Trombonist Bill Harris is probably best known for his lengthy stay with Woody Herman's first, second and third Herds, from 1944 to 1959. In between, he recorded a great deal as a leader and sideman on some exceptional small-group and big band recordings. Two, in particular, stand out for the Clef label in 1952. The results originally appeared on the 10-inch Bill Harris Collates (below, with a cover by David Stone Martin) and then the 12-inch The Bill Harris Herd. [Photo above of Bill Harris in the late 1940s by William P. Gottlieb]
The first session, in January 1952, featured Bill Harris, Eddie Bert, Ollie Wilson and Bart Varsalona (tb); Jack Greenberg, Sam Marowitz, Pete Mondello and Murray Williams (saxes); Ralph Burns (p); Chubby Jackson (b) and Don Lamond (d). Not a bad band, right? The tracks included the ballad You're Blase, Harris's Bill Not Phil, Ralph Burns's D'Anjou and the standard Imagination. The arrangements were likely by Burns.
The second session, in March 1952 featured an even more extraordinary all-star big band: Charles Frankhauser, Bernie Glow, Neal Hefti, Al Porcino and Nick Travis (tp); Bill Harris, Eddie Bert, Vern Friley and Bart Varsalona (tb); Sam Marowitz and Hal McKusick (as); George Berg and Pete Mondello (ts); Murray Williams (bar); Ralph Burns (p) Sam Herman (g); Clyde Lombardi (b) and Tiny Kahn (d). The tracks were Harris's Blackstrap, the standard Gloomy Sunday, Burns's Bijou and Harris's Poogerini. Burns likely arranged Gloomy Sunday and Bijou, but I'm guessing that the wild ones, Blackstrap and Poogerini, were by Kahn.
The first ensemble was a trumpet-less band that jumps with trombone energy. Harris plays his crying trombone beautifully on You're Blase. D'Anjou is among a lesser-known Burns tune and something of a breezy, Trinidadian reworking of Bijou. Bill Not Phil is a jumper. But the high point is Imagination, with Harris soloing, surrounded by the other trombones. A gorgeous rendition taken at mid-tempo.
The second ensemble is explosive. thanks to some of the great section trumpeters of the day. Blackstrap is a barn-burner, but Gloomy Sunday is a bit of let-down—overly morose and dragged out. Bijou, as always, is dainty and poignant. I have no idea what Poogerini refers to or if it was a playful twist on Paganini, the classical violinist. What I do know is that the song was recorded by Harris just once, on this session. The arrangement peels out from the start and shows off Harris's high-speed chops along with the dexterity of the bones joining him.
Harris could play it all with warmth and power. In the '40s and early '50s, there were many fantastic trombonists, including J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Jack Teagarden, Urbie Green and others. My favorites, however, remain Bill Harris and Earl and Rob Swope.
Bill Harris died in 1973.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find these two Bill Harris recording session from 1952 on Bill Harris: The Complete Fifties Sessions (Lonehill) here.
You'll also find the tracks at Spotify. The streaming service has mistakenly mixed them in with the wrong Bill Harris—the jazz and R&B guitarist and singer. Just type in Bill Harris + Blackstrap and you'll find the tracks mentioned above.
JazzWax clips: Here's Bill Not Phil...
Here's the fabulous Blackstrap...
And here's Poogerini. Dig Tiny Kahn on drums!...
