A loving tribute by British born, Canadian raised, Seamus Blake, to the groundbreaking music of Eddie Harris. Harris' collaboration with pianist Les McCann resulted in some of the best selling jazz albums of the 1960s.
Sadly, both Harris and McCann are no longer with us but their music is in safe hands with Blake, one of the funkiest tenors on today's scene. And not only on tenor but, like Harris, Blake too has conquered that strange beast the Electronic Wind Instrument - EWI for short.
Dawn Pemberton delivers her earthy vocals on Compared to What, and Come Dance With me as well as on an Eddie Harris Medley comprising: Get up and Dance; It's Time to do What You Want; Get on Down; Freedom Jazz Dance and I Need Some Money. Scott Morin joins Dawn and the band to form a vocal group on the relaxed, almost soporific, Illusionary Dreams. The pure instrumentals: Listen Here; Mean Greens and Funkorama all press the soul, blues, funk button with Blake making full use of the weapons in his armoury although he impresses me most when he's blowing straight ahead...ish tenor.
Yahel has a selection of keyboards at his disposal and he chooses wisely, particularly when driving the B3. Down in the engine room Lefebvre and Fonville are rock solid hitting the appropriate groove and more.
If you were/are a Harris, a Blake or a jazz, funk, soul aficionado then this is for you. Others may want to try before they buy. Lance
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