Barry Harris Quintet - Newer than New / Listen to Barry Harris...Solo Piano

2013 European CD collection.

The piano work of Barry Harris grew out of Art Tatum and Bud Powell among others, but, rather than mere imitation, what is clear from these early-60s sessions is that he had rapidly forged from elements of his mentors manner a form of expression distinctly his own.

An extremely fluent, absorbing soloist, on the first album, Newer than New he leads an interesting group that reflects some of his most ingratiating characteristics. Charles McPherson, for example, is a fine altoist rooted in Charlie Parker, but the final product is unmistakeably McPherson, while to a lesser extent Hillyer on trumpet had a similar relationship to Dizzy Gillespie. Besides their consistently excellent soloing they contribute impressively to the strong, meaty ensembles that, along with an impressively light and buoyant rhythm section, characterised this excellent quintet.

On Listen to Barry Harris, the mark of Tatum is all over these sensitive and imaginative unaccompanied piano solos. Like Tatum, Harris makes you listen, not by frenzy or force, but by the constantly shifting timbres and polyrhythmic pulses that emerge from his playing, reinforced ultimately by the long, lyrical, right-hand lines that are his most rewarding attribute.

 Sources:
Tracks #1-8, from the album "Newer Than New" (Riverside RLP 9413)
Tracks #9-18, from the album "Listen to Barry Harris... Solo Piano" (Riverside RLP 9392)

Personnel on "Newer Than New":
Lonnie Hillyer, trumpet; Charles McPherson, alto sax; Barry Harris, piano; Ernie Farrow, bass; Clifford Jarvis, drums.
Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York City, on September 28, 1961

Personnel on "Listen to Barry Harris":
Barry Harris, piano solo.
Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York City, on July 4, 1961