Gene Harris


Gene Harris was an American jazz pianist known for his warm sound and blues and gospel-infused style, known as soul jazz.
From 1956 to 1970, he played in The Three Sounds trio with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy. During this time, The Three Sounds recorded regularly for Blue Note and Verve Records.
Harris retired to Boise in the late 1970s, but continued to perform regularly at the Idanha Hotel. The double-bassist Ray Brown convinced him to go back on tour in the early 1980s. Harris played with the Ray Brown Trio and then led his own groups, recording mostly on Concord Records, until his death from kidney failure in 2000. The singer Niki Haris is his daughter.
WWW geneharris.org

Discography

As leader/co-leader

CompilationsThe Best of The Three Sounds Gene Harris: The Concord Jazz Heritage Series The Blue Note Years Gene Harris: The Best of the Concord Years The Complete Blue Hour Sessions Big Band Soul – contains Live At Town Hall, N.Y.C. + World Tour 1990Swingin' the Blues Ballad Essentials Live From New York To Tokyo – live contains The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio + Bam Bam Bam
  • ''Instant Party''

As a member

  • The Blue Note All-Stars, Blue Note Live at The Roxy – live
  • Concord Jazz All Stars, ''The 20th Concord Festival All-Stars''

As sideman

With The Ray Brown TrioSoular Energy – rec. 1984Don't Forget the Blues The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio – live rec. 1985 at the Blue NoteBam Bam Bam – live at the Fujitsu-Concord Jazz FestivalBlack Orpheus Mr. Blue – also with Takashi Ohi Summer Wind: Live at The Loa – live rec. 1988Moore Makes 4 – also with Ralph MooreThree Dimensional Georgia on My Mind
With others

Honors

  • The Gene Harris bandshell in Boise's Ann Morrison park is named in his honor.
  • The Gene Harris Jazz Festival is an annual event in Boise that brings together the best of Boise jazz and education in memory of the city's most famous jazz musician.