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 24th
& 25th 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
