As one who is noted for being out with the Out Sound, I can only say that this record gives me no reason to change my mind about Eddie Harris. He has the same immaculate tone and technique as Stan Getz or Zoot Sims, but utilises them in a way which I cannot comprehend. The essential for that kind of playing is a sense of warmth and beauty, and in my terms Harris has neither. He seems to have found a backwater of ugly modern jazz, and the way he digs into it with his lovely sound and great ability is totally incongruous. Can it be that he is trying to find a ‘pop’ form of far-outery?
Codrington is a good trumpeter who fits with the Coltrane side of Harris’s influences and Higgins is a very good drummer who here manages to do practically nothing, but very well. I can’t understand what they’re aiming for, and don’t think they’ve got to wherever it is yet.
Discography
(a) Theme From ‘The Sandpiper’; (a) Born To Be Blue; (b) Love For Sale (17 min) – (b) Cryin’ Blues; (a) ’S Wonderful; (b) Freedom Jazz Dance (18 min)
(a) Eddie Harris (ten); Cedar Walton (p); Ron Carter (bs); Billy Higgins (d).
(b) as (a) plus Ray Codrington (tpt).
(Atlantic ATL or SAL 5045 32s. 2d.)
