Search - Rufus Harley :: Pied Piper of Jazz

Rufus Harley is unquestionably the greatest bagpipe player in jazz history. Given the competition, that may seem a rather dubious distinction, but one listen to The Pied Piper of Jazz will convince all but the most skeptical. Culled from a number of Atlantic recordings (circa 1966-67), these tunes prove that Harley's instrument is far more than a novelty. Combining a droning nasal sound, reminiscent of John Coltrane's "My Favorite Things" soprano sax style, Harley coaxes the bagpipes to swing soulfully on "Feeling Good" and "Bagpipe Blues." His more conventional tenor sax is featured on "Pipin' the Blues" (along with guest Sonny Stitt), and his Roland Kirk-influenced flute sound is displayed on "More." In short, the idiosyncratic elements of Harley's bagpipes sound downright hip when he's on sax and flute, two obviously more pivotal jazz horns. What's ultimately fresh here is that mix of soulful, standard jazz methodology and something almost entirely new, even decades after Harley's pipes were caught on tape. --Wally Shoup