The Elegant Soul of Gene Harris

A look at the life and work of the late, great jazz pianist Gene Harris.

Gene Harris – an overview

Gene Harris was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1933. He began playing piano at the age of eight and was soon performing in local clubs and bars. His first professional gig was with the Jimmy Lunceford band in 1950. After a stint with the U.S. Army, Harris returned to Cincinnati and played with various local groups before moving to Los Angeles in 1960.

In Los Angeles, Harris found work as a session musician and soon began touring with Ray Charles. He also played on numerous recordings by other artists, including Ella Fitzgerald and Quincy Jones. In 1966, Harris recorded his first solo album, “The Elegant Soul of Gene Harris.” The album was a critical and commercial success, and Harris followed it with a series of well-received albums throughout the 1970s.

In the 1980s, Harris began to focus more on live performances, playing at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. He continued to play and record until his death in 2000.

Harris was a masterful jazz pianist with a distinctive style that blended elements of gospel, blues, and Funk. He was also an accomplished singer, and his recordings feature him both singing and playing piano. His best-known songs include “Put On A Happy Face”  and “Misty.”

His music

Gene Harris had a sound all his own. A soulful, elegant command of the keyboard that was both graceful and funky as hell. He was a master of the blues, but could also swing with the best of them. His touch was light, but his groove was deep.

His work with The Three Sounds

In 1958, Harris formed The Three Sounds with bassist Andrew Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy. Blue Note Records recorded the group’s first album, Introducing The Three Sounds, in 1958. The album reached No.34 on Billboard’s R&B chart, and Harris became known for his distinctive piano sound. The group enjoyed a great deal of success over the next few years, releasing a number of well-received albums such as Bottoms Up (1960), Feelin’ Good (1961), and Ol’ Funky Gen’ (1964). They also achieved several hits on the R&B charts, including “Baby Your Love Is Amazing” (1960), “For Once in My Life” (1964), and “Put On A Happy Face” (1965).

His work as a solo artist

As a solo artist, Harris recorded for a number of different labels, including Concord, Muse, Atlantic, Fantasy, and Verve. His best-known work from this period is his February 1973 release The Elegant Soul of Gene Harris. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard Jazz chart and number seven on the R&B chart. The single “As” from the album reached number thirty-seven on the Adult Contemporary chart.

His influence on other artists

Gene Harris was an American jazz pianist and bandleader who achieved great popularity in the 1970s with his band, The Three Sounds. His heavily grooving, blues-based style influenced a number of other artists, including Oscar Peterson, Ramsey Lewis, Red Garland, and Erroll Garner.

His legacy

Gene Harris was an American jazz pianist and bandleader who led The Three Sounds, a highly successful and influential jazz trio active in the 1960s and early 1970s. He is considered one of the best jazz keyboardists of all time.

Harris was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and began playing piano at the age of seven. He was self-taught and learned by ear. He left home at the age of sixteen to play in a band led by Lionel Hampton. He toured with Hampton for several years before settling in Los Angeles in 1952. There he met bassist Andrew Simpkins and drummer Frank Butler, with whom he formed The Three Sounds in 1954.

The Three Sounds recorded their first album, Introducing The Three Sounds, in 1958. They went on to record twelve more albums over the next decade, including Live at the It Club (1964), which is considered one of the best live jazz albums ever recorded. The group disbanded in 1974, but Harris continued to tour and record as a solo artist until his death in 2000.

Harris was known for his soulful playing style and his ability to evoke emotion through his music. He was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 1997. His legacy continues to influence musicians today.