Joe Harriott: Essential Albums

JOE HARRIOTT WITH STRINGS

1954

Produced by Denis Preston, this EP finds the saxophonist in “Parker with strings” mode, upping the romantic ante with breezy versions of ‘Easy To Love’ and ‘I’ll Remember April’. The great Phil Seamen proves a dab hand with the brushes.

Difficult to get hold of today, tracks from the original EP appear on The Joe Harriott Story compilation album.

FREE FORM

1960

The first of the two great masterworks that introduces the idea of ‘Free Form’ – sketch-like pieces in which all members of the group create new musical shades through spontaneous interaction. Harriott’s best ever group – Shake Keane (t), Coleridge Goode (b), Pat Smythe (p) and Phil Seamen (d) – is absolutely imperious.

ABSTRACT

1963

A bold development of the “Free Form” principle with startling new compositions such as ‘Shadows’, ‘Idioms’ and ‘Modal’. The band line-up is changing – Bobby Orr shares the drum kit with Seamen and Frank Holder plays crisp, stinging bongos on ’Compound’ and ‘Tonal.’

INDO-JAZZ SUITE

1966

Groundbreaking collaboration with Indian violinist John Mayer whose exquisitely architectural compositions were rooted in raga and tala structures but left space for solos from Harriott, who is part of a “double quintet” that brought together Indian and British musicians.

Swings High

1967

A curio in that although recorded after Harriott’s profound fusion and free experiments, he found himself having to record a more straight ahead album, but now without his co-adventurer Shake Keane who'd gone to Europe to seek steady employment. Seamen also makes a surprise return. Harriott still soars through the average material and none too clear mix, especially on 'The Rake'.

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