Black & Blue

Gene Harris | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 27, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Concord Records
• ASIN: B0000006K6
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,365 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Concord Label Jazz compact disc lead player Gene Harris in quartet with Ron Eschete on guitar. Album title for title song famous "Black and Blue" written by Fats Waller, Andy Razaf, Harry Brooks - made most famous by Louis Armstrong. This is Concord 4482. Other players are Luther Hughes (bass) and Harold Jones (d). Released 1991. Recorded June 29,1991. Harris deceased 2000 known as one of greatest blues pianists in the world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "marvel at Gene Harris music, as natural as sunshine", February 3, 2001

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: Black & Blue (Audio CD)

Now to many people Gene Harris' style varies - Hard-Bop, Fusion, Soul-Jazz, but no one, and I mean no one can play the "Blues" better than this man. Harris is known to jazz aficionados, and to his peers, as one of the "Greatest Blues Pianists in the World", and his fame is finally catching up with his virtuosity. And critic Joe Morgenstern adds - "I never cease to marvel at the joyous might of Gene Harris' music."

Following this mans career - Gene Harris & The Four Sounds, Gene Harris & The Three Sounds, Gene Harris & the Philip Morris Super Band, Gene Harris All-Star Big Band, Gene Harris Trio and now, the Gene Harris Quartet...all have that driving blues-force we've come to love and enjoy. Harris strived for perfection, always knew exactly who he was and what he was doing in this life. His combination of ineffable delicacy and inexorable power became richer and fuller with each day, like natural sunshine, just keeps shining through.

With gifted accomplices like Ron Eschete (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass) and Harold Jones (drums), Gene sets out free as a bird with arrangements that send you reeling, as the quartet just keeps moving on filling in the gaps, great stirring performances all around.

Of course there are stand outs - "THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE" the whole group swings, swings and then swings some more..."NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU'RE DOWN AND OUT", a Jimmy Cox tune brings out some gospel-soul that will lift your spirits, inspirational..."BLUE BOSSA" has the rhythm section working over-time, but Gene knows what needs to be done..."WILL YOU STILL BE MINE", almost ten minutes in length, Harris takes the group into orbit and steers them into a classic performance.

The highlight is - "BLACK AND BLUE", the great "Fats" Waller tune, recorded several times by Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong with clever and impassioned lyrics has become a classic, but listen to this slow-tempo arrangement by Harris, blues pours from a cup of love and understanding, sending a message that is LOUD AND CLEAR.

Total Time: 62:22 on 10 Tracks...Concord Jazz CCD-4482...(1991)

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gene "Swing" Harris Does It Again!, February 8, 1999

By 

[e-mail] John Hurst (San Diego,Ca.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black & Blue (Audio CD)

Gene Harris, the swinging, gentle giant has once again put together a wonderful quartet with Ron Eschete on guitar, Luther Hughes on bass and Harold Jones on drums. This group makes me smile when I hear them. Their rendition of "Blue Bossa" should be re-named "Swing Bossa".It's GREAT! If I was only allowed to have a handful of CD's, this would be one of them.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, August 1, 2005

By 

Flavio Cipparrone "Opt_Prof" (Sao Paulo, Brasil) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Black & Blue (Audio CD)

I have 3 other albums by Gene Harris.
Gene was a superb pianist. His choice of harmony and his peculiar technique of chord attack turned him into one of my preferred jazz pianists, along with Oscar Peterson.
I am also a pianist. I know it is very difficult to make an album review. We are not able to transmit all the emotion of such an experience, so that I urge you to listen the tracks.

While awaiting a kidney transplant, Gene Harris died on January 16, 2000, at the age of 66.