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Harry Beckett: Still Happy

By Bruce Lindsay
July 11, 2016
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Barbados-born Harry Beckett was known across the jazz world, respected as a major player on the UK scene for many years, winning the Melody Maker Trumpeter of the Year award in 1972 and recording or performing with a host of musicians including

Louis Moholo-Moholo

drums
1940 - 2025

" data-original-title="" title="">Louis Moholo-Moholo,

John Dankworth

saxophone
1927 - 2010

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

John Surman

saxophone
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">John Surman. Like many jazz players he was in demand as a session player across genres—he's on

Jack Bruce

bass, acoustic
1943 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack Bruce's magnificent Songs For A Tailor (Polydor, 1969), as well as albums by The Faces,

Memphis Slim

piano
1915 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Memphis Slim,

Working Week

" data-original-title="" title="">Working Week and Jah Wobble.

Still Happy is a relative rarity in the Beckett discography—an album from Beckett as leader rather than sideman. He recorded the session for an edition of BBC Radio 2's Jazz Club, broadcast in August 1974—versions of "No Time For Hello" and "Bracelets Of Sound" were included on Beckett's Joy Unlimited (Cadillac Records, 1975), with guitarist

Ray Russell

guitar, electric
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Russell rather than the twin horns present on this recording, but "Still Happy" is previously unreleased.

Beckett is definitely at the center of things, but he gives plenty of space to his bandmates, themselves some of the leading lights of the British jazz scene. The tunes—three of Beckett's originals—are reflective of their time, fusing jazz, rock, funk and more into an exciting, vital, sound.

The album opens with Paul Hart's soft-toned, three-note bass riff on "Bracelets Of Sound." As he repeats the phrase the other musicians gradually join in, slowly building layers of sound before Beckett arrives with a sweet, plaintive melody. Hart closes the album too, after joining drummer John Webb in driving "No Time For Hello" along with some powerful playing he ends the track with three gentle harmonics—not before

Don Weller

b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Weller grabs the spotlight for a tenor solo. "Still Happy" is as upbeat and joyous as the title suggests—Webb's propulsive drumming gives it a real feeling of movement, Beckett's solo is unrestrained and celebratory.

Still Happy is the first album, on vinyl, for the splendidly-named My Only Desire Records. It's a fine debut release for the label and a fine reminder of Beckett's talent.

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Track Listing

Side A: Bracelets Of Sound; Side B: Still Happy; No Time For Hello.

Personnel

Harry Beckett

flugelhorn

Harry Beckett: trumpet, flugelhorn; Alan Wakeman: soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone; Don Weller: tenor saxophone; Brian Miller: electric piano; Paul Hart: electric bass; John Webb: drums; Robin Jones: percussion.

Album information

Title: Still Happy | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: My Only Desire Records

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