Eddie Harris Excursions (2-CD)

Personnel includes: Eddie Harris (vocals, electric saxophone, reed trumpet); Ronald Muldrow (guitorgan); Cedar Walton, Jodie Christian (piano); Larry Nash, Richard Abrams (electric piano); Rufus Reid, Melvin Jackson (bass); Billy James, Billy Higgins (drums); Ndugu (percussion).

Producers: Eddie Harris, Marvin Lugonuff, Arif Mardin.

Originally released on Atlantic.

Personnel: Eddie Harris (vocals, saxophone, tenor saxophone, electric saxophone); Ronald Muldrow (electric guitar); Frank Gordon, Ray Codrington (trumpet); Billy Howell (trombone); Jodie Christian, Cedar Walton (piano); Richard Abrahams, Larry Nash (electric piano); Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (drums, percussion); Richard Smith , Billy Higgins , Billy James (drums); Marshall Thompson , Andr‚ Fischer (percussion); Marilyn Haywood, Mary Ann Stewart, Vivian Harrell (background vocals).

Liner Note Author: Harry Abraham.

Recording information: 1966-1973.

This disc has three selections apiece from 1966 and 1968 and six from 1973, all of which were previously unreleased at the time. Eddie Harris is heard in top form on the diverse program, some of which is funky and some of which is purely straightahead. Highlights include "Listen Here Goes Funky," the 16«-minute "Turbulence," "Fragmentary Apparitions," "Hey Wado" and "Oleo." Harris switches between tenor, his electrified sax and (on "Turbulence") reed trumpet; his sidemen include guitarist Ronald Muldrow, keyboardists Larry Nash and Richard Abrams and pianists Jodie Christian and Cedar Walton. This set is well worth searching for. ~ Scott Yanow