Barry Harris
Pianist Harris came out of Detroit in 1960 having digested the serpentine logic, pathos and skittering touch of Bud Powell without letting Powell's overwound genius digest him. As Harris matured into one of the best accompanists, teachers and soloists in jazz, he began to sound more and more like himself, and by the mid-'70s he had reached quintessence. For the Moment, Harris' first album in seven years, is a fine introduction to the 55-year-old pianist's interests and assets (and to his estimable longtime accompanists, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Leroy Williams). It's not coincidence that there's a medley of four Thelonious Monk tunes and a Harris ballad called To Monk With Love. Harris and Monk grew close during Monk's last years. When he plays his friend's music, Harris never mimics or gets mawkish but turns his own fervid bebop soul loose on the fast tunes and mines the melancholy in the slow ones. Monk also appeals to Harris' irrepressible playfulness, which finds further expression in his two-tempoed reworking of the catchy theme from the I Love Lucy TV series. Harris' rhythmic versatility and imagination are evident throughout the album, as are his melodic gifts as a composer and improviser, his Powell-like seriousness and beauty in ballads and his distinctively supple touch on the keyboard. It's too soon to tell whether For the Moment packs the lasting excitement and perfection of phrase of Harris classics like Magnificent and Plays Tadd Dameron, but clearly it captures a first-rate artist in uncomplacent maturity. (Uptown)
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