Soular Energy

Ray Brown, Gene Harris | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Concord Records
• ASIN: B0000006FC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,136 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: BROWN,RAY
Title: SOULAR ENERGY
Street Release Date: 01/01/1987
Domestic
Genre: JAZZ

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Brown & Harris creativity has peaking moments", January 3, 2001

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Soular Energy (Audio CD)

The secret ingredient for this Concord Jazz release - "Soular Energy" is how Ray Brown interacts with pianist Gene Harris, who is the master of mixing funky with honey-smooth ballads, not to mention two-handed blues and jive-swing...who can say what creativity each tune can achieve with each player's input.

Carl E. Jefferson recruited Brown for an all-blues Ernestine Anderson recording session during the 1984 Concord Jazz Festival, it was there Ray insisted that he use Harris too, we've played every song known to mankind in every different way. Ray and Gene have this spontaneity, no rehearsal as they pick songs and work them out while in the studio...kept playing them till they felt good...and that was that.

Of course highlights - "TAKE THE "A" TRAIN" a Billy Strayhorn tune of melodic quality..."THAT'S ALL" with Gene's clear as a bell tones on the ivorys, pure style with a lot of heart..."EASY DOES IT" is not one of Count Basie's best-known compositions, but it will be after you hear this arrangement and performance by the whole gang...and lastly "SWEET GEORGIA BROWN" with Ray Brown on bass and Harris echoing his chords, this one will make you feel good, never sounding as fresh or better...so sit back and enjoy this jam session with Ray Brown and Gene Harris on their musical trip to the land of Blues and Jazz!

Total Time: 45:52 on 8 Tracks...Concord Jazz CCD-4268...(1985)

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of Ray Brown's Best Trios!, January 8, 2003

By 

Robert J. Ament "papacoolbreeze" (Ballwin, MO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Soular Energy (Audio CD)

Besides the Master bassist, this album heralded the return of the soul and blues tinged stylings of Gene Harris, previously acclaimed leader of the "Three Sounds" of the 60's. The combination of these two huge talents produces some very fine sounds best described as soulful bop.

All of the selections are very good but my favorites are:

"Exactly Like You", a good medium tempo offering, "Cry Me A River", forever associated with the late Julie London and a suitable vehicle for displaying Gene Harris' talents with a ballad, "Take The 'A' Train", done at a very slow tempo displaying the real beauty of the melody (note Ray's pretty bass work throughout), "Mistreated But Undefeated Blues", one that really rocks with the addition of Red Holloway, a strong bop soloist, and guitarist Emily Remler, "That's All", featuring tempo changes and a nice finish by Ray Brown, and "Sweet Georgia Brown" which has some beautiful exchanges taken at a slow tempo.

If you like the playing of either Ray Brown or Gene Harris, or just like good bop, you will enjoy this cd!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Groove to Burn, September 5, 2000

By 

Adam Grupp (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soular Energy (Audio CD)

This CD is a must have for jazzoids hooked on Gene Harris, Ray Brown, blues or just good music! Gene and Ray have a synergy on this album that is a trademark of their many collaborations. With Gene's energized, hard-swinging licks and Ray's intensely driving bass lines, their music is sure to make an enthusiastic fan of most casual listeners. In the unforgettable words of comic Bill Cosby, "Buy one, it'll make you smile."