Lafayette Harris Jr: Hangin’ With The Big Boys
Author: Brian Priestley
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Musicians: |
Houston Person (ts) |
Label: |
Airmen |
Magazine Review Date: |
June/2016 |
Catalogue Number: |
AR011 |
RecordDate: |
30 May 2013 |
Harris is the Brooklyn-based pianist who came here with Max Roach nearly two decades ago, and is known for work with Roswell Rudd, Cindy Blackman, top-flight singers and Houston Person. It’s the saxophonist who is the highlight of several tracks here, including dead- slow versions of ‘In A Sentimental Mood’, ‘The Very Thought Of You’, and two of several creative blues tunes. I’m assuming the reputation of the other musicians hasn’t spread much beyond Brooklyn, but their straightahead savvy is demonstrable, and the unhurried work of Drye and Curtis is impressive. Singers Horn and Wippler have one feature each, though it was probably a mistake to open the programme with their less-than-top-flight jamming on the brief ‘Blue Skies’. But the original material elsewhere is worthy of attention, and this set recorded with an invited audience shows the depth of talent that’s around these days.
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