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The Bill Harris Quintet: Inside-Out

By Edward Blanco
March 29, 2012
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Portland, Oregon saxophonist Bill Harris is an educator, sideman and member of organist

Steve Hall

multi-instrumentalist
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Hall Quintet when not leading his own band. Growing up listening to jazz masters

Sonny Stitt

saxophone
1924 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Stitt,

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane and

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Woods among others, he began playing woodwinds while in second grade and has favored the alto and tenor saxophones ever since. Though a veteran of the Portland, Oregon jazz scene since 1964, Inside-Out is his first outing as leader, an amazing top-notch recording of post-bop material that shines all over.

The album is one of those hidden gems sparkling with sensational renditions of jazz standards from

Tadd Dameron

piano
1917 - 1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Tadd Dameron,

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk,

Harold Arlen

composer / conductor
1905 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Harold Arlen and others. With stellar arrangements from Hall, the disc boasts nine classic standards and a single original ("Boston After Dark") penned by Harris when he taught at Boston's Berklee College of Music decades ago. The music is outstanding, the band, is just as impressive. Harris brings together four players with national reputations and, after one sampling of the album, it's clear why.

Trumpeter and flugelhornist

Paul Mazzio

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Mazzio was a sideman for

Tony Bennett

vocals
1926 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Bennett and a member of

Woody Herman

band / ensemble / orchestra
1913 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Woody Herman's renowned Thundering Herd, while pianist

George Mitchell

piano
b.1899

" data-original-title="" title="">George Mitchell spent 30 years with

Diana Ross

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Diana Ross and as a sideman with saxophonist

Sonny Stitt

saxophone
1924 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Stitt. Bassist

Dave Captein

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Captein has worked with jazz greats

Jack Sheldon

trumpet
1931 - 2019

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack Sheldon and the late

Bud Shank

saxophone
1926 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Bud Shank among others, while longtime drummer

Dick Berk

drums
1939 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Dick Berk has performed with everyone from

Billie Holiday

vocals
1915 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Billie Holiday and

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus to

Freddie Hubbard

trumpet
1938 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Hubbard and Brazilian vibraphonist

Cal Tjader

vibraphone
1925 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Cal Tjader.

With an approach reminiscent of

Phil Woods

saxophone, alto
1931 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Woods, Harris peels off the first of many sizzling alto solos on the opening "You're My Everything," sharing the spotlight with Mazzio, Mitchell and Captein on a dazzling bop-infused rendition of this timeless classic.

Gary Burton

vibraphone
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Burton once used

Victor Assis Brasil

" data-original-title="" title="">Victor Assis Brasil's obscure "Profiles" in a Berklee Jazz improvisation class attended by Harris, who copied the changes and has used it ever since. The boppish flair of the set continues with Harris's tenor voice on "I Hear A Rhapsody" and

Clare Fischer

piano
1928 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">Clare Fischer's "We'll Be Together Again."

The bossa-flavored "Pensativa," is the defining pieces of the disc, featuring Harris and crew glowing with incredible solos. The music is of apparent significance to the saxophonist for both his record label and website are titled after this Fischer song. Harris' alto continues to sing on

Harold Arlen

composer / conductor
1905 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Harold Arlen's "A Sleepin' Bee" and takes to a softer, slower tempo on

Tadd Dameron

piano
1917 - 1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Tadd Dameron's soulful ballad, "Soultrane." Closing with a strong statement on Monk's "Little Rootie Tootie," Harris emerges as a voice to be reckoned with in a solid performance and an impressive debut that should have the critics buzzing and audiences clamoring for more. Lending an exciting new sound to a host of familiar jazz standards, Harris may well turn the jazz world Inside-Out with this compelling first outing.

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Track Listing

You're My Everything; Boston After Dark; Profiles; I Hear A Rhapsody; We'll Be Together Again; I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You); Pensativa; A Sleepin' Bee; Soultrane; Little Rootie Tootie.

Personnel

Bill Harris: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone; Paul Mazzio: trumpet, flugelhorn; George Mitchell: piano; Dave Captein: bass; Dick Berk: drums.

Album information

Title: Inside-Out | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced

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