Search - Eddie Harris :: In Sound & Mean Greens

Prime-era Eddie Harris

Melissa | Puerto Rico | 09/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD combines two very fine Eddie Harris lp's, The In Sound (1965) and Mean Greens (1966) from his most prolific and satisfying period at Atlantic Records. The In Sound is a straight-ahead jazz recording, done Eddie Harris-style. In other words, it has elements of blues, swing and fusion. "Born to Be Blue", though often covered, gets a fresh treatment. "Love for Sale" is done uptempo. The playing is inspired! What a band! Cedar Walton (piano) and Billy Higgins (drums), Lee Morgan's favorite rhythm section, play on the first 10 tracks. Although The In Sound is mostly jazz standards, it marks the first appearance of "Freedom Jazz Dance", a precursor to 70's fusion, and destined to become a standard in its own right. "Cryin' Blues" and "Mean Greens", from the second lp is this collection, have the same sort of off-centered groove and Miles Davis-inspired modal sound as "Freedom Jazz Dance". When Eddie Harris found a sound that worked, he had no shame in repeating it. While the first four tracks on Mean Greens continue in the same vein as the tracks on The In Sound, the 4 tunes that close out the recording suggest the path that he would follow later, electronic and funky. There is a prototype "Listen Here", with Eddie Harris playing electric piano (and Ray Barretto on congas!). The final tunes, "Blues in the Basement" and "Goin' Home" are, funky, swinging, organ-combo blues comps. Eddie had formidable chops and technique, something that is often forgotten because of his later commercial success. Soon after these two albums, Eddie Harris released the phenomenally successful The Electrifying Eddie Harris and Swiss Movement. His varitone (electronic) sax would, thereafter, get all the attention and his jazz credentials would be dismissed by some; however, these two albums show the many sides of Eddie Harris. He was a multidimensional player, innovative and a technical master. This is a brilliant re-packaging by Rhino records. These two lp's really do belong together. They show an Eddie Harris in transition, on the edge of evolving into a jazz superstar."

One of the top ten

Frank Miller | NW USA | 12/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If I was allowed to have only 10 jazz CD's this would be one. I'm not a jazz expert or a musician. But I have listened to this CD at least 50 times and I haven't gotten sick of it yet. Eddie Harris was one of the best."