Customer Reviews

Soular Energy

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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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)

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!

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."

I've always been fond of great bass players (Milt Hinton, Christian Mc Bride, John Clayton, Chuck Berghofer, Ben Wolfe, etc.) over the years, and Ray Brown truly stood head and shoulders with them. With Ray now gone, we are fortunate to have his vast body of work (both under his own name and for other artists) preserved on CD.

This album (which happens to be in my vinyl collection) enables Ray and his group (including the late Gene Harris) to stretch their collective wings on a set of fine standards and originals...check out "Mistreated but Undefeated Blues," which features the burning guitar work of another late great, Emily Remler.

The jazz world is poorer without this great musician. We will miss you, Ray.

I have listened to Ray Brown's playing with Art Farmer in the Road Ahead LP. I enjoyed his bass playing technique in that LP and decided to follow on with another recording. Brwosing through I came across this masterpiece. Gene Harris was one of the hottest swinging master on the chair. Thus his playing complements Ray's bass in a very entertaining and on the edge playing style. It is amazing that they only started playing together in the 80's. This is one of those albums you will enjoy from track one until the end. Yes there are tracks that may veer off the path a bit but that is part of the journey of listening to the exchanges between these two great maestros.

I must said that this CD is a must for those into high-end hifi system.

Ray Brown swings on solos and the addition of Gene Harris on piano is a very good compliment as his solos and work within the group are great. I enjoyed every track on this CD.

I think Ray does an excellent job on playin' the bass, but I really don't enjoy solos on the bass. I would have enjoyed it much more if the entire songs were accomplished, by piano and drums, rather than having bass solos thru out the songs. But that's just my personal preference.

Gene Harris gets my head bobbin and my feet movin right away. Since I'm a tap dancer and teacher, I'm always looking for usuable music that has a groove. On this album I found two that I'll take to rehearsal and class. I have several of Gene's c.d.'s
which I really enjoy dancing to.
It's just too bad that Phillip Morris' name is attached...not a positive although I'm sure a "good" sponsor.
Carol Hill