Eddie Harris - A Study in Jazz

Eddie Harris - A Study in Jazz - Vee Jay VJ LP-3028 - Vee Jay Original Pressing, Rainbow Label, Mono

Eddie Harris - Tenor Saxophone
Willie Pickens - Piano
Melvin Jackson - Bass
Harold Jones - Drums
Joe Diorio - Guitar
Richard Evans - Bass on B2, B3
Marshall Thompson - Drums on A2, B2, B3
Roland Faulkner - Guitar on A1
Donald Garrett - Bass on B1
John Avant - Trombone on B1
Charles Stepney - Vibes on B1
Earl Teddy Thomas - Drums on B1

Recorded - [not listed on sleeve, exact details remain frustratingly elusive, Lord's discography estimates 1961-1962, Chicago, between "Jazz for Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Goes to the Movies"]

Supervision - Sid Mccoy
Recording - [uncredited]
Cover - Don Bronstein

Released - July 7, 1962

This blog now shifts back to Chicago Jazz mode with a new comprehensive series on Chicago legend Eddie Harris and his early Vee-Jay recordings. Jazz purist snobs/hard boppers have long dismissed Harris and his work as too 'commercial', effectively then writing him out of most Jazz histories. However, Harris was hugely influential, both artistically and commercially on the Chicago Scene, and he along with Cannonball Adderley basically invented Soul Jazz in the early 60s. Although I'm quite fond of Harris' late 60s fusion recordings on Atlantic as these were the first recordings that introduced me to Jazz, lately I've become more drawn to Harris' early and prolific work on Vee Jay from 1961-63.

This side, 'A Study in Jazz' is his fourth on Vee Jay, recorded and released in 1962, and mostly contains Harris originals. Harris' playing and tone is very confident and strong here, the contemporary Billboard review even comments on a Coltrane influence. There's also a great assortment of wonderful Chicago players providing good support here, including Willie Pickens and Joe Diorio. Good fidelity from the original mono Vee Jay vinyl.

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