Gene Harris

Gene Harris (born Eugene Haire, September 1, 1933 – January 16, 2000) was an American jazz pianist known for his warm sound and blues and gospel infused style that is known as soul jazz.

For other people named Gene Harris, see Gene Harris (disambiguation).

Gene Harris
Background information
Birth nameEugene Haire
Born(1933-09-01)September 1, 1933
Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S.
DiedJanuary 16, 2000(2000-01-16) (aged 66)
Boise, Idaho
GenresJazz, blues, soul jazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboards, Hammond B3
Years active1955–2000
LabelsBlue Note, Concord Jazz
Websitewww.geneharris.org

From 1956 to 1970, he played in The Three Sounds trio with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy. During this time, The Three Sounds recorded regularly for Blue Note and Verve.[1]

He mostly retired to Boise, starting in the late 1970s, although he performed regularly at the Idanha Hotel there. Ray Brown convinced him to go back on tour in the early 1980s. He played with the Ray Brown Trio and then led his own groups, recording mostly on Concord Records, until his death from kidney failure in 2000.[2] One of his most popular numbers was his "Battle Hymn of the Republic," a live version of which is on his Live at Otter Crest album, published by Concord. The singer and actress Niki Haris is his daughter.

Discography

As leader/co-leader
Year recorded Title Label Year released Personnel/Notes
1958 Introducing the 3 Sounds Blue Note 1959 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1958–59 Bottoms Up! Blue Note 1959 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1959 LD + 3 Blue Note 1959 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus Lou Donaldson (alto sax)
1959 Good Deal Blue Note 1960 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1960 Blue Hour Blue Note 1961 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax)
1960 Moods Blue Note 1961 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1960 Feelin' Good Blue Note 1961 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1960 Here We Come Blue Note 1962 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1960 It Just Got to Be Blue Note 1963 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1961 Hey There Blue Note 1962 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1961–62 Babe's Blues Blue Note 1986 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1962 Out of This World Blue Note 1966 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1962 Black Orchid Blue Note 1964 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1959/62 Standards
 Blue Note 1998 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1962 Blue Genes Verve 1963 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1962 Anita O'Day & the Three Sounds Verve 1963 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus Anita O'Day (vocals)
1962 The Three Sounds Play Jazz on Broadway Mercury 1963 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1963 Some Like It Modern Mercury 1963 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1964 Live at the Living Room Mercury 1964 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); in concert
1965 Three Moods Limelight 1965 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus some tracks with trombones added and some with strings added, all arranged by Julian Lee
1965 Beautiful Friendship Limelight 1965 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus some tracks with horns or strings arranged by Julian Lee
1966 Today's Sounds Limelight 1966 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Kalil Madi (drums); in concert
1966 Vibrations Blue Note 1967 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Kalil Madi (drums)
1967 Live at The Lighthouse Blue Note 1967 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Donald Bailey (drums); in concert
1968 Coldwater Flat Blue Note 1968 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Donald Bailey (drums); plus Oliver Nelson Orchestra
1968 Elegant Soul Blue Note 1968 With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); plus orchestra
1969 Soul Symphony Blue Note 1969 With The Three Sounds: Henry Franklin (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); plus orchestra
1970 Live at the 'It Club' Blue Note 1996 With The Three Sounds: Henry Franklin (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); in concert
1970 Live at the 'It Club' Volume 2 Blue Note 2000 With The Three Sounds: Henry Franklin (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); in concert
1971 The 3 Sounds Blue Note 1971 With Monk Higgins (organ), Fred Robinson and Albert Vescovo (guitar), Luther Hughes (electric bass), Carl Burnett (drums), Bobbye Porter Hall (conga), Paul Humphrey (percussion); plus unknown (vocals)
1972 Gene Harris of the Three Sounds Blue Note 1972 With Sam Brown and Cornell Dupree (guitar), Ron Carter (bass), Freddie Waits (drums), Johnny Rodriguez (conga), Omar Clay (percussion, vibes)
1973 Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow Blue Note 1973 Trio, with Johnny Hatton (bass, electric bass), Carl Burnett (drums, percussion)
1974 Astral Signal Blue Note 1975 With various personnel (see listing's page)
1975 Nexus Blue Note 1975 With various personnel (see listing's page)
1976 In a Special Way Blue Note 1976 With various personnel (see listing's page)
1977 Tone Tantrum Blue Note 1977 With various personnel (see listing's page)
1981 Live at Otter Crest Jazzizz; Bosco; Concord 1981 Trio, with John Heard (bass), Jimmie Smith (drums); in concert[3]
1982 Hot Lips JAM 1982 Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), John Heard (bass), Jimmie Smith (drums)[3]
1984? Nature's Way JAM 1984 Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums)[3]
1985 The Gene Harris Trio Plus One Concord 1986 Quartet, with Ray Brown (bass), Mickey Roker (drums), plus Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax); in concert[3]
1987 Tribute to Count Basie Concord 1988 With big band (Gene Harris All Star Big Band)[3]
1989? Listen Here! Concord 1989 Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), Jeff Hamilton (drums)[3]
1989 Live at Town Hall, N.Y.C. Concord 1989 With big band (Philip Morris Superband); in concert[3]
1990 At Last
with Scott Hamilton		 Concord 1990 Quintet, with Scott Hamilton (tenor sax), Herb Ellis (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), Harold Jones (drums)[3]
1990 World Tour 1990 Concord 1991 With big band (Philip Morris Superband); in concert[3]
1991 Black and Blue Concord 1991 Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Harold Jones (drums)[4]
1992 Like a Lover Concord 1992 Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Harold Jones (drums)[4]
1992 Gene Harris at Maybeck Concord 1993 Solo piano; in concert[4]
1992 Brotherhood Concord 1995 Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums)[4]
1993? A Little Piece of Heaven Concord 1993 Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums); in concert[4]
1994? Funky Gene's Concord 1994 Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums)[4]
1995 It's the Real Soul Concord 1996 Quintet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums), plus Frank Wess (tenor sax, flute); in concert[5]
1996? In His Hands Concord 1997 With Jack McDuff (organ), Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums); plus Niki Haris and Curtis Stigers (vocals)[5]
1996? Down Home Blues Concord 1997 With Jack McDuff (organ), Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums); plus Niki Haris and Curtis Stigers (vocals)[5]
1996 Live in London Resonance 2008 Quartet, with Jim Mullen (guitar), Andrew Cleyndert (bass), Martin Drew (drums); in concert
1996 Another Night in London Resonance 2010 Quartet, with Jim Mullen (guitar), Andrew Cleyndert (bass), Martin Drew (drums); in concert
1998? Live
with The Philip Morris All-Stars		 Concord 1998 With Sweets Edison (trumpet), Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax), Kenny Burrell (guitar); plus Ernie Andrews (vocals)[5]
1998 Alley Cats Concord 1999 With Ernie Watts (tenor sax, alto sax), Red Holloway (tenor sax), Jack McDuff (organ), Frank Potenza (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Kreibich (drums); plus Niki Haris (vocals); in concert[5]

Compilations

  • The Best of The Three Sounds (with The Three Sounds) (Blue Note, 1993)
  • Gene Harris: The Concord Jazz Heritage Series (Concord, 1998)
  • The Blue Note Years (with The Three Sounds) (Blue Note, 1999)
  • Gene Harris: The Best of the Concord Years (Concord, 2000)[2CD]
  • The Complete Blue Hour Sessions (The Three Sounds with Stanley Turrentine) (Blue Note, 2000)[2CD]
  • Big Band Soul (with the Gene Harris Superband) (Concord, 2002)[2CD] – contains Live At Town Hall, N.Y.C. + World Tour 1990
  • Swingin' the Blues (Recall, 2002)[2CD]
  • Ballad Essentials (Concord, 2003)
  • Live From New York To Tokyo (with the Ray Brown Trio) (Concord, 2003)[2CD] – live contains The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio + Bam Bam Bam
  • Instant Party (Concord, 2004)

As a member
  • The Blue Note All-Stars, Blue Note Live at The Roxy (Blue Note, 1976) – live
  • Concord Jazz All Stars, The 20th Concord Festival All-Stars (Concord, 1988)

As sideman

With The Ray Brown Trio

  • Soular Energy (Concord, 1985) – rec. 1984
  • Don't Forget the Blues (Concord, 1986)
  • The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio (Concord, 1987) – live rec. 1985 at the Blue Note
  • Bam Bam Bam (Concord, 1988) – live at the Fujitsu-Concord Jazz Festival
  • Black Orpheus (Evidence, 1989)
  • Mr. Blue (Denon, 1989) – also with Takashi Ohi
  • Summer Wind: Live at The Loa (Concord, 1990) – live rec. 1988
  • Moore Makes 4 (Concord, 1990) – also with Ralph Moore
  • Three Dimensional (Concord, 1991)
  • Georgia on My Mind (All Art [Japan], 1991)

With others

  • Nat Adderley, Branching Out (Riverside, 1958)
  • James Clay, A Double Dose of Soul (Riverside, 1960)
  • Melvin Rhyne, Organ-izing (Jazzland, 1960)
  • various artists, 'S Wonderful: Concord Jazz Salutes Ira Gershwin (Concord, 1979)
  • Milt Jackson Quartet, Soul Route (Pablo, 1984) – rec. 1983
  • Ernestine Anderson, When the Sun Goes Down (Concord, 1984)
  • Benny Carter, A Gentleman and His Music (Concord, 1985)
  • Junko Mine, Love Me Tender (All Art [Japan], 1986)
  • B.B. King, Live at The Apollo (GRP, 1990) – live
  • various artists, Concord Jazz Festival: Live 1990 (Concord, 1990) – live
  • various artists, Concord Jazz Festival: Live 1990, Third Set (Concord, 1990) – live
  • various artists, A Concord Jazz Christmas (Concord, 1991)
  • various artists, Jazz Celebration: Tribute to Carl Jefferson (Concord, 1992)
  • various artists, Fujitsu-Concord 25th Jazz Festival (Concord, 1993)
  • various artists, Fujitsu-Concord 26th Jazz Festival (Concord, 1994)
  • Mary Stallings, I Waited for You (Concord, 1994)
  • Frank Wess, It's the Real Soul (Concord, 1996)
  • Jack McDuff, Down Home Blues (Concord, 1997)
  • Niki Haris, Dreaming A Dream (BMG, 1997)
  • Marian McPartland, Just Friends (Concord, 1998)

References
  1. Bogdanov, Vladimir, et al. (2002) All Music Guide to Jazz, p. 558. Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-717-X.
  2. Ratliff, Ben (January 18, 2000). "Gene Harris, 66, a Jazz Pianist Who Played Bebop and Soul". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  3. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1992). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette (1st ed.). Penguin. p. 486. ISBN 978-0-14-015364-4.
  4. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1996). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (3rd ed.). Penguin. p. 588. ISBN 978-0-14-051368-4.
  5. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. pp. 656–657. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.

Honors The Gene Harris bandshell in Boise's Ann Morrison park is named in his honor. The Gene Harris Jazz Festival is an annual event in Boise that brings together the best of Boise jazz and education in memory of the city's most famous jazz musician.

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