Best of Concord Years

Gene Harris | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 12, 2000)
• Original Release Date: September 12, 2000
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Concord Records
• ASIN: B00004XN1C
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,941 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #34 in Music > Jazz > Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Uptown Sop

2. Captain Bill

3. Blues For Sam Nassi

4. Summertime

5. Don't Be That Way

6. Listen Here

7. Creme De Menthe

8. You Are My Sunshine

9. Don't Get Around Much Anymore

10. Will You Still Be Mine

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Blues For Rhonda

2. This Little Light Of Mine

3. Take The 'A' Train

4. Sweet Georgia Brown

5. Old Funky Gene's

6. That's All

7. Cottontail

8. Lean On Me

9. Down Home Blues

10. Put It Where You Want It

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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 the Crusaders' 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 men Red Holloway and Ernie Watts). Other standout guests throughout this well-paced set include bassist Ray Brown, trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, and saxophonist Scott Hamilton. It's up to the very big tenor sax of the late Stanley Turrentine to 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, particularly Fats Waller's "Black and Blue" and Erroll 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 organist Jack McDuff on Z.Z. Hill's blues classic "Down Home Blues." --Mark A. Ruffin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Gene Harris style and personality comes shining through", September 21, 2000

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Best of Concord Years (Audio CD)

Concord Jazz, has given us a wonderful collection, one of the best pianist in the business, Gene Harris. During his Concord years, Gene Harris set a high level of musical excellence that is both inspiring and influential. With "THE BEST OF THE CONCORD YEARS", Concord Records is delighted to present some of Gene Harris most inspired performances in a special 2-CD retrospective.

Gene Harris's signature hard-swinging, soulful, blues-drenched piano style made him one of the most exciting and accessible pianists in jazz. Stand outs: "DON'T BE THAT WAY", "YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE", "BLACK AND BLUE", "THIS IS LITTLE GIRL OF MINE", what a classic arrangement, "SWEET GEORGIA BROWN", funky style comes through, "OLD FUNKY GENE'S", pure funk in the rough, terrific.

Gene Harris was triumphant on the jazz scene, powerful blues-based style, with non-stop talent. Highly, very highly recommend this one of a kind artist for your collection of - the best of jazz, and yes, "THE BEST OF THE CONCORD YEARS", with a legend and wonderful human being, Gene Harris!

Total Time: Disc One 70:09 on 12 Tracks/Disc Two 68:50 on 10 Tracks - Concord Jazz CCD2 4930 2 (2000)

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't resist it and really pleased., February 1, 2004

By 

F. F Klein "Heytaxi" (Lancaster, Pa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Best of Concord Years (Audio CD)

Well, I already have 2 Gene Harris cd's("Listen Here" and "Gene Harris plus one") but when I saw this one listed, I just couldn't resist trying another one and I certainly was NOT disappointed. I often let this cd repeat for most of the day and it never fails when I get a visitor, they will eventually say "Who's that on piano?" Well, that's Gene Harris. I mentioned in another review that I have been around music all of my life, but only discovered Gene last year when I caught one of his tracks on a jazz station out of Philly.He was truly remarkable. This particular cd is a great value with 22 tracks (2 discs) and, as far as I'm concerned, extremely listenable. Of course I have my favorites just like anyone else. "Don't Be That Way", "Take the A Train", "Cottontail", & "Blues For Sam" all rate high on my list, but the entire album is a real treat for jazz fans everywhere. It's a mixture of big bands and small groups. I only hope it doesn't take you as long as it did me to discover him.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars downtown sop, August 13, 2001

By 

john dilallo (montreal, QC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best of Concord Years (Audio CD)

all I want to say about any gene harris c.d. is that you can expect the mood to be happy and bouncy and you can,t go wrong buying any of his music it will always leave you satisfied, its a shame his recordings had to come to an end , however you can now go to ray brown his longtime buddy who has continued gene,s style of music with several good pianists, where you can feel the gene harris touch.