Happy Birthday Barry Harris

[Michael Weiss]

1979 Indianapolis

Barry about to throw down on some glistening Naptown soul food while innocent squirt looks on in disbelief.

[AllenLowe]

Barry! don't get to see him much these days, though we were pretty friendly in the late 1970s; I wrote the first article on him that ever appeared in Downbeat. Great man, great musician. (and I still fondly remember the days when he played a duo at Jimmy's with Wilbur Little; I'd sit all night and order a glass of water; the bartender was completely indifferent; Barry later told me it was a great gig, the only one he ever had where he could collect unemployment after it was over) -

Edited December 15, 2009 by AllenLowe

[Robert J]

Happy Birthday Barry!

[Cyril]

Happy 80th Birthday Mr. Barry Harris!

[brownie]

He's been playing beautifully for more than half a century!

Looks like he is well on his way to reach 100... and beyond!

[flat5]

A great jazzer. A flat5 expert (tritone). Shares my first name.

Happy 80 Barry Harris!

[king ubu]

Happy Birthday!

Got his OJCs in a frenzy when Concord started the big wipe-out and enjoyed them tremendously! Will put on the solo one later tonight, makes for good late night listening!

[gmonahan]

A *really* fine pianist! His albums with Sonny Stitt are still among my favorites. Happy Birthday Mr. Harris!

gregmo

[Peter Friedman]

Happy Birthday Barry.

Barry Harris has been one of my 3 or 4 favorite jazz piano players for more than 50 years.

[Robert J]

Barry has also been involved recently in a Toronto music/social project helping at-risk kids.

Mentioned about 1/2 way in this article:

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/article/731366--instruments-of-change

[fasstrack]

I've known Barry since '76. Was part of the scene at the JCT in the 80s. There's no one I know that did more for musicians. I know this from personal experience. Bless you. Barry, and happy birthday!

[cymbalgroove]

Barry's the greatest!! Happy birthday to a true master bebopper!!

[AllenLowe]

I was at the first concert he did at Symphony Space, many years ago (maybe 1979?) - he had Tommy Turrentine and Lonnie Hiller playing a duet on a beautiful slow version of Star Eyes. He also, as I recall, brought Chris Anderson on-stage - as a matter of fact, somewhere I have a note Barry sent me after that concert (I'd helped him do some promo). Those were interesting days; NY was much different -

is he still doing those concerts?

found the note: (next post):

Edited December 16, 2009 by AllenLowe

[AllenLowe]

[Brad]

That's pretty cool Allen.

Happy Birthday, Barry, you're one of my favorites

[makpjazz57]

Happy Birthday, Barry Harris! One of my all-time favorite jazz legends/heroes. Besides the Vanguard, I've heard Barry live at Bradley's, JCT, Mark Morganelli's Jazz Forum and many other places in NYC. Live in Tokyo - the trio recording - one of my all-time favorite BH recordings.

Michael - GREAT photo; thanks for sharing!

Marla

[Shrdlu]

What a tasty piano player!

Check out the "Preminado" album (Riverside, motherfucker), with Elvin. The title track is so hip.

[stevebop]

One of my fondest musical memories was the time I went to see Barry in New York at The Angry Squire, a club on Seventh Ave and 23rd Street.

The music was fabulous. Both sets. After the music was over, as we were all walking out I became aware of the woman in front of me, heading for the door. Short in stature, with long dark hair flowing over her shoulders and a mink coat that touched the floor.

The front door opened and there was a silver Bentley double parked in front of the club with the rear door open. As she climbed into the back seat and the driver closed the door and pulled away I realized that I had been walking out behind The Baroness, Pannonica!

[AllenLowe]

Barry also played the Angry Squire right after Monk died, and did an amazing night of all Monk tunes -

he was a frequent booking there in the late 1970s. One night I brought Percy France down, as I wanted him to sit in, and thought he and Barry would be a good match. The opportunity, unfortunately, did not present itself. Would have been quite interesting.

[mikeweil]

I happened to buy the CD with his Tadd Dameron renditions today.  To me, Barry Harris is the quintessential bebop pianist.

All the best to him!

[AllenLowe]

my favorites are Live In Paris, Barry Harris Plays Barry Harris, Preminado (out of tune piano and all) and the "live" one from the West Coast (can't remember the name); also, the Sonny Criss that Xanadu put out has some of Barry's best playing.

[ValerieB]

it's beautiful to see that so many folks here have so many sweet memories of Barry. i remember first seeing him playing solo piano in the window of a bar called "Junior's" (i think). it was in the early to mid-60's on West 47th Street in the theatre district and was actually a theatre hang-out. i'm happy to say that i've lost count of all the times i've heard Barry play, most recently a couple of times this year in NY. as has been mentioned, he's not only a gifted musician but a humanitarian as well. i know of so many generous and heart-felt things he has done for folks, especially fellow jazz musicians. blessings to Barry, always.