The Lost Album Plus The Better Half

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The Lost Album Plus The Better Half album cover
Album Information

Total Tracks: 8   Total Length: 56:15

eMusic Features

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Plug Him In: Comedy, the Electric Saxophone, and Eddie Harris

By Kevin Whitehead, eMusic Contributor

There have been plenty of amusing jazz musicians, from Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller on down, but few as riotously funny as tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris. In 1975 he even put out a comedy record of on-stage chatter, The Reason Why I'm Talking S--t. The opening monologue is a masterpiece of audience alienation, in which he describes what's on the minds of the men and women at that evening's Eddie Harris concert. By the time… more »

They Say All Music Guide

This CD contains an LP’s worth of unissued material plus half of an album that was released. With a supporting cast that on different tracks includes Ira Sullivan on trumpet, altoist Bunky Green, organist Mel Rhyne and guitarist Joe Diorio among others, the underrated but very distinctive tenor is in consistently spirited form. Eddie Harris stretches out on the rhythm changes of “Cuttin’ Out” and the blues “Shakey Jake,” (both of which are over 15 minutes long) and is heard on a variety of much shorter performances. A few of the briefer pieces are throwaways but all of Eddie Harris’s Vee-Jay recordings are enjoyable and this one is no exception. – Scott Yanow

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