#Eddie Harris

[thesobsister]

Les McCann, Eddie Harris, "Compared to What"

I found out today that the great Les McCann died Friday, age 88. He and Harris, who put on this now-legendary gig at Montreux as an unplanned gig, had long careers on their own, before and after. On this day in 1969, they walked onstage without rehearsal or ever having played together and did it, working under the additional pressure that this unscheduled performance was being recorded and filmed.

This added a little fillip to the story:

Despite the pressure, or perhaps because of it, as Mr. McCann recalled in the liner notes for the 1996 CD reissue of the concert album, which was released in 1969 as 'Swiss Movement,' “Just before we went onstage, and for the first time in my life, I smoked some hash.”

When he got to the bandstand, he wrote, “I didn’t know where the hell I was. I was totally disoriented. The other guys said, ‘OK, play, man!’ Somehow I got myself together, and after that, everything just took off.”

Even if you know the song, watching them perform it is a treat.

aav.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Song of the Day - “Compared To What”

Today marks the 55th anniversary of the recording of this fantastic track.

On June 21st, 1969, Les McCann and Eddie Harris laid down their superlative version of this standard tune, in concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. ...

Written by Gene McDaniels, “Compared To What” had been covered by some 270 artists…

But THIS is the version…

With Les McCann on piano and vocal, and Harris on tenor sax, backed by Leroy Vinegar on bass, Benny Bailey on trumpet, and Donald Dean on drums, they tweaked the lyrics a bit to reflect the current angst with the Vietnam War. … see the lyrics below in comments…

A great track… best played pretty loud…

Resonates profoundly today…

(Mary Elaine LeBey)

I love the lie and lie the love A-Hangin' on, with push and shove Possession is the motivation that is hangin' up the God-damn nation Looks like we always end up in a rut (everybody now!) Tryin' to make it real, compared to what? C'mon baby!

Slaughterhouse is killin' hogs Twisted children killin' frogs Poor dumb rednecks rollin' logs Tired old lady kissin' dogs I hate the human love of that stinking mutt (I can't use it!) Try to make it real, compared to what? C'mon baby now!

The President, he's got his war Folks don't know just what it's for Nobody gives us rhyme or reason Have one doubt, they call it treason We're chicken-feathers, all without one nut. God damn it! Tryin' to make it real, compared to what? (Sock it to me)

Church on Sunday, sleep and nod Tryin' to duck the wrath of God Preacher's fillin' us with fright They all tryin' to teach us what they think is right They really got to be some kind of nut (I can't use it!) Tryin' to make it real, compared to what?

Where's that bee and where's that honey? Where's my God and where's my money? Unreal values, crass distortion Unwed mothers need abortion Kind of brings to mind ol' young King Tut (He did it now) Tried to make it real, compared to what?!

Tryin' to make it real, compared to what?

Donald Dean, Leroy Vinnegar, Benny Bailey, Eddie Harris

[jazzdailyblog]

"Miles Smiles:" The Quintet's Exploration into New Jazz Territories

Introduction: Released in 1967, “Miles Smiles” is widely regarded as a landmark recording by Miles Davis and his Second Great Quintet, featuring saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams. This album marked the quintet’s evolution into more experimental and abstract forms of jazz, blending traditional post-bop elements with avant-garde…

[nerds-yearbook]

Madame Menace along with Bear Benson were introduced in Machine Man 17#, cover date October, 1980. They were created by Tom DeFalco and Steve Ditko. ("Arms and the Robot", Machine Man 17#, Marvel Comic Event)

[thephilosopheroftheboudoir]

Eddie Harris

Listen Here

from the lp The Electrifying Eddie Harris

[buffyann23]

Major League (1989) ⚾

"It's very bad to steal Jobu's rum."

[genevieveetguy]

Classified People, Yolande Zauberman (1988)

[jazzplusplus]

Eddie Harris (Montreux Jazz Festival, 1969)

[steamedtangerine]

Eddie Harris - Fragmentary Apparitions

from the 1973 double-album release Excursions

any fan of Soft Machine will like the nature of this particular track

[leonardcohenofficial]

anyways everyone listen to swiss movement NOW

[soulmusicsongs]

Sham Time - Eddie Harris (The Electrifying Eddie Harris, 1968)

[peter-tschirky]

Eddie Harris - Eddie Who?

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

Prairiewolf - Lagniappe Session

We checked out an I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One-era Yo La Tengo tape yesterday ... today, we've got Prairiewolf covering an ICHTHBAO classic. Jeremy, Stefan and I made our Lagniappe Session debut over on Aquarium Drunkard this week with our take on YLT's luminous/lovely "Green Arrow" alongside an extended/extremely heady rendition of the unclassifiable Eddie Harris/Melvin Jackson jam "Silver Cycles." Huzzah for gratis grooves! Thank you to AD for asking us to be a part of the Lagniappe legacy. An honor and a privilege.

What else!? Prairiewolf is playing a show THIS FRIDAY down in Denver at Enigma Bazaar. It's a stacked bill, featuring the mighty Moon Bros. and The International Disassociation of Aaron Dooley. You don't want to miss it. Afterwards, Aaron is taking his crew out on the road for an honest-to-goodness tour, going all over the place. Check out the dates and go see him!

More???! How about Of Ambience and Americana, a killer Centripetal Force collection that just showed up this week, offering up some very sweet "ambient Americana" zones. Prairiewolf's "Lunar Deluxe" makes an appearance — and I'd be lying if I didn't swell up with pride seeing our name listed amongst so many greats: Nashville Ambient Ensemble, Eve Maret, Joseph Allred and more. Go get it!

ONE MORE THING. Golden Brown's Wide Ranging Rider is out NOW on Inner Islands — and I implore you to grab your copy. The more I listen, the more I'm convinced that it's Stefan's best work yet, stripping things back considerably, but still finding an expansive, magical vibe. A raspberry cloud to float away on ...

[jazzdailyblog]

Rediscovering "The In Sound:" Eddie Harris and the Birth of a Jazz Standard

Introduction: In the annals of jazz history, certain albums stand out not only for their musical innovation but also for their lasting influence on the genre. One such album is “The In Sound” by tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris, recorded in 1965 and released in 1966 on the Atlantic label. This album, often celebrated as one of Harris’ most significant works, is not just a collection of tracks; it…

[nerds-yearbook]

Oswald F. "Gears" Garvin was introduced in Machine Man 15#, cover date June, 1980. He was created by Tom Defalco and Steve Ditko. ("Kill Me or Curse Me", Machine Man 15#, Marvel Comic Event)

[thephilosopheroftheboudoir]

Eddie Harris

Stum Stang

from the lp Cool Sax Warm Heart