EDDIE HARRIS - MEAN GREENS (VG+) - Classic Jazz LP (Stereo DJ promo)
$
25
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
Mean Greens Review
by Jim Todd
[-]Eddie Harris' trademark chops and versatility are well showcased on this respectable follow-up to Harris' excellent Atlantic debut, The In Sound. Mean Greens doesn't have a signature piece, like The In Sound's "Freedom Jazz Dance," but the program of mostly Harris originals is a satisfying set based around two groups: one with pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Billy Higgins; the other with organist Sonny Philips, and Harris doubling on electric piano.
Walton's steady piano vamp and the flowing swagger of the tenor solo on the title track are suggestive of "Freedom Jazz Dance," but overall, the track is straight soul-jazz compared to the elongated, oddball melody of Harris' classic piece. The standard "It Was a Very Good Year" starts conventionally, but moves into a hard bop space, with nice work from the rhythm section, and an example of the leader's unusual altissimo range, which renders soprano sax sounds from Harris' tenor. In his early days, Harris made a point of learning the styles of tenor greats, from Coleman Hawkins to Stan Getz. On Mean Greens, this skill is evidenced in Harris' flawless evocation of Sonny Rollins, on the Rollins-esque calypso "Yeah Yeah Yeah."
The three blues-based grooves, with the double-keyboard attack of organist Phillips and Harris' Fender Rhodes, have a fresh, distinctive, flavor, as Phillips' B-3 and the leader's electric piano weave together some savory funk and blues.
A1 Mean Greens Written-By – Eddie Harris Written-By – Eddie Harris 7:22 A2 It Was A Very Good Year Written-By – Ervin Drake Written-By – Ervin Drake 5:08 A3 Without You Written-By – Eddie Harris Written-By – Eddie Harris 3:01 A4 Yeah Yeah Yeah Written-By – Eddie Harris Written-By – Eddie Harris 5:12 B1 Listen Here Written-By – Eddie Harris Written-By – Eddie Harris 3:38 B2 Blues In The Basement Written-By – Eddie Harris Written-By – Eddie Harris 8:07 B3 Goin' Home Written-By – Eddie Harris Written-By – Eddie Harris 7:48
Companies, etc.
- Copyright © – Atlantic Recording Corporation
Credits
- Bass – Melvin Jackson (tracks: B1 to B3), Ron Carter (tracks: A1 to A4)
- Design – Loring Eutemey
- Drums – Billy Higgins (tracks: A1 to A4), Bucky Taylor (tracks: B2, B3)
- Electric Piano – Eddie Harris (tracks: B1 to B3)
- Engineer – Phil Iehle, Tom Dowd
- Liner Notes – Anthony Stearn
- Organ – Sonny Phillips (tracks: B1 to B3)
- Percussion – Bucky Taylor (tracks: B1), Ray Barretto (tracks: B1), Ray Codrington (tracks: B1)
- Photography By – Pat McCallum
- Piano – Cedar Walton (tracks: A1 to A4)
- Supervised By – Arif Mardin
- Tambourine – Ray Codrington (tracks: A1, A4)
- Tenor Saxophone – Eddie Harris (tracks: A1 to A4, B2)
- Trumpet – Ray Codrington (tracks: A1 to A4, B2)
price rating
