Led by the genial, sprightly pianist Gene Harris (1933-2000), The 3 Sounds were popular Blue Note recording artists in the 1950s and 60s. In the ensuing decades, Harris featured as a soloist in small group and big bands (including the Philip Morris Superband) – with an impressive roster of like-minded colleagues including Ray Brown, Jeff Hamilton, Herb Ellis, Stanley Turrentine, Sweets Edison, Marshall Royal, Frank Wess, Urbie Green, Sonny Stitt and Lester Young.
Never a major innovator or virtuoso pianist, and sometimes repetitive, Harris nevertheless managed to communicate a sense of joy in his uptempo performances and brought an appealing basic blues atmosphere to popular materials.
These qualities are almost immediately evident on all three of these late 1950s/1960s studio recordings. The rapport between Harris, Simpkins and Dowdy is impressive and particularly evident on a gently rocking interpretation of Tenderly, a bouncy Woody ’n’ You and a rhapsodic When I Fall In Love, punctuated by Dowdy’s drums and underpinned by Simpkins’ bass. Green Dolphin Street, Love For Sale and a storming Things Ain’t What They Used To Be are equally enjoyable.
The session featuring Lou Donaldson adds an extra and distinctive “voice” to the trio format. He makes a high flying entrance on Three Little Words and the trio are kept busy keeping up. Smooth Groove (a Donaldson composition) lowers the temperature while retaining a bluesy feel. Just Friends has Donaldson again soaring high, while a gentle Blue Moon and Jump Up (another Donaldson original), with a fleet bass solo from Simpkins, have all the participants obviously enjoying the ride. A suitably bop-like and exhilarating work out on Parker’s Confirmation closes a notable session.
A great communicator both on and off stage, Harris was unpretentious and self-aware. As he liked to inform the audience at the end of one of his public performances: “If you leave here with a smile on your face tonight, remember that Gene Harris put it there.” Some (if not all) of these tracks might put produce smiles; the irritatingly microscopic liner notes are less likely to please.
Discography
CD1: [The 3 Sounds] (1) Tenderly; Willow Weep For Me; Both Sides; Blue Bells; It’s Nice; Goin’ Home; Woody ’n’ You; O Solo Mio; [Feelin’ Good] When I Fall In Love; Parker’s Pad; Blues After Dark; I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good); Straight, No Chaser; I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart; It Could Happen To You; Two Bass Hit (76.52)
CD2: [Moods] Love For Sale; Things Ain’t What They Used To Be; On Green Dolphin Street; Loose Walk; Li’l Darlin’; I’m Beginning To See The Light; Tammy’s Breeze; Sandu; [Lou Donaldson With The 3 Sounds: LD+3] (2) Three Little Words; Smooth Groove; Just Friends; Blue Moon; Jump Up; Don’t Take Your Love From Me; Confirmation (80.31)
(1) Harris (p, cel); Andrew Simpkins (b); Bill Dowdy (d). (2) add Lou Donaldson (as). Hackensack, NJ, 28 September 1958. Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 28 June 1960. Hackensack, 18 February 1959.
Avid Jazz AMSC1448
