Harry James - Ram's Horn 1955

This long unreleased HJ recording was recorded during the Harry James in Hi-Fi sessions in 1955.
The band had Corky, Willie, Juan Tizol and Conrad Gozzo.
This was during the period in Harry's career when he was trying to get a "Basie" sound. As a result, this is a thinly veiled attempt at "Basie-fying" Harry's own "Back Beat Boogie"
It swings nonetheless. And Harry absolutely screams!!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ram's
• horn

[olbrneyes]

I didn't omit Willie. He's in the description.

[olbrneyes]

I have always been at a loss as to why Harry James was so put down by jazz critics and fans. Harry was THE complete master of all time on the trumpet. There was literally NOTHING that Harry could not play on the trumpet.

I saw Harry in the 70's scream double high A's and play fast. His solos were mini-compositions, exploring harmonies while always keeping the melody within reach.

When I play one of Harry's charts, whether ballad or jump, it is a constant challenge after 43 of playing.

[theaed02]

I have the album. Wish they had included this one. Band swings & HARRY well blowing hard as always. Extra great solo especially difficult at 1:16

- 1:22. There are many great marksmen that can play the notes & I love listening to them all but I keep comming back to Harry he doesent just play the notes he bends & twists them. When he plays I just feel something special is going to happen & it does. You really have to have played the horn to appreciate fully what he is doing. He had it all.

[TheOldClosetPloy]

@trumpetvids

its a shame they dont record like this anymore..

[rfvee]

I've heard recent big band albums that don't hold a candle to the overall sound of this recording: all over-engineered, close-miked/single-miked, with the drums so far down in the mix its more like a distant echo, usually with a fender bass line that obliterates the piano. Thank you, I'd much rather listen to this, it's very honest and reminds me of listening to Harry at the Trocadero in the 60s. Willie Smith was a genius, by the way.

[trumpetvids]

@theaed02 "..a shame they dident have the recording techniques we have today.." This was in the 50's in the midst of the Hi-Fi craze - I always thought they did a superb job of capturing Harry's sound on those "In Hi-Fi" albums.

[acfinney1]

He also had the best sidemen. Thats Willie Smith on alto...How could you omit him????????

[acfinney1]

He also had the best sidemen.

[theaed02]

I saw Harry several times. It is a shame they dident have the recording techniques we have today, his tone was FAT & SOLID piercing when he wanted it to be he projected over the entire band. There is a PBS show that came out after he died titled "The Man Who Talked Thru His Horn" that says it all. You are so right he could play it all & his solos made sense not just a bunch of disjointed notes high fast & loud although he could do that too. He knew less is often more when played right.