Billy Harper - Trying To Make Heaven My Home (1979) [vinyl]

Billy Harper played with Art Blakey in the late 60s, featured on Lee Morgan's final album, and played with Max Roach and Randy Weston before recording a series of terrific albums under his own name in the 70s. Yet his work is poorly known! Like many US musicians he has mainly recorded for European and Japanese labels and many of these albums have disappeared having never made it to a CD reissue. Here's one of them.
Ripped from vinyl with full scans. Great review below!

Review by Michael G. Nastos:
A quintet recording for this incendiary tenor saxophonist. An extended, hard-blowing session.

1. Trying to Make Heaven My Home
2. Inside
3. Love On The Sudan

Everett Hollins (t) Billy Harper (ts) Armen Donelian (p) Wayne Dockery (b) Malcom Pinson (d)
Stuttgart , March 3 & 4, 1979

Woody Shaw - Love Dance (1975) [Jap-CD]

A fantastic album by Woody Shaw - spiritual, soulful, and filled with some nice modal grooving! The group's one of the best he ever worked with on Muse - with Billy Harper on tenor, plus Rene McLean, Steve Turre, Joe Bonner, and Cecil McBee - and the approach reminds us of some of the work on Strata East from the same time. The highlight of the record is the cut "Sunbath", which was done in a more famous jazz dance version by singer Joyce Hurley - but Shaw's version has a very similar groove. Harper makes many of the other tracks shine brilliantly, and titles include "Love Dance", "Obsequious", and Harper's own beautiful composition "Soulfully I Love You". ~ Dusty Groove.

Muse Records, MR 5074, 1976
Sony Records, SRCS 9405, 1998
Recorded November, 1975 at Blue Rock Studio, New York City 

Musicians:
Woody Shaw - Trumpet
Steve Turre - Trombone, Bass Trombone
Rene McLean - Alto & Soprano Saxophones
Billy Harper - Tenor Saxophone
Joe Bonner - Piano, Electric Piano
Cecil McBee - Bass
Victor Lewis - Drums
Guilherme Franco - Percussion
Tony Waters - Congas 

Tracks:
1. Love Dance {Joe Bonner} (12:37)
2. Obsequious {Larry Young} (9:28)
3. Sunbath {Peggy Stern} (6:33)
4. Zoltan {Woody Shaw} (6:48)
5. Soulfully I Love You [Black Spiritual Of Love] {Billy Harper} (8:13) 

Total Time: 43:58 

Credits:
Producer - Michael Cuscuna
Engineer - Eddie Korvin
Mastering - Joe Brescio
Art Direction, Design, Photography - Hal Wilson
Liner Notes - Dan Morgenstern 

Love Dance

Billy Harper - Capra Black (1973)

Capra Black remains one of the seminal recordings of jazz's black consciousness movement. A profoundly spiritual effort that channels both the intellectual complexity of the avant-garde as well as the emotional potency of gospel, its focus and assurance belie Billy Harper's inexperience as a leader. Backed by an all-star supporting unit including trombonist Julian Priester and drummer Billy Cobham, Harper's tenor summons the brute force and mystical resolve of John Coltrane but transcends its influences to communicate thoughts and feelings both idiosyncratic and universal. This is music of remarkable corporeal substance that somehow expresses the pure language of the soul.  ~ by Jason Ankeny, AMG. 

Strata-East Records, SES-19739, 1973
Bellaphon International, 660.51.022, 1993 

Personnel:
=========
Billy Harper - Tenor Saxophone, Voices
Jimmy Owens - Trumpet
Julian Priester - Trombone
Dick Griffin - Trombone
George Cables - Piano
Reggie Workman - Bass
Billy Cobham - Drums
Elvin Jones - Drums
Warren Smith - Drums
-----------------------------
Barbara Grant - Voices
Eugene McDaniels - Voices
Laveda Johnson - Voices
Pat Robinson - Voices 

Tracklist:
=======
Capra:
1. Capra Black (11:22)
2. Sir Galahad (8:08)
3. New Breed (4:34)
Black:
4. Soulfully, I Love You / Black Spiritual Of Love (9:39)
5. Cry Of Hunger (10:49) 

All Compositions by Billy Harper 

Total Time: 44:33 

Credits:
Producer, Arranger - Billy Harper
Engineer - Orville I'Brien
Photography - Richard Mayeda
Digital Transfer - Phil Klum 

This album is dedicated to Lee Morgan and to Kenny Dorham (who inspired my uncle-who inspired me), and the many other messengers who have passed this road before me. ~ Billy Harper. 

Capra Black

Billy Harper Quintet - In Europe (1979) [re-rip]

Billy Harper is a huge exponent of what is termed ‘Spiritual Jazz’ and here we have one of his albums which demonstrates a clear and powerful example of that style. Harper is an exemplary saxophone player with an extremely full and warm tone, somewhat in the vein of Coltrane, but also in a league of his own and noted for his fierce soloing verging on Free Jazz. This LP was recorded and released on the unique Italian Soul Note label. At that time Billy was in Europe with his quintet and producer Giovanni Bonondrini seized the opportunity to grab some of that repertoire emanating from his 1979 tour. The listener is treated to three tunes all composed by Billy and delivered with amazing energy by Harper as a leader of a phenomenal quintet. It consists of Billy on tenor, Everett Hollins on trumpet, Fred Hersch on piano, Louis "Mbiki" Spears on bass and Horacee Arnold on Drums. The group as a whole seamlessly merges together exuding a deep and rich soulful sound. The first track ‘Priestess’ is a thriller from start to finish. It starts so serenely with an effortless solo from Fred Hersch’s soulful piano, building with bass lines from Mbiki Spears and the crashing drums of Horacee Arnold, and then joining together Harper and trumpeter Everett Hollins. The next tune ‘Calvary starts with Spears’ bass and is more uptempo with rest of the group joining with some great interchanging solos, again just as awesome. The final track ‘Illumination’ takes up the whole of side B is an epic tune truly showcasing some fantastic duo work between Harper and Arnold with Harper and Hollins holding down the basic melody; the coda is progressively built and gently finished off at the end. Overall this album exposes a brilliant ensemble sound and is an essential LP for any Billy Harper devotee, Enjoy!

Soul Note, SN 1001, 1979

Recorded 24^th & 25^th January, 1979 at Barigozzi Studio in Milano, Italy

Personnel:

Billy Harper - Tenor Saxophone

Everett Hollins - Trumpet

Fred Hersch - Piano

Louis "Mbiki" Spears - Bass

Horacee Arnold - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Priestess (13:06)

A2. Calvary (7:21)

B. Illumination (21:44)

All Compositions by Billy Harper

Credits:

Producer - Giovanni Bonondrini

Engineer - Giancarlo Barigozzi

Photography - Fabio Traves & Mici Toniele

Cover Art - Francesco Gregoricchio

Joe Bonner - Angel Eyes (1976) [re-rip]

"Angel Eyes" contains a magical mix of both solo, trio and group tunes. On the title track "Angel Eyes" and "I Do" Bonner plays solo and both are very soul-searching and captivating. "Love Dance" is a blend of both solo and an added rhythm section. Yet, what makes this LP magnificent is the addition of the avant-garde violinist Leroy Jenkins and tenor saxophonist Billy Harper. Both musicians are found on "Variations On The Little Chocolate Boy" and "Celebration", which also includes the superb vocalist Linda Sharrock. The late Jenkins' violin stretches the other players to do more. In this instance Harper clearly showcases his ability to pick up the harmony and run with it. Overall Bonner's playing is incredibly evocative. The album’s highlight is Sharrock’s singing, starting out with a pervasive dark tone that later launches into a wailing mode and then returns anchored by the fusion of the groove being conveyed by the rest of the group. In a lot of ways these two tracks are very bold verging on the avant-garde. The listener cannot but desire more of the same in a follow up album. In the end Bonner concludes this work with a simple but eloquent bamboo flute solo invoking quite a rounding off and spiritual tone to the whole session.

Muse Records, MR 5114, 1976

Recorded October, 1974 and January 1976

Musicians:

Joe Bonner - Piano, Bells (#A1), Bamboo Flute (#B3)

Billy Harper - Tenor Saxophone (#B1,B2)

Leroy Jenkins - Violin (#B1,B2)

Juni Booth - Bass (#A3,B1,B2)

Jimmy Hopps - Drums (#A3,B1,B2)

Linda Sharrock - Vocal (#B2)

Tracks:

A1. Angel Eyes {Matt Dennis} (5:42) *

A2. Love Dance {Joe Bonner} (4:39)

A3. I Do {Joe Bonner} (6:05) *

B1. Variations On The Little Chocolate Boy {Joe Bonner} (5:33)

B2. Celebration {Joe Bonner} (9:26)

B3. Interlude {Joe Bonner} (3:12) #

* Solo Piano

# Solo Flute

Credits:

Producer - Joe Bonner, Michael Cuscuna

Album Design - Joe Bonner, Ron Warwell

Liner Notes - Alan Goodman

Celebration [Lyrics]

It's a sad game, it's a sad game, if you care to play.

It's a sad game, it's a sad game, if you care to play.

I want to be someplace that's good for me.

I want to be someplace that's good for me.

It's a sad game.

WOODY SHAW - LOVE DANCE - 1975 - 24/48

Muse  MR-5074
My Vinyl Rip
Front & Back Covers
FLAC
DR Value 13

Love Dance is the fourth album led by trumpeter Woody Shaw which was recorded in 1975 and released on the Muse label.  Love Dance was reissued by Mosaic Records as part of Woody Shaw: The Complete Muse Sessions in 2013.   Shaw gives us a polished performance as he shows his versatility throughout the session.  I like the title track Love Dance as the highlight.  At over twelve minutes in length, it's a showcases of wonderful solos by all the players.    

01 Love Dance / 02 Obsequious / 03 Sunbath / 04 Zoltan /
05 Soulfully I Love You (Black Spiritual of Love)

Woody Shaw - trumpet;  Steve Turre - trombone, bass trombone;  René McLean - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone;
Billy Harper - tenor saxophone;  Joe Bonner - piano, electric piano;  Cecil McBee - bass;  Victor Lewis - drums:
Guilherme Franco - percussion;  Tony Waters - congas

Grachan Moncur III Octet - Exploration

"Trombonist Grachan Moncur III, who was a member of the Jazztet in the early 1960s, gained his greatest fame for his two Blue Note albums (Evolution and Some Other Stuff) which were quite adventurous. He also worked with Archie Shepp, became involved in free jazz and spent much of the 1970s and '80s as a music educator. Dental problems resulted in Moncur only playing once in a great while in the 1990s. He had been in obscurity for quite awhile when he was contacted by arranger Mark Masters for the Exploration project. Fortunately Moncur's playing proved to still be in his prime. Masters wrote sympathetic charts for many of the trombonist's finest pieces, utilizing an all-star nonet that could really dig into the inside/outside music. "Excursion," a very coherent three-minute free improvisation, is a change-of-pace and precedes the closing blues "Sonny's Back," a 1962 piece originally played by the Jazztet. This CD overall is very rewarding, a dream project for those who have long admired the underrated Grachan Moncur. The musicians have their solos, there are both written and improvised ensembles and Moncur plays wonderfully throughout. This set, which sums up Grachan Moncur's career definitively, is a gem." Yanow

Joe Bonner - RIP [Muse Albums - Re-Post]

Joe Bonner - The Lifesaver (1975)

Label: Muse Records

Catalog#: MR 5065

On this LP Joe Bonner is fully engaged in creating some marvellous and lyrical excursions into a variety of self-penned tunes. Apart from his evocative piano work he intelligently turns his hand to an assortment of instruments including harmonica and flute creating an intriguing percussive complement to his acoustic piano sounds. A highlight is to hear an original take on his emotive "Little Chocolate Boy". In all, it is a bold solo album that manages to entertain from the start to the finish.

Personnel:

Joe Bonner - Piano, Miscellaneous Instruments, Percussion

Track Listing:

A1. Bonner's Bounce (5:29)

A2. Tatoo (7:42)

A3. Little Chocolate Boy (5:36)

B1. The Lifesaver (4:26)

B2. Native Son (5:40)

B3. The Observer (7:43)

__________________________

Joe Bonner - Angel Eyes (1976)

Label: Muse Records

Catalog#: MR 5134

"Angel Eyes" contains a magical mix of both solo, trio and group tunes. On the title track "Angel Eyes" and "I Do" Bonner plays solo and both are very soul-searching and captivating. "Love Dance" is a blend of both solo and an added rhythm section. Yet, what makes this LP magnificent is the addition of the avant-garde violinist Leroy Jenkins and tenor saxophonist Billy Harper. Both musicians are found on "Variations On The Little Chocolate Boy" and "Celebration", which also includes the superb vocalist Linda Sharrock. The late Jenkins' violin stretches the other players to do more. In this instance Harper clearly showcases his ability to pick up the harmony and run with it. Overall Bonner's playing is incredibly evocative. The album’s highlight is Sharrock’s singing, starting out with a pervasive dark tone that later launches into a wailing mode and then returns anchored by the fusion of the groove being conveyed by the rest of the group. In a lot of ways these two tracks are very bold verging on the avant-garde. The listener cannot but desire more of the same in a follow up album. In the end Bonner concludes this work with a simple but eloquent bamboo flute solo invoking quite a rounding off and spiritual tone to the whole session.

Personnel:

Joe Bonner - Piano, Bells (#A1), Bamboo Flute (#B3)

Billy Harper - Tenor Saxophone (#B1, B2)

Leroy Jenkins - Violin (#B1, B2)

Juni Booth - Bass

Jimmy Hopps - Drums

Linda Sharrock - Vocal {#B2}

Track Listing:

A1. Angel Eyes (5:41)

A2. Love Dance (4:39)

A3. I Do (6:04)

B1. Variations On The Little Chocolate Boy (5:32)

B2. Celebration {Featuring Linda Sharrock} (9:26)

B3. Interlude (3:12)