Updated: July 9, 2024
Born: January 17, 1943
In his early recordings and performances with leaders such as Art Blakey, Lee Morgan, Max Roach, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Randy Weston and Gil Evans, during the 60s and 70s, Billy Harper already had a massive sound on the tenor saxophone, combining John Coltrane’s spiraling intensity with a bluesy brawn that pointed back to his Texas origins.
Harper’s authority has only grown with age: a half-century on, he stands as one of the most commanding horn men on the planet, a pillar of stirring post-bop jazz whose robust back catalog seems long overdue for rediscovery.
For half a century he has been performing his original music with the renowned Billy Harper Quintet all over the globe, and recording over a dozen albums as a leader and prolific composer.
After a pandemic induced hiatus, the Quintet sprang back into action, beginning in 2023 with a series of #CapraBlackIsBack performances, that marked a year-long celebration of Billy Harper's 80th birthday. Along with this milestone, an additional cause for celebration was the 50th anniversary of the Billy Harper Quintet's official inception and the release of the group's historic debut album, Capra Black, the impact of which still lingers among jazz listeners worldwide.
Francesca Tanksley has been the pianist in this group for more than 40 years – a clear attestation of the wide ranging concensus that her extraordinary musicality cannot be matched nor replaced when it comes to Billy Harper’s opus.
Renowned master drummer Aaron Scott, a longtime member of McCoy Tyner’s band, has also performed with the group for decades. A rare find among jazz drummers, Scott meets and surpasses the challenge of doing Harper’s music justice.
Freddie Hendrix, one of the most in-demand jazz trumpeters of today, coveted for his uniquely soulful and exciting improvisations is also a longstanding member.
Finally, a more recently but nevertheless perfectly matched addition to the group is the award-winning bassist Dezron Douglas, whose artistry on the acoustic bass brings Harper’s compositions to a whole new level.
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Jazz from the Black Saint Label (1975 - 1989)
by Russell Perry
Ironically, the record label that most consistently offered an outlet for the American jazz avant-garde in the 1980s was the Italian Black Saint / Soul Note imprint. On All About Jazz, Jeff Stockton wrote, ..."from 1984 to 1989 Black Saint won the Down Beat critics poll for “Best Label" and “Best Producer" and established itself as the Blue Note of its time, a label whose mark and reputation alone assured the listener that the music would be adventurous, exciting jazz ...
Continue ReadingBilly Harper: A Life of Persistence and Improvisation
by R.J. DeLuke
On stage, Billy Harper puts his lips to the tenor saxophone, stands relatively erect and sings through his horn; a strong, angular, muscular sound. There little physical gesticulation, belying the effort it takes to express feelings and emotions through the instrument. But Harper's creative statements demand attention. Over the last few years, a lot of that energy is expressed on stage with the Cookers, a star-studded septet that has been burning up the scene, gaining fans and critical ...
Continue ReadingThe Cookers: Cast the First Stone
by Troy Collins
Cast the First Stone is the sophomore follow-up to Warriors (Jazz Legacy Productions, 2010), the debut recording of the all-star ensemble The Cookers, whose name was inspired by the 1965 Blue Note live album series Night of the Cookers. Lending credence to its namesake, this powerhouse septet swings mightily through a series of post-bop originals and a sole cover, bolstered by the presence of special guest, acclaimed saxophonist Azar Lawrence, whose recent resurgence has found the renowned firebrand in riveting ...
Continue ReadingBilly Harper: Blueprints of Jazz, Vol. 2
by George Kanzler
Tenor saxophonist Billy Harper has been keeping the jazz fires kindled by the ritualistic, incantatory side of the classic John Coltrane Quartet stoked and burning bright for over a quarter-century. Here Harper's working quintet, augmented by a second bassist, presents a program redolent of the processional and the chant. Over it all, Harper's coruscating, brawny tenor strides like a colossus (only Sonny Rollins may have a richer, fuller tone) with a charged intensity matching the roiling, loping, massed rhythms of ...
Continue ReadingMike Clark, Billy Harper, Donald Bailey: Blueprints of Jazz
by Woodrow Wilkins
Three discs, three creative artists, one concept--Blueprints of Jazz presents some of jazz music's eminently worthy but less widely known innovators. Tenor saxophonist Billy Harper and drummers Mike Clark and Donald Bailey have been fixtures on the jazz scene from 1950s through the 1970s, and they still produce fresh sounds.
Mike Clark Blueprints of Jazz, Volume 1 Talking House Records 2008
Mike Clark is probably best known for his work ...
Continue ReadingBilly Harper
by Russ Musto
Billy Harper has one of the most impressive resumes in jazz, including stints with Gil Evans, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Max Roach, Lee Morgan, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis, Charles Tolliver and Randy Weston, but it is his unique sound on the tenor and distinctive style as a composer that has brought him international acclaim and truly sets him apart from most other players.
All About Jazz: Let's start with some of the things you've been up to lately?
Continue ReadingCharles Earland: Intensity
by AAJ Staff
You hear it at once: a different sound, not always for the better. The music was changing, and Charles Earland joined his easy groove to the lush CTI sound so popular at the time. Results vary: the Burner is hot but too many horns spoil the brew. Take “Goin' Home": a rock guitar crashes through the left speaker, and Charles steps coolly behind him. Now he works the chords for warm strength: the feel of his Black Talk! album. But ...
Continue ReadingWorld-Renowned Smoke Jazz Club Kickstarts The New Year Celebrating Two Jazz Giants’ Birthdays: Billy Harper And Al Foster
Source:
AMT Public Relations
Rated the #1 jazz club in New York City (Secret NYC), SMOKE Jazz Club begins 2024 with an exciting line-up in January. The month begins with two piano greats: Bill Charlap leading his longtime Trio (Jan 3-7) followed by renowned pianist/composer Billy Childs and his Quartet (Jan 11-14). SMOKE is honored to host two octogenarians celebrating their 81st birthdays in back-to-back concert celebrations: tenor saxophone giant Billy Harper leads his Quintet (Jan 18-21) then drumming master Al Foster is at ...
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World-Renowned SMOKE Jazz Club Begins The New Year With 80th Birthday Celebrations For Billy Harper And Al Foster, The 10th Annual Coltrane Festival, And More
Source:
AMT Public Relations
January 2023 Schedule Sunday, January 1 Coltrane Festival featuring Jeremy Pelt with the Eric Reed / Vincent Herring Quintet Jeremy Pelt: trumpet Vincent Herring: alto & tenor saxophone Eric Reed: piano John Webber: bass Joe Farnsworth: drums SMOKE’s 10th annual Coltrane Festival continues with featured guest trumpeter Jeremy Pelt joining the Eric Reed/Vincent Herring Quintet. JazzTimes says, “Pelt is a technical marvel. He executes intricate solos with ease, plays gorgeous ballads in a tasteful manner, ...
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Strata-East At 50! June 16th With Narrator Danny Glover, Charles Tolliver, Billy Harper, George Cables, Buster Williams, Lenny White & Special Guests!
Source:
Scott Thompson Public Relations
Strata-East Records celebrate 50 years of amazing Jazz on June 16th at 7:30pm EDT. Price: $20. Day of show $25. The performance will be available on-demand for 48 hours starting June 17th at 12:00 AM EDT. Strata-East @ 50 featuring Charles Tolliver, Billy Harper, George Cables, Buster Williams, Lenny White and special guest Danny Glover! Strata-East Records, now in its 50th year, was created by Charles Tolliver & Stanley Cowell. Their first recording in 1970, “Music Inc" & Big Band, ...
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Randy Weston & Billy Harper Highlights In Jazz Thursday, June 11th 8pm @ Tribeca Performing Arts
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
Jack Kleinsinger’s Highlights In Jazz, New York’s longest running jazz concert series, concludes its 43rd season on Thursday June 11, 2015 at 8:00 PM in the Tribeca Performing Arts Center at Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers Street, NY, 10007 with Jazz Past & Present, a multigenerational double bill featuring the incomparable duo of, pianist Randy Weston and tenor saxophonist Billy Harper, performing a program including selections from their critically acclaimed album The Roots of the Blues. Sharing the ...
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Randy Weston & Billy Harper Appearing At Highlights In Jazz
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
Jack Kleinsinger’s Highlights In Jazz—New York’s Longest Running Jazz Concert Series—concludes its 43rd Season with Jazz, Past & Present, a historic double bill featuring NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston with Billy Harper performing The Roots of the Blues and Highlights In Jazz New Stars Benny Benack, Steven Frieder, Dylan Meek, Devin Starks & Kosta Galanopoulos plus a very special surprise guest. Thursday, June 11, 2015 at 8 pm at Tribeca Performing Arts Center of Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 ...
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Billy Harper Quintet to appear at Montgomery County Community College (Bluebell, PA) on October 15
Source:
Helen Haynes
Blue Bell, PA: Montgomery County Community College's Lively Arts Series will present the Billy Harper Quintet, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 8PM at Science Center Theatre. Billy Harper is one of a generation of Coltrane-influenced tenor saxophonists who actually built upon the master's work, rather than simply copy it. His 1973 album Capra Black “remains one of the seminal recordings of jazz's black consciousness movement—a profoundly spiritual effort that channels both the intellectual complexity of the avant-garde as well as ...
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Announcing the Winners of the Talking House Records "Blueprints of Jazz, Vol. 1-3" Giveaway!
Source:
All About Jazz
Billy Harper:Blueprints of Jazz Vol. 2
Source:
JamBase
By: Trevor Pour
Talking House Records' second installment of the Blueprints of Jazz series features distinguished tenor saxophonist Billy Harper, an artist who draws a great deal of his stylistic influence from the evolving works of John Coltrane and from his own frequent collaborations with partner Art Blakey. Harper has remained an active composer and performer since his introduction to the bebop/jazz scene in the late 1960s, specifically contributing to the advancement of free jazz and jazz/rock during his time ...
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Enter the Talking House Records "Blueprints of Jazz, Vol. 1-3" Giveaway Contest
Source:
All About Jazz
All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Talking House Records “Blueprints of Jazz, Vol. 1-3“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on April 26th. Click here to enter the contest
(Following Billy Harper at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)
Good luck! Your Friends at Talking House Records
Mike Clark - Blueprints of Jazz, Vol. 1 Mike Clark made his mark on the jazz scene ...
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Harper’s authority has only grown with age: a half-century on, he stands as one of the most commanding horn men on the planet, a pillar of stirring post-bop jazz whose robust back catalog seems long overdue for rediscovery.
– THE NEW YORK TIMES
A luminary figure in post-bop
–THE NEW YORK TIMES
He is a soul of sensitivity and intelligence, as well as of explosive, majestic passion.
– SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
The soulfulness, joy, and mourning one can hear in his solos come as much from doxology as the prominent artists he has worked with during his career. The connection to the gospel music of his youth continues to guide his music…
Tony Passarell
multi-instrumentalist
Chris Pitts
saxophone, tenor
Borys Janczarski
saxophone
Tyler Levy Sniff
saxophone, tenorContact
Management and booking
For all bookings, interviews, lectures or lessons please send your inquiries to [email protected].
Billy Harper and the Billy Harper Quintet are managed by Morana Mesic (LyHarp Music LLC).
