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Gene Harris
Gene Harris.jpg
Background information
Birth name Eugene Haire
Born (1933-09-01)September 1, 1933
Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S.
Died January 16, 2000(2000-01-16) (aged 66)
Boise, Idaho
Genres Jazz, blues, soul jazz
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Piano, keyboards, Hammond B3
Years active 1955–2000
Labels Blue Note, Concord Jazz
Associated acts The Three Sounds, Ray Brown, The Philip Morris Super Band, Niki Haris

Gene Harris (born Eugene Haire, September 1, 1933 – January 16, 2000) was an American jazz pianist known for his warm sound and blues and gospel infused style that is known as soul jazz.

From 1956 to 1970, he played in The Three Sounds trio with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy. During this time, The Three Sounds recorded regularly for Blue Note and Verve.

He mostly retired to Boise, starting in the late 1970s, although he performed regularly at the Idanha Hotel there. Ray Brown convinced him to go back on tour in the early 1980s. He played with the Ray Brown Trio and then led his own groups, recording mostly on Concord Records, until his death from kidney failure in 2000. One of his most popular numbers was his "Battle Hymn of the Republic," a live version of which is on his Live at Otter Crest album, published by Concord. The singer and actress Niki Haris is his daughter.

Discography

As leader

Year recorded Title Label Personnel/Notes
1955? Our Love Is Here to Stay Jubilee
1959? Genie in My Soul Jubilee With Ben Tucker (bass), Kenny Harris (drums), billed as 'Gene Harris Trio' [note: this is NOT our Gene Harris, but another pianist/musician]
1958 Introducing the 3 Sounds Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1958–59 Bottoms Up! Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1959 LD + 3 Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus Lou Donaldson (alto sax)
1959 Good Deal Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1960 Blue Hour Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax)
1960 Moods Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1960 Feelin' Good Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1960 Here We Come Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1960 It Just Got to Be Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1961 Hey There Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1961–62 Babe's Blues Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1962 Out of This World Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1962 Black Orchid Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1959/62 Standards
Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); released 1998
1962 Blue Genes Verve With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1962 Anita O'Day & the Three Sounds Verve With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus Anita O'Day (vocals)
1962 The Three Sounds Play Jazz on Broadway Mercury With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1963 Some Like It Modern Mercury With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums)
1964 Live at the Living Room Mercury With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); in concert
1965 Three Moods Limelight With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus some tracks with trombones added and some with strings added, all arranged by Julian Lee
1965 Beautiful Friendship Limelight With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Bill Dowdy (drums); plus some tracks with horns or strings arranged by Julian Lee
1966 Today's Sounds Limelight With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Kalil Madi (drums); in concert
1966 Vibrations Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Kalil Madi (drums)
1967 Live at The Lighthouse Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Donald Bailey (drums); in concert
1968 Coldwater Flat Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Donald Bailey (drums); plus Oliver Nelson Orchestra
1968 Elegant Soul Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Andy Simpkins (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); plus orchestra
1969 Soul Symphony Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Henry Franklin (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); plus orchestra
1970 Live at the 'It Club' Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Henry Franklin (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); in concert; released 1996
1970 Live at the 'It Club' Volume 2 Blue Note With The Three Sounds: Henry Franklin (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); in concert; released 2000
1971 The 3 Sounds Blue Note With Monk Higgins (organ), Fred Robinson and Albert Vescovo (guitar), Luther Hughes (electric bass), Carl Burnett (drums), Bobbye Porter Hall (conga), Paul Humphrey (percussion); plus unknown (vocals)
1972 Gene Harris of the Three Sounds Blue Note With Sam Brown and Cornell Dupree (guitar), Ron Carter (bass), Freddie Waits (drums), Johnny Rodriguez (conga), Omar Clay (percussion, vibes)
1973 Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow Blue Note Trio, with Johnny Hatton (bass, electric bass), Carl Burnett (drums, percussion)
1974 Astral Signal Blue Note With various personnel (see listing's page)
1975 Nexus Blue Note With various personnel (see listing's page)
1976 In a Special Way Blue Note With various personnel (see listing's page)
1977 Tone Tantrum Blue Note With various personnel (see listing's page)
1981 Live at Otter Crest Jazzizz; Bosco; Concord Trio, with John Heard (bass), Jimmie Smith (drums)
1982 Hot Lips JAM Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), John Heard (bass), Jimmie Smith (drums)
1984 Nature's Way JAM Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums)
1985 The Gene Harris Trio Plus One Concord Quartet, with Ray Brown (bass), Mickey Roker (drums), plus Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax); in concert
1988 Tribute to Count Basie Concord With big band (Gene Harris All Star Big Band)
1989 Listen Here! Concord Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), Jeff Hamilton (drums)
1989 Live at Town Hall, N.Y.C. Concord With big band (Philip Morris Superband); in concert
1990 At Last Concord Quintet, with Scott Hamilton (tenor sax), Herb Ellis (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), Harold Jones (drums)
1990 World Tour 1990 Concord With big band (Philip Morris Superband); in concert
1991 Black and Blue Concord Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Harold Jones (drums)
1992 Like a Lover Concord Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Harold Jones (drums)
1992 Gene Harris at Maybeck Concord Solo piano; in concert
1993 A Little Piece of Heaven Concord Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums); in concert
1994 Funky Gene's Concord Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums)
1995 Brotherhood Concord Quartet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums)
1995 It's the Real Soul Concord Quintet, with Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums), plus Frank Wess (tenor sax, flute); in concert
1996 In His Hands Concord With Jack McDuff (organ), Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums); plus Niki Haris and Curtis Stigers (vocals)
1996 Down Home Blues Concord With Jack McDuff (organ), Ron Escheté (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums); plus Niki Haris and Curtis Stigers (vocals)
1998 Gene Harris & The Philip Morris All-Stars Live Concord With Sweets Edison (trumpet), Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax), Kenny Burrell (guitar); plus Ernie Andrews (vocals)
1998 Alley Cats Concord With Ernie Watts (tenor sax, alto sax), Red Holloway (tenor sax), Jack McDuff (organ), Frank Potenza (guitar), Luther Hughes (bass), Paul Kreibich (drums); plus Niki Haris (vocals); in concert
1996 Live in London Resonance Quartet, with Jim Mullen (guitar), Andrew Cleyndert (bass), Martin Drew (drums); in concert; released 2008
1996 Another Night in London Resonance Quartet, with Jim Mullen (guitar), Andrew Cleyndert (bass), Martin Drew (drums); in concert; released 2010

As sideman

  • Branching Out (with Nat Adderley, Johnny Griffin) (1958, Riverside)
  • A Double Dose of Soul (with James Clay, Nat Adderley) (1960, Riverside)
  • Organ-izing (with Melvin Rhyne) (1960, Jazzland)
  • Blue Note Live at The Roxy (with the Blue Note All-Stars) (1976, Blue Note)
  • 'S Wonderful: Concord Jazz Salutes Ira Gershwin (with various artists) (1979, Concord)
  • Soul Route (with Milt Jackson Quartet) (1983, Pablo)
  • When the Sun Goes Down (with Ernestine Anderson) (1984, Concord)
  • Soular Energy (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1984, Concord)
  • Don't Forget the Blues (with the Ray Brown All Stars) (1985, Concord)
  • The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1985, Concord) recorded live at the 'Blue Note'
  • A Gentleman and His Music (with Benny Carter) (1985, Concord)
  • Love Me Tender (with Junko Mine and the Ray Brown Trio) (1986, All Art [Japan])
  • Summer Wind: Live at The Loa (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1988 [1990], Concord)
  • Bam Bam Bam (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1988, Concord) recorded live at the Fujitsu-Concord Jazz Festival
  • The 20th Concord Festival All-Stars (with various artists) (1988, Concord)
  • Black Orpheus (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1989, Evidence)
  • Mr. Blue (with Takashi Ohi and the Ray Brown Trio) (1989, Denon)
  • Moore Makes 4 (with Ralph Moore and the Ray Brown Trio) (1990, Concord)
  • At Last (Gene Harris/Scott Hamilton Quintet) (1990, Concord)
  • Live at The Apollo (with B.B. King) (1990, GRP)
  • Concord Jazz Festival: Live 1990 (with various artists) (1990, Concord)
  • Concord Jazz Festival: Live 1990, Vol. 3 (with various artists) (1990, Concord)
  • Three Dimensional (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1991, Concord)
  • A Concord Jazz Christmas (with various artists) (1991, Concord)
  • Georgia on My Mind (with the Ray Brown Trio) (1991, All Art [Japan])
  • Jazz Celebration: Tribute to Carl Jefferson (with various artists) (1992, Concord)
  • Fujitsu-Concord 25th Jazz Festival (with various artists) (1993, Concord)
  • Fujitsu-Concord 26th Jazz Festival (with various artists) (1994, Concord)
  • I Waited for You (with Mary Stallings) (1994, Concord)
  • Spectrum (with Mary Stallings) (1996, Concord)
  • It's the Real Soul (with Frank Wess (1996, Concord)
  • Down Home Blues (with Jack McDuff) (1997, Concord)
  • Dreaming A Dream (with Niki Haris) (1997, BMG)
  • Just Friends (with Marian McPartland) (1998, Concord)

Compilations

  • The Best of The Three Sounds (with The Three Sounds) (1993, Blue Note)
  • Gene Harris: The Concord Jazz Heritage Series (1998, Concord)
  • The Blue Note Years (with The Three Sounds) (1999, Blue Note)
  • Gene Harris: The Best of the Concord Years (2000, Concord) 2-CD
  • The Complete Blue Hour Sessions (The Three Sounds with Stanley Turrentine) (2000, Blue Note) 2-CD
  • Big Band Soul (with the Gene Harris Superband) (contains Live At Town Hall, N.Y.C. + World Tour 1990) (2002, Concord) 2-CD
  • Swingin' the Blues (2002, Recall) 2-CD
  • Ballad Essentials (2003, Concord)
  • Live From New York To Tokyo (with the Ray Brown Trio) (contains The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio + Bam Bam Bam) (2003, Concord) 2-CD
  • Instant Party (2004, Concord)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Gene Harris para niños

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