PAPATAMUS REDUX

ARBOR RECORDS 19492  (RELEASED JANUARY 17, 2025)

To say that pianist Barry Harris left his mark on jazz would be an understatement. He not only played and recorded with legends such as Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins and Dexter Gordon, but issued more than 20 essential recordings under his own name, ranging from solo and duo to trio and quintet sessions. One of the most important marks Harris left on the jazz community, however, was how he inspired the next generation to embrace the beauty and joy of bebop. He did that through his constant teaching activities. Thank You, Barry Harris is a musical note of gratitude from two of the many students who he inspired  — trumpeter Bruce Harris and pianist Ehud Asherie. Together, they explore seven Barry Harris compositions plus two originals they dedicate to their mentor, teacher and friend. Asherie’s medium tempo “Thank You, Barry Harris” kicks off the session in fine bebop tradition. Like many bebop classics, Asherie crafted the tune based on the harmony of a standard — “After You’ve Gone”. Asherie and Bruce Harris demonstrate the joy of improvisation instilled in them by Barry Harris with solos in the classic bebop tradition — fleet, well-articulated and full of surprises. Barry Harris’ “Sphere” is packed with snatches of Monkisms, including a wonderfully executed stride section from Asherie. The duo takes on other Barry Harris’ compositions such as “Curtain Call” and “Vicissitudes,” capturing the pure joy of the composer in the unison passages as well as their solos. The two explore the tender ballad side of Barry Harris with a sublime version of “Father Flanagan,” which Bruce Harrris handles in true Clifford Brown style. “The Prodigal Son’s Blues,” a classic 12-bar blues written by Bruce Harris provides a chance to show how the two can invent chorus after chorus in the true Barry Harris tradition. Bruce Harris delivers the vocal on “Em Barry Harrisable You,” Barry Harris’ take on the classic “Embraceable You.” No Barry Harris tribute would be complete without his infectious Latin tune “Nascimento” and Asherie and Bruce Harris do it justice even though they don’t sing the melody as Harris would always encourage the audience to do. As someone who has enjoyed the music of Barry Harris for more than 55 years and even brought Barry Harris and Al Cohn to my community in 1984, thank you Ehud Asherie and Bruce Harris for Thank You, Barry Harris.

BOTTOM LINE: Although pianist Ehud Asherie and trumpeter Bruce Harris were born an ocean apart (Ehud in Israel and Harris in The Bronx), the two share a common connection — pianist and educator Barry Harris. Both came under the spell of Barry Harris and Thank You, Barry Harris is joyous celebration of the music to which Barry Harris dedicated his life and joyously shared with the next generation of bebop enthusiasts.