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Gene Harris

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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
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboards, Hammond B3
Years active1955–2000
LabelsBlue Note, Concord Jazz
Websitewww.geneharris.org

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.

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] Gene Harris is survived by his 3 daughters, Tracy Haire, Beth Haire- Lewis and Gina Haire (Niki Haris), and a son Eugene Haire. 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.

Discography

As leader

Year recorded Title Label Personnel/Notes
1955? Our Love Is Here to Stay Jubilee
1958 Introducing the 3 Sounds Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1958–59 Bottoms Up! Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1959? Genie in My Soul Jubilee with bassist Ben Tucker and Kenny Harris on drums
1959 LD + 3 Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus Lou Donaldson (alto sax)
1959? Standards Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1959 Good Deal Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1960 Blue Hour Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax)
1960 Moods Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1960 Feelin' Good Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1960 Here We Come Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1960 It Just Got to Be Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1961 Hey There Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1961–62 Babe's Blues Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1962 Out of This World Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1962 Black Orchid Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1959/62 Standards
[released 1998] 		Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1962 Blue Genes Verve With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1962 Anita O'Day & the Three Sounds Verve With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus Anita O'Day (vocals)
1962 The Three Sounds Play Jazz on Broadway Mercury With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1963 Some Like It Modern Mercury With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1964 Live at the Living Room Mercury With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); in concert
1965 Three Moods Limelight With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); some tracks with trombones added; some tracks with strings added
1965 Beautiful Friendship Limelight With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus unidentified others
1966 Today's Sounds Limelight With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Kalil Madi (drums); in concert
1966 Vibrations Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Kalil Madi (drums)
1967 Live at The Lighthouse Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Donald Bailey (drums); in concert
1968 Coldwater Flat Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Donald Bailey (drums); plus Oliver Nelson Orchestra
1968 Elegant Soul Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); plus orchestra
1969 Soul Symphony Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Henry Franklin (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); plus orchestra
1970 Live at the 'It Club' Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Henry Franklin (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); in concert; released 1996
1970? Live at the 'It Club' Volume 2 Blue Note With The Three Sounds; in concert; released 1996
1971 The 3 Sounds Blue Note With Monk Higgins (organ), Fred Robinson and Albert Vescovo (guitar), Luther Hughes (electric bass), Carl Burnett (drums), Bobbye Porter Hall (conga), Paul Humphrey (percussion), unknown (vocals)
1972 Gene Harris of the Three Sounds Blue Note 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 Trio, with Johnny Hatton (bass, electric bass), Carl Burnett (drums, percussion)
1974 Astral Signal Blue Note With various
1975 Nexus Blue Note With various
1976 In a Special Way Blue Note With various
1977 Tone Tantrum Blue Note With various
1981? Live at Otter Crest Concord
1982 Hot Lips JAM
1984 Nature's Way JAM
1985 Gene Harris Trio Plus One Concord Quartet, with Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax), Ray Brown (bass), Mickey Roker (drums)[3]
1987 Tribute to Count Basie Concord With big band[3]
1989 Listen Here! Concord Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), Jeff Hamilton (drums)[3]
1989 Live at Town Hall, N.Y.C. Concord With big band; in concert[3]
1990 At Last Concord Quintet, with Scott Hamilton (tenor sax), Herb Ellis (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), Harold Jones (drums)[3]
1990 World Tour 1990 Concord With big band; in concert[3]
1991 Black and Blue Concord Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Harold Jones (drums)[4]
1992 Like a Lover Concord Quartet, with Ron Eschete (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Harold Jones (drums)[4]
1992 Gene Harris at Maybeck Concord Solo piano; in concert[4]
1992 Brotherhood Concord Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums)[4]
1993 A Little Piece of Heaven Concord Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums); in concert[4]
1994 Funky Gene's Concord Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums)[4]
1995 It's the Real Soul Concord Quintet, with Frank Wess (tenor sax, flute), Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums); in concert[5]
1995? All Starts Live Concord With Sweets Edison (trumpet), Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax), Kenny Burrell (guitar) [5]
1996 In His Hands Concord With Jack McDuff (organ), Curtis Stigers (vocals)[5]
1996 Down Home Blues Concord With Jack McDuff (organ), Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums), Nikki Harris and Curtis Stigers (vocals)[5]
1998 Alley Cats Concord With Ernie Watts (tenor sax, alto sax), Red Holloway (tenor sax), Jack McDuff (organ), Frank Potenza (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Kreibich (drums), Nikki Harris (vocals); in concert[5]
1996 Live in London Resonance Quartet, with Jim Mullen (guitar), Andrew Cleyndert (bass), Martin Drew (drums); in concert; released 2008
1996 Another Night in London Resonance Quartet, with Jim Mullen (guitar), Andrew Cleyndert (bass), Martin Drew (drums); in concert; released 2010

As sideman

  • Branching Out (with Nat Adderley) (1958, Riverside)
  • A Double Dose of Soul (with James Clay) (1960, Riverside)
  • Organ-izing (with Melvin Rhyne) (1960, Jazzland)
  • Anita O'Day & The Three Sounds (The Three Sounds with Anita O'Day) (1962, Verve)
  • Blue Note Live at The Roxy (with Blue Note All-Stars) (1976, Blue Note)
  • 'S Wonderful: Concord Jazz Salutes Ira Gershwin (with various artists) (1979, Concord)
  • Soul Route (with Milt Jackson Quartet) (1983, Pablo)
  • When the Sun Goes Down (with Ernestine Anderson) (1984, Concord)
  • Soular Energy (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1984, Concord)
  • Don't Forget the Blues (with the Ray Brown All Stars) (1985, Concord)
  • The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1985, Concord) recorded at the Blue Note
  • A Gentleman and His Music (with Benny Carter) (1985, Concord)
  • Love Me Tender (with Junko Mine and the Ray Brown Trio) (1986, All Art)
  • Summer Wind: Live at The Loa (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1988, Concord)
  • Bam Bam Bam (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1988, Concord)
  • The 20th Concord Festival All-Stars (with various artists) (1988, Concord)
  • Black Orpheus (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1989, Evidence)
  • Mr. Blue (with Takashi Ohi and the Ray Brown Trio) (1989, Denon)
  • Moore Makes 4 (with Ralph Moore and the Ray Brown Trio) (1990, Concord)
  • At Last (Gene Harris/Scott Hamilton Quintet) (1990, Concord)
  • Live at The Apollo (with B.B. King) (1990, GRP)
  • Concord Jazz Festival: Live 1990 (with various artists) (1990, Concord)
  • Concord Jazz Festival: Live 1990, Vol. 3 (with various artists) (1990, Concord)
  • Three Dimensional (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1991, Concord)
  • A Concord Jazz Christmas (with various artists) (1991, Concord)
  • Georgia on My Mind (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1991, All Art)
  • Jazz Celebration: Tribute to Carl Jefferson (with various artists) (1992, Concord)
  • Fujitsu-Concord 25th Jazz Festival (with various artists) (1993, Concord)
  • Fujitsu-Concord 26th Jazz Festival (with various artists) (1994, Concord)
  • I Waited for You (with Mary Stallings) (1994, Concord)
  • It's the Real Soul (with Frank Wess (1995, Concord)
  • Down Home Blues (with Jack McDuff) (1996, Concord)
  • Dreaming A Dream (with Niki Haris) (1996, RCA/BMG)
  • Just Friends (with Marian McPartland) (1997)

Compilations

  • The Best of The Three Sounds (with The Three Sounds) (1993, Blue Note)
  • Gene Harris: The Concord Jazz Heritage Series (1998, Concord)
  • The Blue Note Years (with The Three Sounds) (1999, EMI/Blue Note)
  • Gene Harris: The Best of the Concord Years (2000, Concord)
  • The Complete Blue Hour Sessions (The Three Sounds with Stanley Turrentine) (2000, Blue Note)
  • Big Band Soul (with the Gene Harris Superband) (2002, Concord)
  • Swinging in the Blues (2002, Recall)
  • Ballad Essentials (2003, Concord)
  • Live From New York To Tokyo (with the Ray Brown Trio) (contains Bam Bam Bam and The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio 2003)
  • Instant Party (2004, Concord)

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. ^ a b c d e f 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. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1996). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (3rd ed.). Penguin. p. 588. ISBN 978-0-14-051368-4. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. pp. 656–657. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
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