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in a special way

I first got hip to Gene Harris from the “Astral Signal” album, released the previous year(’75). “In a Special Way” is his next, and between the two, the former was the more popular and hence, the more familiar.

Both albums mark a departure from a simpler production approach to one more complex. I like it!
“Theme for Relana” is an update in style reflecting the young-up-and-coming style to the jazz influenced music of the time.

Careful listening reveals smatterings of a Lonnie Liston Smith-style bass line feel, along with haunting EWF vocal harmonies and guitar grooves. Notice can also be taken of the splendid french horn riffs during the changes, as if harkening the hunting call:”the fox has been run to ground”.

Through it all, Harris’ facility on piano comes through in staccato fashion like light rain will contain smoldering embers.

All in all, this track is an excellent blend of the new and old, and comes very highly recommended.

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Gene Harris - In A Special Way [1976]

personnel:

George Bohanon (tb) Sidney Muldrow, Marnie Robinson (frh) Azar Lawrence (ts) Ed Green (vln) Charlotte Politte (el-p, syn) Jerry Peters (el-p, syn, string ensemble, arr, vo) Gene Harris (key) Lee Ritenour (g, el-g) Al McKay (el-g) John Rowin (el-g, arr) Chuck Rainey, Verdine White (el-b) James Gadson (d) Harvey Mason (d, per) Mayuto Correa (per) Phillip Bailey (per, vo) Merry Clayton, Ann Esther Jessica, D.J. Rodgers, Sigidi, Stephanie Spruill, Denise Williams (vo)

01 Theme For Relana
02 Rebop
03 Zulu
04 Always In My Mind
05 Love For Sale
06 It’s Your Love
07 Soft Cycles
08 Five_Four
09 Naima

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spectrum

The driving drums and their trademark tonality underscore the Cobham technique. Add to this the distinctive fender-rhodes harmonics and driving bass line groove, and the stage is set for a “knock your socks off” performance. Stratus is definitely one of his best on the album.

Recorded in 1973, Spectrum is Billy Cobham’s debut effort as a bandleader.

Jazz purists of the time expressed a resistance to funk as viable part of the “straight ahead” jazz arena… fine, whatever! This is still undeniably jazz.

As pure funk, it’s too jazzy, and too jazzy and funky to be pure rock. Hence the “fusion” of all three, creating it’s own category.

The band is comprised of some of the up and coming young lions of the time including: Jan Hammer on keyboards and synthesizer, a former Mahavishnu alumnus, along with Cobham, Tommy Bolin on guitar, who would later be a member of the James Gang and Deep Purple, Leland Sklar on bass, who would go on to play with Phil Collins.

All of which shared a fusion-like mindset, the result of which being the right cats at the right time.

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personnel:

Producer William E. Cobham, Jr.
Engineer Ken Scott
Personnel Billy Cobham - percussion
Lee Sklar - electric bass
Jimmy Owens - flugelhorn, trumpet

Also: Ron Carter, Ray Barretto, Joe Farrell, Jan Hammer, John Tropea, Tommy Bolin

track listing:

1. Quadrant 4
2. Searching For The Right Door / Spectrum
3. Anxiety / Taurian Matador
4. Stratus
5. To The Women In My Life / Le Lis
6. Snoopy’s Search / Red Baron