Gene Harris, Otter Crest, "A Little Blues There" (part 1)

[josicalatus]

joseph erdem dedektif 

[Eerik39]

gene ca olso play bass but john is olsou great as we know-its svinging - piano sounds little like oscar peterson. great thanks for loading this piece.

[BlueinGreen2]

Swing any harder?

[bluesbaby8]

Ahhh!! I LOVE THIS!

[guildmanhattan]

gene is one of the wonders of the world . his dynamics, his smoothness, his licks, his blues influence. he had it all. i don't believe anybody can deny listening to his tunes thirty times in one sitting (or more).

[jaybou263]

C'mon now Gene!!! A true master.

[TheMikieP]

ABSOLUTELY one of the best musicians that ever walked this planet !!

[ClassicalOJazz]

The Sensational (and happy) Gene Harris!

He was a superb artist. I have more than 12 Gene's CDs.

He died prematurely (age 66).

I (specially) recommend "The Gene Harris Quartet at Ste. Chapelle Winery"

But I have a question: Does someone know...

What brand is Gene's beer?

Happy beer to you! (Funny thing to do at the piano).

[vilijacko]

The Holy Three: Oscar Peterson, Jaki Byard and, of course, Gene Harris.

[radiokid2]

This is art! If it wasn't, then there would be a million other good players playing groove-time like this or being little imitation Gene Harris's...but there aren't any!

I think only 3 pianists have consistently played time this good-Errol Garner , Basie and Oscar Peterson (in his early years.)

[radiokid2]

This is art!...if it wasn't, then there would be a million other good players playing groove-time like this or being little imitation Gene Harris's...but there aren't any!

I think only 3 pianists have consistently played time this good...Errol Garner , Basie and Oscar Peterson (in his early years.)

[beat80cj]

This guy can play the keys for sure. AWESOME!!!

[Superherkid]

One of the greats, "man I dig Gene". Exciting, swingin' and groovy!

[jaybou263]

Wow Gene...that seems like alot of blues o me!

A master of his craft.

[Butchill41]

I was always amazed at his talent and the talent of the great players that worked with him.

[seedlessrecords]

Gene was the man! When he played, you stopped whatever you were doing to listen. There's a cat named Robert Turner who was raised on Gene's riffs and was so inspired he wrote and recorded a song titled "BLUES FOR GENE". He is all about bringing back this kind of stuff. Check him out and if you can support his cause. He is a worthy representative of this genre and truly admires and respects Gene Harris. (see video response below)

[Blackthorne369]

Play that thang piano man! Whoot!

[jaybou263]

man can Gene do it up or what. brilliant!!!

[robb1031]

"Gene Harris greatest ever" He was exceptional but the best ever? He falls way short on harmony compared to T Monk and Ruben Gonzalez. Personally I don't think anyone will ever master the instrument any better than James Booker did and GH falls way short of JB...

[joellhj123]

GENE HARRRIISSS!!!

[lamontdt]

I have this album! Thank you for posting this!

[Zehbron]

Wow...brings back some great memories. Gene Harris was virtually living at the Idanha Hotel in downtown Boise back in the 80s. We used to hang out there, knocking back tequila shots, and listening to some great music.

[superyou918]

Lucky you! I never got a chance to see him. I regret that I didn't get into jazz until shortly after his death.

[sounafraid]

More!!!...I demand more.

[v6pete]

Just teriffic!  - thanks for a wonderful clip!

[KallyJones]

The story goes. that gene harris was in a town to play a gig and his piano didn't show. He went to a local piano shop and asked for a "loaner", but they weren't interested. He asked them to let him play a piano they had and he ripped into such a rif and badass song that the mgr came out and said "let him take it" because in hearing him play he was totally floored.

[fckwiththestars]

i can believe that!

[perseus651]

talk about an inspiration!

[perseus651]

Talent like his is rare.

[boris342]

can anyone say cooking?! These guys are swinging that hard, the feel is unreal... no one! no one... plays like gene. Would love to see a modern day gene come about, favourite piano player by a mile...

[superyou918]

I'm trying my best to be that player. Actually, I doubt any pianist is working as hard as I am to try to do exactly what Gene did. He's my favorite also, obviously.

[boris342]

Great we should have a play sometime!! I'm up in the massachusetts area :-)

[Rango8]

Yo, Gene was one of a kind. Technically exact on the piano with the soul of the blues plus he was a great guy and a good father. Love his music. Gene, rest in peace brother you are sorely missed. Rango8

[nobilitynobility]

Gene is my favorite piano player too. check out robert turner

[cg213]

mmm yer i know we need a modern GENE!!! YERRR BABY!!!

mind you Benny Green swings REAL HARD!

probs the closest thing.

check him out if you havent heard him b4!

[drbekken]

Gene Harris!!!

Funkiest piano player ever.

[Rango8]

Many years ago I was walking down the beach in Redondo when I heard divine jazz being played up the street at the Lighthouse. It was the Three Sounds with Gene wailing away on the piano. I then became a devotee' of Gene and have since acquired many cd's of his wonderful music. Gene, if there is a heaven, I know you are up there playing your swinging music. What a talent, what a man. Love you!!

[mrswing]

Wow. I had no idea this was caught in video - I have the CD and I LOVE this number, one of the best ever hard-swinging piano workouts. And to see it being performed makes it even more exciting. Gene seems to almost explode with the intensity of the swing he generates!

I have two major regrets in my musical life - one is that I never got to see Mel Tormé perform. The other is that I never saw Gene Harris live.

[Rango8]

What is the name of the CD, would like to buy it. Btw, I was lucky enough to see both Mel and Gene live. Also the Basie band. Thanks.

Rango8

[mrswing]

@Rango8 the CD is called Live At Otter Crest and was released by Concord at the end of their life cycle - don't know if it's still in print but you should be able to find it via Amazon or Ebay.

[bobjazz11]

Just .... Superb!! Another great example of what jazz music really is.

[scottybarnhart]

Gene Harris. One of the truly greatest jazz musicians regardless of instrument to walk this earth. And John Heard on bass with the perfect lines walking and swingin'. To play with John is an honor that I've had many times and it only reinforces my belief that there is no substitute for just flat out swingin'. Enjoy.

[superyou918]

Professor Barnhart, thank you for the comment. My friends and I saw you at the Newport Jazz Party, which is our favorite event of the year. Next time, we will definitely introduce ourselves. Perhaps we can play together sometime!

[scottybarnhart]

Hi Superyou918,

Thanks for the comment and I had fun playing at the Newport Jazz Party. I think I am supposed to be there again next year. It'd be a pleasure to play with you sometime. Just tell me when and where ;-)

[papajojones]

This is a great taste of the album "Live at Otter Crest". You can get the whole album on iTunes and a bunch of other places. This performance - I think - was in many ways Gene's come back concert. Another gem from this concert is Sweet Loraine, a Nat Cole song done in a particularly great Gene Harris interpretation. Seriously, you should get"Live at Otter Crest". Also, they just released a new live ablum of Gene's called "Live in London". Another very strong live (quartet) performance.