Jump to content

Billy Harper


Pim

Recommended Posts

On 8/3/2023 at 1:47 AM, Gheorghe said:

Sorry I never saw "The Cookers". Must be a gas to see them. 

My best memory of Billy Harper is is composition "Pieceful Heart". What rhythm, what time is that ? Must be hard to play.....

The tune you are thinking of is The Call of the Wild and Peaceful Heart. The Cookers perform this tune pretty regularly and it opens a lot of our shows....

The tune is in 9 but it is not a typical 9 which is usually sub-divided into 3-3-3. In this case it is subdivided more like 4-5 or as someone in the band said 4-1-4. I would go with 4-5.

Though perhaps a little rough around the edges, here is a pretty decent live performance of it....

 

 

Edited by david weiss
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you so much, @david weiss

Great performance, I hope I´ll see you at some time if you do Vienna (I missed the 2018 gig at Porgy@Bess) but I still hope it will happen some day. 
Thank you also very much for the rhythmic advice of the tune. Yes, that´s also what I thought: not a typically 9, but more a 4-5. 
When I heard it the first time in 1978 I couldn´t figure it out. But knew it is something great, special. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

54 minutes ago, Hoppy T. Frog said:

Saw him at Blues Alley a few months ago with his own quintet (must have been Tankersley on the piano, then). Loved his sci-fi-ish leather (?) duster, looked like he was an extra in one of the Star Wars spin offs. 

One of Tankersley’s students subbed for her that night — and her student did really admirably, and got off a couple really fantastic solos (one each set, iirc).  It was a nice night!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

Upcoming Livestreams from Smoke for Billy Harper's 81st birthday:

LIVESTREAM: Billy Harper Quintet “81st Birthday Celebration”

link.png

FRI, JAN 19

Freddie Hendrix – trumpet Billy Harper – tenor saxophone Francesca Tanksley – piano Dezron Douglas – bass Aaron Scott – drums “A luminary figure in post-bop” – The New York Times The incredible Billy Harper leads his celebrated quintet—with trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, pianist Francesca Tanksley, bassist Dezron Douglas, and drummer Aaron Scott—while celebrating his 81st birthday. One of the most original and significant saxophonists of the past 50 years, Harper has a distinctive sound and approach that is purely his own. Over the years, he’s worked with Art Blakey, Max Roach, Gil Evans, Elvin Jones, Lee...

Read More
07:00 PM SHOW09:00 PM SHOW10:30 PM SHOW
 

 

LIVESTREAM: Billy Harper Quintet “81st Birthday Celebration”

link.png

SAT, JAN 20

Freddie Hendrix – trumpet Billy Harper – tenor saxophone Francesca Tanksley – piano Dezron Douglas – bass Aaron Scott – drums “A luminary figure in post-bop” – The New York Times The incredible Billy Harper leads his celebrated quintet—with trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, pianist Francesca Tanksley, bassist Dezron Douglas, and drummer Aaron Scott—while celebrating his 81st birthday. One of the most original and significant saxophonists of the past 50 years, Harper has a distinctive sound and approach that is purely his own. Over the years, he’s worked with Art Blakey, Max Roach, Gil Evans, Elvin Jones, Lee...

Read More
07:00 PM SHOW09:00 PM SHOW10:30 PM SHOW
 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

At yesterday's Q&A section of the Billy Harper concert in Austin, he was asked about his main early influences. He mentioned playing with Don Wilkerson in Houston, but more prominently, he credited being in the James Clay Band in Dallas.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, kh1958 said:

At yesterday's Q&A section of the Billy Harper concert in Austin, he was asked about his main early influences. He mentioned playing with Don Wilkerson in Houston, but more prominently, he credited being in the James Clay Band in Dallas.

Interesting ....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, JSngry said:

I hate that I had to miss him in Denton. I've seen him 3 times. He always brings it.

By chance, I was assigned a seat with a nice fellow named Jimmy who asked about you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, JSngry said:

I know a few Jimmy's. But none really currently?

That's what I get for not going. I should always go see Billy!

Sound advice.

Doing a mental tally, I've seen him with his band three times, with the Cookers twice, with Malachi Thompson twice, with Randy Weston once, and with Charles Tolliver once. All were a pleasure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw him with Max Roach at the Keystone Korner in the 70's and his own quartet at the Painted Bride Art Center in the 90's.  Wish I had a lot more opportunities through the years.  I've been spellbound by his music ever since I took that last Lee Morgan album home in the early 70's and spun "Capra Black" from it over and over again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, Kevin Bresnahan said:

The last time I saw Billy with The Cookers, he was extremely happy when I asked if I could get a picture with him. :)

9Kx6my0.jpeg

Cool! I saw Billy is visiting Austria and Greece coming spring. I seriously considered to drive 1200 km to see him play in Graz or Wien but it’s just a little too far (it’s 2400km of course as I need to drive back as well). If he comes to play in Belgium or Germany I’ll go!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...