Billy Harper

[BayviewSax]

Okay, so I'm cheating a bit. Billy's last album was a few years back, but if you get the chance, go see this guy! I've been unable to get Lee Morgan's THE LAST SESSION out of my CD player in the truck for about a week. What's amazing is, Harper hasn't lost any fire or intensity in the past 30 years. He was totally unique when that album was recorded (1971?) and aside from the recording quality, you could not tell him from a recording last week. He's consistently strong and has a stable of original compositions which should all be standards. Why do people not know about this guy? All I can figure is some are probably put off buy his unique tone. However, I don't think that should keep him off your turntable. My opinion, but Berg, Brecker, and Grossman have the most off-putting tones I've ever heard... well, after Al Cohn. I'm BEGGIN' yah, check out Billy Harper. This guy is a living legend!!!!

http://www.billyharper.com/

[gary]

Went to school with Billy and have always really respected and admired him. I agree that he is a talent deserving much wider recognition.

[BayviewSax]

Interesting that you'd be the first response. I seem to have this whole North Texas Karma following me around. Billy is one of my all-time faves and was a classmate at North Texas of my most influential teacher, Richard Gardzina. Jeff Coffin, an earlier teacher, eventually went to North Texas. Gee, maybe *I* shoulda gone there!!! :x

[hershel]

back in the late 70's i picked up billy harper's album 'black saint' and loved it from the first note. still do. recently heard a cut of his on the radio, a rendition of a japanese folk song. beautiful.
saw him live once, with francessca tanksley on piano but can't at the moment remember the rest of the band. GOOD original compositions and they were all INTO IT.
i'm told BH runs the nyc marathon every year.
have you checked out his stuff with randy weston? pharoah is on some of that stuff too.

[BayviewSax]

Spirits of Our Ancestors. I was psyched when that happened across my desk at my college radio station when it first came out. However, they don't actually appear together on the album. (There is a GREAT duet with Pharoah and Dewey Redman, though). Are there other RW titles with both Billy and Pharoah that I should be aware of? I know Billy has had a long relationship with RW. CARNIVAL on Arista is a decent record. There's a great cut on that called MYSTERY OF LOVE where Billy plays flute. OUTstanding! Coincidentally, Alex Blake covers that tune on NOW IS THE TIME which features, of course, Pharoah Sanders (this is like a Seifeld episode!). But my all-time favorite Billy Harper album is Love on the Sudan. You can get the cassette from his website. Last I knew, they were in talks with an engineer to transfer it to CD.

For what it's worth, the tune you described sounds like Soran Bushi, B.H. and there has yet to be a bad version of it (except the one heard in my basement featuring yours truly :wink: ).

[hershel]

i don't know if pharoah and billy harper play on record together. randy weston's 'kephra' features a big band and pharoah but i don't believe billy harper is on that.
ya know, every once in a while b.h. does get this really harsh metallic sound that i don't find pleasent but maybe that's his intent. if not, i just keep listening and it is what it is.
i'd like to hear 'love on the sudan', hope they get it on cd soon.

[BayviewSax]

Harper prefers that hard metallic sound. Some of his work with Thad Jones/Mel Lewis is surprisingly mellow. I was shocked to find that he made no equipment changes, so rest assured, his sound is intentional. But it's also totally personal. No one has EVER had that sound. He's simply awesome to see live.

[tledjazz]

One of my professors in college is very close with Billy and I got to spend an afternoon with him at his apartment in Manhattan. Really a beautiful cat. He was playing a silver B&S tenor with rico plasticover reeds, can't remember the mpc. His sound is hard, but it's unique. In an era of so many sound alike Tenors he's a standout. Because of his laid back deeply spiritual personna he's developed an almost Coltrane-esque mystique. But he's really down to earth. He's been with steeplechase for years, and a lot of his titles are in short supply in the US, but he's one of those guys that once you get turned on to his stuff you can't get enuff.

[BayviewSax]

Quite right. But he's not with Steeple any longer. His last release was his first American release and he was quite disheartened by the experience. Not suprisingly, the producer didn't get it. He's been contemplating moving to Europe, but he teaches here and has been quite happy doing so. He is treated like royalty in Europe. As well he should be.

[dolphyo]

saw him live years ago in manhatten with woody shaw. remember this tall lanky man with his silver tenor and all black clothes and long black leather flowing vest like a priest. blowing hard and wide, man i couldn't believe how huge his sound was. at one point he was pedal toneing a low b-flat and building a wailing solo full of crys. woody came in charging with his intervallic thing. i was in heaven.

[BayviewSax]

Funny you should mention it: He's still lanky, although, at 60 he's filled out a bit. Still wears that robe but the horn is gone, now it's black with gold engraving. The playing? Every bit as ferocious as it was then. I was worried he wouldn't measure up to my expectations when I saw him. He far surpassed them.

[gary]

Well, bayview, if you're still out there...where did you know Rich from and do you know what he's doing now? I was a classmate of his, as well. Really liked the guy.

A Billy Harper/NTSU story. I was in a music history class with him and we started with an "ethnic" music section. The teacher played a field recording of African music and started a discussion on it. I hadn't a clue what he was talking about, but Billy started commenting on the music. The teacher wasn't sure what Billy meant specifically so Billy, and I'll never forget it, stood up, went over to the piano, and beat out the cross-rhythmic patterns that he'd only heard once on the recording. Oh man!

What I liked about the cat was it didn't matter how you played, he accepted you. I was playing in a soul band in Tokyo in 1970 and we had to quit early 'cause "some stateside band" was playing at midnight. On my way out I bumped into a chest, looked up and here was Billy. Now it's midnight, in a subterranean club in the middle of Tokyo and I hadn't seen the man in probably 7 years and he treated me like it was yesterday. Oh. by the way, the "some stateside band" was the Jazz Messengers LOL!, and yet he was interested in what -I- was doing. The man's a class act.

[BayviewSax]

Gary: I'm very much still around. I assume by "Rich" you mean Richard Gardzina (can't seem to locate which post you're referring to). Richard is living and working in New Hampshire. He's cut a nice local living out for himself and writes the music for his wife's educational dance program. He's playing great ("Yeah, I think I've finally figured this out. How long's it been?") and you can find links to his recordings on the "dedication" page on my website. I'm trying to get him to forward his calendar to me so that I can promote his music. He still plays the same horn he bought in a Texas gun shop for $25.

As for Billy, I was impressed by his manner as well. At first, I thought he was just promoting himself by being nice to the audience, but after observing him for a bit, I realized he's just a truly nice guy. The big question is, did you go SEE the State Side band that night? :)

[hershel]

i love his record, 'black saint'. i believe it was recorded in italy in the early 70's, and was the first release by the label of the same name.

[BayviewSax]

Yes, that was recorded in 1975. Billy also had the first release for the sister label SOUL NOTE with IN EUROPE. I think the band on the later record is a bit better (Everett Hollins on trumpet rather than Virgil Jones) but I absolutely love the tune CALL OF THE WILD AND PEACEFUL HEART.

[gary]

The big question is, did you go SEE the State Side band that night?LOL! Yes. We usually played three sets in this psychadelic club (yes, complete with oil light projections and breathing walls LOL) and the A.H. club manager told us we'd have to leave after the second set (without pay for the third set, of course) because of this stateside band, which he couldn't even name. He said if we wanted to hear them we would have to leave the club and pay to get back in.

So I was on my way home, the hell with it, when I bumped into Billy. We both laughed and talked for a few minutes. Needless to say I paid my re-entry fee and listened. The band burned and also had, to me, the really under appreciated Billy Hardmann on trumpet. Boy what a beautiful player.

[BayviewSax]

1970, eh? Was John Hicks still with AB then?

[Kritavi]

Nice to hear some props for Billy Harper. I saw him back in the day at the Keystone Korner in SF and elsewhere and he is a truly impressive player.
I also reccomend the Gil Evans record Svengali where he takes a couple of masterful solos.
Bayview, Did I read correctly that he lives or teaches in Maine?

[BayviewSax]

Negative. Billy resides and teaches in NYC. I saw him in Maine (believe it or not!).

[BayviewSax]

Well, bayview, if you're still out there...where did you know Rich from and do you know what he's doing now? I was a classmate of his, as well. Really liked the guy.


Gary: If you read this, please e-mail me directly. I mentioned the post to Richard and he wasn't sure who you'd be, asked for your e-mail.

[gary]

Sent, along with a web site address he might find interesting.