Charles Harris

For the second of his three Mainstream sessions (one that has been reissued on CD), the bebop altoist Charles McPherson pays tribute to Billie Holiday; in fact, "Siku Ya Bibi" means "Day of the Lady" in Swahili.

Bebop is the thing on this excellent outing as altoist Charles McPherson and pianist Barry Harris do their interpretations of Charlie Parker and Bud Powell. With trumpeter Carmell Jones, bassist Nelson Boyd and drummer Al "Tootie" Heath completing the quintet, the band romps through such bop classics as "Hot House," "Nostalgia," "Wail" and "Si Si" along with an original blues and "Embraceable You." A previously unissued "If I Love You" is added to the CD reissue. McPherson and Jones make for a potent frontline on these spirited performances, easily recommended to fans of straightahead jazz.

Charles McPherson - Bebop Revisited! (1964) {Prestige OJCCD-710-2 rel 1992}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 284 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 115 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 23 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1964, 1992 Prestige / Fantasy | OJCCD-710-2
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Straight-ahead Jazz / Saxophone

Bebop is the thing on this excellent outing as altoist Charles McPherson and pianist Barry Harris do their interpretations of Charlie Parker and Bud Powell. With trumpeter Carmell Jones, bassist Nelson Boyd and drummer Al "Tootie" Heath completing the quintet, the band romps through such bop classics as "Hot House," "Nostalgia," "Wail" and "Si Si" along with an original blues and "Embraceable You." A previously unissued "If I Love You" is added to the CD reissue. McPherson and Jones make for a potent frontline on these spirited performances, easily recommended to fans of straightahead jazz.

Charles McPherson - The Quintet Live (1966) {Prestige OJCCD-1804-2 rel 1992}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 297 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 117 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 15 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1966, 1992 Prestige Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-1804-2
Jazz / Bebop / Hard Bop / Saxophone

A great set of soul jazz from McPherson – recorded live, with a rolling groove that's in the Blue Note mode of the mid 60s – but even more open overall! The group's got a lot of hometown talent from McPherson's native Detroit – including Barry Harris on piano, Lonnie Hillyer on trumpet, and Ray McKinney on bass – and the mighty Billy Higgins handles the drums, always with a lean and fluid groove that works well with the extended energy of the set! McPherson's horn is sometimes a bit overshadowed by Hillyer's trumpet on the head arrangements – but given how much we like Lonnie, that's hardly a bad thing – and Charles more than comes into his own on the solos!

Charles McPherson - Siku Ya Bibi (1972) {2017 Japan Mainstream Records Master Collection Series CDSOL-45219}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 299 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 111 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 15 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1972, 2017 Time / Mainstream Records / Solid Records Japan | CDSOL-45216
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Mainstream Jazz / Saxophone

For the second of his three Mainstream sessions (one that has been reissued on CD), the bebop altoist Charles McPherson pays tribute to Billie Holiday; in fact, "Siku Ya Bibi" means "Day of the Lady" in Swahili. The emphasis is mostly on ballads, with "Miss Brown to You" and "Lover Come Back to Me" being exceptions. Four of the eight selections find McPherson backed by ten strings arranged by Ernie Wilkins, while the remainder of the date has the altoist joined by a rhythm section that includes pianist Barry Harris. Although not quite up to the level of his upcoming, more freewheeling Xanadu sessions, this is a fine outing. Highlights include the two aforementioned cooking pieces, "Lover Man," "Good Morning Heartache," and "I'm a Fool to Want You."

Eddie Harris - E.H. In The U.K. (1973) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27476}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 260 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 102 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1973, 2013 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27476 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Groove / Soul Jazz / Jazz Funk / Saxophone / Trumpet

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Following the hip strategy of the time, Eddie Harris flew to London to mix it up with some of Britain's most in-demand rockers – including guitarists Jeff Beck and Albert Lee, pianist Stevie Winwood and drummer Alan White – on this LP. Truthfully, though, most of the results aren't too different from what Harris had been recording at home at the time, with only a hint of a rock edge. If anything, the workmanlike Brits are too much on their best behavior – Beck plays with restraint and taste while Lee is jazzier and a bit flashier – making Harris seem like a wild man by comparison.