Teacher, Musician, Legend – Barry Harris

by | May 27, 2023 | Trio

Barry Harris is part of an exceptional group of Detroit-bred jazz musicians, including Tommy Flanagan and Donald Byrd, who rose through the extraordinary arts education program in the public school system during the 1930s and 1940s.  He took piano lessons from his mother at the age of four––a church pianist, she asked him if he was interested in playing church music or jazz.  Fortunately for us, he chose jazz.

In his teens, he learned bebop largely by ear, imitating solos by Bud Powell, who along with Thelonious Monk was a strong influence on his playing.  Early on, he developed an interest in passing the torch through education.  Barry began teaching his musical theories as early as 1956, tutoring young, promising talent––all the while performing professionally with the likes of Miles Davis, Max Roach, and Lee Konitz. He has carried on the teaching tradition throughout his life.

Still going strong in 2017 at the age of 88, his arrangement of A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square at Dizzy’s in New York is as unique as Barry Harris himself.

Also at Dizzy’s, Blues In Bb features the trio of Barry on piano, Leroy Williams on drums and Ray Drummond playing bass.

Big Band Mulligan

by | May 19, 2023 | Big Band

Gerry Mulligan fronting a big band is a long way from his pianoless quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker … still historically regarded as one of the best cool groups in jazz.  Out Back Of The Barn [left] features Gary Teller on tenor trading fours and more with Mulligan, while Song For Strayhorn [right] offers a captivating piano solo by Harold Danko.

Although the original quartet  lasted fewer than two years, it had a profound effect upon jazz that extends even to this day.  It was comprised of Gerry Mulligan on baritone sax and Chet Baker on trumpet, with a rhythm section of either Larry Bunker or Chico Hamilton playing drums, and either Joe Mondragon or Bob Whitlock playing bass … depending upon the session.

Walkin' Shoes

by Gerry Mulligan | Complete Recordings

Transitions – Jon Hendricks/LH&R

by | May 14, 2023 | Vocal Group

Vocalese is a technique by which a jazz singer adapts the human voice to an instrument. In 1957, Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross –– LH&R –– applied the style beyond the usual intimacy of a small combo, to full big band arrangements … with special emphasis on music of the Count Basie Orchestra. Lambert, Hendricks and Ross’ 1961 treatment of Four (Above) is a classic example.

From 1962 to 1964, Yolande Bavan replaced Ross and they became Lambert, Hendricks and Bavan. After the group disbanded in 1966, Jon Hendricks continued to perform into the mid-1980s, with the ultimate incarnation of Jon Hendricks and Company, consisting of his wife Michele, Daughter Judith and vocalist Bob Gurland. Their 1982 rendition of Count Basie’s Jumpin’ At The Woodside (Below) testifies to Hendricks’ enduring excellence and dedication to this unique musical genre.

Battle Of The Saxes

by | May 5, 2023 | Septet/Octet

It’s July 1979 at the North Sea Jazz Festival and five of the world’s greatest tenor saxophone players take the stage.  Illinois Jacquet, Arnett Cobb, Dexter Gordon, Buddy Tate and Budd Johnson perform one of the most sensational sax battles in anyone’s memory.  To complete the perfection, behind them are Hank Jones on piano, Gene Ramey playing bass and Gus Johnson on drums.

Flyin’ Home was written back in 1939 by Lionel Hampton and Benny Goodman. Within a very few years it became a jazz standard recorded by just about everybody.

After blowing the roof off the place for more than an hour, they gave the crowd their one more once with a mellow encore tune called The Hague’s Blues.

Ten years later, I had the pleasure of interviewing Illinois Jacquet, after living for more than twenty years in Paris, and on the eve of his Grammy Award winning album “Jacquet’s Got It!” … his first album since returning to America.  I updated my interview and moved it forward from our Jazz Scene Podcasts page to share with you this week.  When I interviewed him on the phone, I engaged an open friendly voice that pulled you in, much the same way he played his horn.

This Is Illinois Jacquet

by Fred Masey | Podcast #006