Given up for adoption in Kingston, Jamaica, soon after he was born in 1928, Joe Harriott learned to play the clarinet, starting at age 10, while attending the city's Alpha Boys School. In 1951, when Harriott turned 23, he toured in the U.K. as a member of Ossie DaCosta's band. After the tour, Harriott decided to remain in London, since British subjects didn't need work permits or immigration visas. His entry into the London jazz scene came while sitting in at the Feldman Club on Oxford Street.
In the 1950s, Harriott played in groups as a sideman and appeared with touring American artists. He also formed his own groups. By 1960, Harriott began playing and recording free jazz, inspired largely by Ornette Coleman. Either because free jazz hindered his performing opportunities or he himself tired of it, Harriott returned to straight-ahead jazz in 1964, at times with a free feel, especially on original material.
Starting in 1961, Harriott performed at the BBC leading a quintet on three different dates. The recordings were made to be aired live on the radio or were recorded for rebroadcast at a later date. All three recording sessions are now available on the newly released Joe Harriott Quintet: At the BBC, on Britain's Rhythm and Blues Records.
The first was in January of 1961, with Les Condon (tp), Pat Smythe (p), Coleridge Goode (b) and Phil Seamen (d). They played Bobby Timmons's Moanin' and Thelonious Monk's 'Round Midnight as well as Harriott's own Coda, Tempo, Calypso and Count Twelve. Standards were played straight, with Harriott reserving his free feel for his own compositions.
In November 1964, the quintet he brought to the BBC was comprised of the same lineup, with the exception of Shake Keane replacing Les Condon on trumpet. The group played Harriott's Idioms, Sonny Rollins's St. Thomas, Here's That Rainy Day, Harriott's Sub Cruise, Dizzy Reece's The Rake and Harriott's Spiritual Blues.
And finally, in January 1966, the Joe Harriott Quintet featured Harriott (as), Ian Carr (tp), Micheal Garrick (p), Coleridge Goode (b) and Alan Green (d), playing Garrick's Merlin the Wizard, Miles Davis's Nardis, Garrick's Portrait of a Young Lady, Polka Dots and Moonbeams and Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Paparelli's Blue 'n' Boogie.
Harriott's alto saxophone on straight-ahead jazz had the fluidity of Charlie Parker with the edge of Sonny Stitt. On free jazz, Ornette Coleman was clearly his inspiration. As exhibited on this new album, his energy and passion were enormous. At the time of his death from cancer in January 1973, Harriott was destitute and forgotten. His last major performance came four years earlier in 1969. Inscribed on his gravestone: "Parker? There's them over here can play a few aces too."
I last posted on Joe Harriott here.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Joe Harriott Quintet: At the BBC (Rhythm and Blues) here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Moanin'...
Here's Polka Dots and Moonbeams...
And here's Sub Cruise...
JazzWax bonus No. 1: Here's Joe Harriott in 1969 playing In a Sentimental Mood, his last major performance, with the Stan Tracey Big Brass during a tribute to Duke Ellington...
Bonus No. 2: Here's Harriott playing Autumn in New York...
And bonus No. 3: Here's an audio documentary on Joe Harriott...
