JSngry Posted October 14, 2003 Report Posted October 14, 2003 New Reissue copy of the LP for 12 bucks: http://www.dustygroove.com/jazzlp2.htm#43985 Quote
Jazzdog Posted October 15, 2003 Report Posted October 15, 2003 (edited) Yes, this is a spectacular album - start to finish. It should be in everyone's collection. Yeah, and the suit that he wears on the cover is BAD ASS as well! Edited October 15, 2003 by Jazzdog Quote
James Posted October 18, 2003 Report Posted October 18, 2003 (edited) There was speculation on page #2 of this thread that the Capra Black CD release for sale on the link that Jim posted (page #1) might in fact be a CDR. Nope. I spoke to Helen Scott yesterday (chairwoman of the B.H. fan club) and she informed me that both the Capra Black & Black Saint releases for sale were *CD's.* Just thought you'd like to know. Edited October 18, 2003 by James Quote
Late Posted October 19, 2003 Author Report Posted October 19, 2003 Thanks for clearing that up, James! $20, and autographed by Harper himself? Why not! Quote
James Posted October 19, 2003 Report Posted October 19, 2003 Yeah man - Capra Black & Black Saint are en route to my place, along with a Billy Harper T-shirt. Can't wait to dive into these recordings!! Quote
JSngry Posted October 19, 2003 Report Posted October 19, 2003 On Billy Harper threads I'm usually the only one who seems deeply committed to his recording "Soran-Bushi, B.H." That's O.K. I'll keep plugging it!!! Smokin' in parts, meditative in parts, and both qualities together. Featuring Everett Hollins (trumpet) Harold Mabern, Greg Maker (bass) Horace Arnold and Billy Hart (together) on drums. Count me in too. That's a GREAT record. His other Denon, KNOWLEDGE OF SELF, is also excellent, but SORAN-BUSHI just has a vibe to it that makes it EXTRA special. Quote
James Posted October 19, 2003 Report Posted October 19, 2003 (Huge sigh of relief) I'M NOT ALONE ANY MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote
Late Posted October 19, 2003 Author Report Posted October 19, 2003 This one seems similar to the Denon session you're mentioning. Almost the same line-up, and some of the same tunes. Have you heard it? Quote
JSngry Posted October 19, 2003 Report Posted October 19, 2003 I have it. Highly recommended. It's not a Denon date, thopugh. I have it on a Marge (France) LP, and I've since seen it issued on different labels. The Denon stuff was available in the US on LP ca. late/70s/very early 80s, and then again in the early CD days, but I don't know if the Harper stuff made it to CD or not. That was a pretty interesting, if uneven, series of releases. I think Reggie Workman was the A&R guy. Interesting trivia - Billy recorded the inaugural albums for the Black Saint & Soul Note labels both. BLACK SAINT has it's fans here obviously, but how about the Soul Note date, BILLY HARPER QUINTET IN EUROPE. That's another great one. Killer version of "Priestess". Quote
James Posted October 19, 2003 Report Posted October 19, 2003 This is great input, all. I'll e-mail this page to Helen Scott - I'm sure Billy would appreciate the feedback. Quote
SEK Posted October 19, 2003 Report Posted October 19, 2003 I've been heavily into Billy Harper since "Black Saint" first appeared on vinyl in the mid-'70s. Since then, I've picked up most of his recordings and know them almost by heart. His distinctive and passionate music could often serve as my personal soundtrack. My favorite Billy Harper recordings are the Denons ("Knowledge Of Self", "Love On The Sudan", "Soran-Bushi"), "The Believer", "Trying to Make Heaven My Home", "Black Saint", "Destiny Is Yours", "Somalia", and "Soul of an Angel". I'm playing "Somalia" right now. "Thy Will Be Done" is almost apocalyptic (Play it LOUD). My mellower, dinner-with-guests Billy Harper choice is "Such Great Friends" (Strata-East, 1983), not to be confused with the more recent release, "Great Friends" (Evidence). Quote
paul secor Posted October 19, 2003 Report Posted October 19, 2003 I have 7 or 8 Billy Harper LPs in my collection - Denons, Baystate, Black Saint/Soul Note, and Capra Black. When I play one of them, I'm hooked. I tend to think of him as a limited player (and I can understand those who hear him that way) until I listen. I don't know if I'd call it spirituality, sincerity, or what, but I dig his sound and his playing. Count me in as a fan. Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted October 20, 2003 Report Posted October 20, 2003 I'm playing "Somalia" right now. "Thy Will Be Done" is almost apocalyptic (Play it LOUD). "Somalia" is my all-time favorite Billy Harper session. The whole thing has to be played LOUD! Great kickbutt music. Quote
James Posted October 23, 2003 Report Posted October 23, 2003 (edited) Correction to make here: robert h's theory re. Capra Black was correct. I received my two Billy Harper discs in the mail yesterday and Capra is in fact a CDR. Black Saint is a "CD." I don't believe for a moment that I was misled into believing that both releases were CD's, but rather that there was misunderstanding re. what I was asking when I spoke to Helen --- who is CLEARLY a person of great work ethic & integrity. And as Robert pointed out in his post - who cares when the quality of the music is at this level? I've been enjoying both recordings enormously. Edited October 23, 2003 by James Quote
Late Posted May 14, 2004 Author Report Posted May 14, 2004 Good news — Capra Black is now available (again) on disc, as a German import. Dusty Groove is currently stocking it, in addition to Cecil Payne's Zodiac. Now if only Charles Brackeen's Rhythm X would make it out as a re-reissue on disc. Quote
Pim Posted April 23, 2019 Report Posted April 23, 2019 (edited) Anyone know this one? Bought it for 5 euros at the Utrecht fair and it's pretty freakin great! Steamin session, wow! It's with Everett Hollins, Harold Mabern, Greg Maker, Horacee Arnold and the very great Billy Hart. So that's two drummers Seems to be one of those lesser known pearls, Edited April 23, 2019 by Pim Quote
JSngry Posted April 23, 2019 Report Posted April 23, 2019 Yeah, there were three Denons. This one and Knowledge Of Self are desert island Billy, imo. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted April 23, 2019 Report Posted April 23, 2019 For my money, Billy is maybe the best Tenor player on the planet (and probably has been for years). I'm not including Wayne in my calculus, because his compositional talents really transcend his instrument - and plus, for how many years has he been playing soprano half the time (minimum). Wayne (like Miles) is more of a 'jazz auteur' in my mind (to borrow a term from film) -- and really covers a lot more areas than just their instrument. Anyway, I'm having a hard time thinking of anyone who tops Billy in my book -- or (for me personally), who even comes especially close. Quote
AllenLowe Posted April 23, 2019 Report Posted April 23, 2019 (edited) wowie zowie. Love his playing; I shouldn't say this is public, but I find his playing to be an antidote to the Brecker sound. A lot more.....feeling? I dunno, it just gets to me MUCH more. Edited April 23, 2019 by AllenLowe Quote
Pim Posted April 23, 2019 Report Posted April 23, 2019 Yes that is it with Billy to me: feeling. It’s like he is talking directly to my soul, and I am not even a spiritual person. He’s just stunning. 51 minutes ago, JSngry said: Yeah, there were three Denons. This one and Knowledge Of Self are desert island Billy, imo. Added to my wantlist Quote
JSngry Posted April 23, 2019 Report Posted April 23, 2019 18 minutes ago, AllenLowe said: wowie zowie. Love his playing; I shouldn't say this is public, but I find his playing to be an antidote to the Brecker sound. A lot more.....feeling? I dunno, it just gets to me MUCH more. I can't tell you how many hours I spent advocating for Billy at NT in the face of rampant Liebman/Grossman-ism and a parallel Brecker-ism. nothing wrong with them, but at the time their math just seemed a little too obvious to me to really be grabbing. Finally got one guy - a guitarist - interested. He was an instinctive transcriber, that was how he learned the languages. He came to me about a week after starting on one of Billy's things and said whoa, I thought this was going to be easy... Quote
Mark Stryker Posted April 23, 2019 Report Posted April 23, 2019 Just saw Billy a couple of weeks ago in Detroit with David Weiss' band The Cookers and he was sounding as strong as ever at 76. Quote
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