Song:Lady Be Good
Album:It's The Real Soul
Pianist Gene Harris is probably best known as leader of the popular jazz trio The Three Sounds. After the group ended in 1970, Harris retired. But legendary bassist Ray Brown convinced him to return and Harris toured with Brown in the 80s and recorded and toured until his 2000 death. Harris was born Sept. 1, 1933 in Benton Harbor, MI. After playing in an Army band, Harris formed The Three Sounds with Andrew Simpkins on bass and Bill Dowdy on drums. They recorded for Blue Note and Verve until disbanding in 1970. Harris recorded solo for Blue Note in the 70s. He moved to Boise, ID in 1977 and retired from music. It didn't last long. Ray Brown got Harris to return and they toured together through the 80s. A version of the Gershwin standard Lady Be Good is on the 1987 album The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio featuring Harris but that CD is out of print. Harris recorded for Concord for most of the rest of his career. Lady Be Good is from the 1995 CD It's The Real Soul recorded live at the Manchester Guild in Pittsburgh. Musicians are Ron Eschete on guitar, Luther Hughes on bass and Paul Humphrey on drums. This was Harris touring band at the time. Sax player Frank Wess appears on four songs. Gene Harris was awaiting a kidney transplant when he died on Jan. 16, 2000 at age 66. Here's Gene Harris with Ray Brown and drummer Jeff Hamilton performing Lady Be Good in France 1992.
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