankie Colon), which are good examples of early Cubop and make clear why he was allowed to sit in with Machito's orchestra. The tracks here are much better than those cut for Prestige in 1953 (because, IMO, Taylor's drummer Charlie Smith handed the congas in a much less comptetent manner). Recommended.

The Turrentine is on back order IIRC.

His covers were the face of Creed Taylor prodcuced LPs - I wonder how much they influenced the listening attitude. Highly aesthetic, but somehow a world of their own with little or no relation to the music. R.I.P.

- this is a beautiful album, catching all the subtlety bossa nova is capable of. Just finished this one while waiting for some craftsmen to drop by:

Picked this one up at the post office yesterday. The first two of his three LPs for Columbia, complete (close to 80 minutes of music) and in excellent sound, The CD included a second liner notes sheet and OBI in Japanese - but the CD is the same as other Collectables reissues. If they aim at the Japanese market, their remasterings better be top notch, which is the case here. The music is similar to his VeeJay albums, but presented in a more professional attitude - excellent, clean sound and production. Eddie's mixed bag of standards and originals, vocals on the opening two tracks, probably to attract a wider audience, but after that it gives way to his modal excursions in altissimo range - Eddie was a master at that. Only the superficial attitude is cool. The phrases and ideas are red hot. I'm glad I got me a copy of this.

This morning: Eddie Harris was a bad m.... - those jam session type performances with Ira Sullivan are fantastic. Now playing: Jimmy Rowles is the main reason to get this, the French lady's intonation is a bit flat in some spots. And if you know Jimmy's own subtle rendition of "Don't quit know" ... his accompaniment is great, full of unpredictable ideas, as always.

One of the very best recordings ever made of keyboard works of either composer, a perfect introduction as well. JPC currently sells this out at € 2,99 per disc. Highly recommended! https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/cpo/detail/-/art/girolamo-frescobaldi-cembalowerke/hnum/5434246

I noticed that some sellers have branches set up in each part of the amazon sales platform and sell only to buyers from that very same region, although it turns out their stock from which they ship is in one and the same location. Since amazon refunds set shipping rates, maybe it is cheaper for them that way?

Maybe he definitely wants a single CD release? I had one for sale after I got the Mosaic box, but it was bought a few months ago, sorry ....

Eddie is top, the sound is not on that level, but Eddie's enthusiasm will make you forget that. He audibly inspires Dan Wall. too, and the audience gives generous applause. I wish Eddie had been that good when I saw him, but as I stated, he had the flu.

amazon.de has two used copies of the double CD for € 14.99 plus shipping - but when I type the ASIN into the search field at amazon.com all I get is a streaming option of a totally different compilation. Here's a link to the German page: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00003CLVK/sr=1-1/qid=1505575801/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1505575801&sr=1-1 BTW - Dan is right, Eddie is at his very top on this date!

I had no idea it was that rare.

Thanks Dan - I was puzzled as I couldn't find is on discogs - but it was there on my shelves, a double CD with 12 tracks ...