Gene Harris

Gene Harris
Background information
Birth name Eugene Haire
Born (1933-09-01)September 1, 1933
Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S.
Died January 16, 2000(2000-01-16) (aged 66)
Boise, Idaho
Genres Jazz, blues, soul jazz
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Piano, keyboards, Hammond B3
Years active 1955–2000
Labels Blue Note, Concord Jazz
Associated acts The Three Sounds, Ray Brown, The Philip Morris Super Band, Niki Haris
Website www.geneharris.org

Gene Harris (born Eugene Haire, September 1, 1933 – January 16, 2000) was an American jazz pianist known for his warm sound and blues and gospel infused style that is known as soul jazz.

From 1956 to 1970, he played in The Three Sounds trio with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy. During this time, The Three Sounds recorded regularly for Blue Note and Verve.[1]

He mostly retired to Boise, starting in the late 1970s, although he performed regularly at the Idanha Hotel there. Ray Brown convinced him to go back on tour in the early 1980s. He played with the Ray Brown Trio and then led his own groups, recording mostly on Concord Records, until his death from kidney failure in 2000. Gene Harris is survived by his 3 daughters, Tracy Haire, Beth Haire- Lewis and Gina Haire (Niki Haris), and a son Eugene Haire. One of his most popular numbers was his "Battle Hymn of the Republic," a live version of which is on his Live at Otter Crest album, published by Concord.

Discography

As leader

All albums from 1958–1971 (from Introducing the 3 Sounds until The 3 Sounds) are with The Three Sounds except otherwise noted

As sideman

  • Branching Out (with Nat Adderley) (1958, Riverside)
  • A Double Dose of Soul (with James Clay) (1960, Riverside)
  • Organ-izing (with Melvin Rhyne) (1960, Jazzland)
  • Anita O'Day & The Three Sounds (The Three Sounds with Anita O'Day) (1962, Verve)
  • Blue Note Live at The Roxy (with Blue Note All-Stars) (1976, Blue Note)
  • 'S Wonderful: Concord Jazz Salutes Ira Gershwin (with various artists) (1979, Concord)
  • Soul Route (with Milt Jackson Quartet) (1983, Pablo)
  • When the Sun Goes Down (with Ernestine Anderson) (1984, Concord)
  • Soular Energy (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1984, Concord)
  • Don't Forget the Blues (with the Ray Brown All Stars) (1985, Concord)
  • The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1985, Concord) recorded at the Blue Note
  • A Gentleman and His Music (with Benny Carter) (1985, Concord)
  • Love Me Tender (with Junko Mine and the Ray Brown Trio) (1986, All Art)
  • Summer Wind: Live at The Loa (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1988, Concord)
  • Bam Bam Bam (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1988, Concord)
  • The 20th Concord Festival All-Stars (with various artists) (1988, Concord)
  • Black Orpheus (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1989, Evidence)
  • Mr. Blue (with Takashi Ohi and the Ray Brown Trio) (1989, Denon)
  • Moore Makes 4 (with Ralph Moore and the Ray Brown Trio) (1990, Concord)
  • At Last (Gene Harris/Scott Hamilton Quintet) (1990, Concord)
  • Live at The Apollo (with B.B. King) (1990, GRP)
  • Concord Jazz Festival: Live 1990 (with various artists) (1990, Concord)
  • Concord Jazz Festival: Live 1990, Vol. 3 (with various artists) (1990, Concord)
  • Three Dimensional (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1991, Concord)
  • A Concord Jazz Christmas (with various artists) (1991, Concord)
  • Georgia on My Mind (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1991, All Art)
  • Jazz Celebration: Tribute to Carl Jefferson (with various artists) (1992, Concord)
  • Fujitsu-Concord 25th Jazz Festival (with various artists) (1993, Concord)
  • Fujitsu-Concord 26th Jazz Festival (with various artists) (1994, Concord)
  • I Waited for You (with Mary Stallings) (1994, Concord)
  • It's the Real Soul (with Frank Wess (1995, Concord)
  • Down Home Blues (with Jack McDuff) (1996, Concord)
  • Dreaming A Dream (with Niki Haris) (1996, RCA/BMG)
  • Just Friends (with Marian McPartland) (1997)

Compilations

  • The Best of The Three Sounds (with The Three Sounds) (1993, Blue Note)
  • Gene Harris: The Concord Jazz Heritage Series (1998, Concord)
  • The Blue Note Years (with The Three Sounds) (1999, EMI/Blue Note)
  • Gene Harris: The Best of the Concord Years (2000, Concord)
  • The Complete Blue Hour Sessions (The Three Sounds with Stanley Turrentine) (2000, Blue Note)
  • Big Band Soul (with the Gene Harris Superband) (2002, Concord)
  • Swinging in the Blues (2002, Recall)
  • Ballad Essentials (2003, Concord)
  • Live From New York To Tokyo (with the Ray Brown Trio) (contains Bam Bam Bam and The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio 2003)
  • Instant Party (2004, Concord)

References

  1. ↑ Bogdanov, Vladimir, et al. (2002) All Music Guide to Jazz, p. 558. Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-717-X.
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