Lafayette Harris Jr. Can't Lose With the Blues

Lafayette Harris Jr.
You Can't Lose With the Blues
Savant Records

Baltimore native Lafayette Harris has become a fixture on the New York scene whose resume includes stints in Max Roach's 1990s band, vocalist Ernestine Anderson and currently with saxophonist Houston Person. Person produced this piano trio with a superb rhythm section of Peter Washington on bass and Lewis Nash drums. Underlying this recording is to "expand the language of the blues" as well as play "some standards with 'blues pride inserted in the song form.'"

With this superb trio, Harris handles a variety of songs that have been recorded by Sarah Vaughan, Bull Moose Jackson, Louis Jordan, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, and others. The set kicks off with a brisk walking tempo swinger, "He's My Guy," where Harris develops several variations on the theme. A lovely interpretation of the Bull Moose Jackson hit ballad, "I Love You, Yes I Do," is taken at a lazy tempo. It is followed by the effervescent original, "Blues For Barry Harris," with Harris scintillating with Nash's accents helping drive this along. Nash and Washington both solo with distinction here. Harris' touch and phrasing capture the reflective quality of the Louis Jordan hit, "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying." A similar feeling is captured on the Cole Porter classic "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye," an exquisite duet with Washington. An energetic rendition of the classic Mercer Ellington number, "Things Ain't What They Used To Be," follows.

Other standout selections include an imaginative rendering of Charlie Parker's "Bloomdido," that shows, like his tribute to Barry Harris, that he has learned the lessons of Bird and Bud Powell. The title track is a down-home as Harris gets, and then there is a superb solo rendition of Percy Mayfield's "Please Send Me Someone To Love. "The Juicy Blues," is a brisk, rollicking original that again showcases Lafayette Harris' superb blues exploration and caps this excellent recording.

I received my review copy from High Note/ Savant Records. Here is Lafayette Harris, Jr. from a few years back performing Charlie Parker's "Moose the Mooch."

Lafayette Harris, Jr. - Bend To The Light

Pianist Lafayette Harris, Jr. and his trio of bassist Lonnie Plaxico and drummer Willie Jones, III have a new recording "Bend To The Light" (Airmen Records) which includes a couple of new originals, revisiting some of his previously recorded compositions and choice interpretations of standards along with a Herbie Nichols composition and a Luther Vandross tune.

What stands out immediately on the opening title rack is not simply Harris' fluency and technical command but the lyricism as well as drive of his playing and the superb backing he gets from Plaxico (whose own solo here displays his strong touch) and Jones. Vandross' Take You Out" is a lovely mid-tempo groover followed by "We In The House," the lengthiest performance here with a light march feel in part generated from Jones' bass figure (who again solos here). On this, Harris plays with a lighter touch while still sounding formidably. On Herbie Nichols' "12 Bars" Harris is excellent on a performance incorporating some of Nichols' stride roots. His own solo alludes to "Take the A Train." More stunning playing is heard on the original "Achern," while Harris' take on "Old Devil Moon," is lovely. "Blues On The Edge" is a spirited uptempo blues.

Jazzmiea Horn scats on a vocal version of the title track before the recording closes with a short version of "We In The House," on which Jones is more prominent. The music on "Bend To The Light" is marvelous with Harris and his trio playing at a high level throughout.

Received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the September-October 2015 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 362). Here he performs a Charlie Parker classic.