Best of Concord Years
This 22-track retrospective represents well the 20 albums Gene Harris made for Concord Records over 14 years. The barrelhouse rocking pianist was obviously getting better with age, as one of his best discs was his last,Alley Cats(1999), made shortly before his death and represented here by a cover of theCrusaders' classic "Put It Where You Want It." The track is very indicative of the rest of this two-CD set, as it was recorded live, like nearly half of this compilation. Harris played always as if each tune were as familiar as "Put It," with tantalizing arrangement and distinctive soloists (sax menRed HollowayandErnie Watts). Other standout guests throughout this well-paced set include bassistRay Brown, trumpeterHarry "Sweets" Edison, and saxophonistScott Hamilton. It's up to the very big tenor sax of the lateStanley Turrentineto kick the whole thing off with the funky blues number "Uptown Sop." Harris's successful big band takes on a pair of tracks and a number of slower tunes that drip with gutsy emotion, particularlyFats Waller's "Black and Blue" andErroll Garner's smooth "Crème de Menthe." Other finger-snapping, toe-tapping highlights include one of the most entertaining arrangements ever of the nearly century-old "Sweet Georgia Brown," and Harris's daughter Nikki's duet with organistJack McDuffonZ.Z. Hill's blues classic "Down Home Blues."--Mark A. Ruffin