egroj world: Joe Harriott • Free Form

Friday, March 1, 2024

Joe Harriott • Free Form

Review by Al Campbell
The few recordings of Jamaican born saxophonist Joe Harriott have been hard to come by since they were initially released in the early '60s. One of the most famous is Free Form, recorded in London and released in 1960. Comparable to Ornette Coleman's recordings of the period, these eight pieces incorporate Harriott's hard bop influence, cutting through adventurous compositions including "Abstract," "Straight Lines," and "Impression." When listening to Free Form (or early Coleman for that matter) with a 21st century perspective, it's hard to imagine that this music was often considered intolerable upon release. It's unfortunate that Harriott and trumpeter/flügelhornist Shane Keane missed out on being as widely used as Coleman and Don Cherry finally became. In 1999 tenor saxophonist Ken Vandermark attempted to spotlight that ill-fated situation by releasing a disc of Harriott compositions, including three from Free Form, on his 1999 release Straight Lines.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/free-form-red-mw0000889879

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Reseña de Al Campbell
Las pocas grabaciones del saxofonista nacido en Jamaica Joe Harriott han sido difíciles de conseguir desde que se lanzaron inicialmente a principios de los 60, una de las más famosas es Free Form, grabada en Londres y lanzada en 1960. Comparables a las grabaciones de Ornette Coleman de la época, estas ocho piezas incorporan la influencia hard bop de Harriott, atravesando composiciones aventureras que incluyen "Abstract"," Straight Lines " e "Impression"."Al escuchar Free Form (o Early Coleman para el caso) con una perspectiva del siglo XXI, es difícil imaginar que esta música a menudo se considerara intolerable en el momento de su lanzamiento. Es desafortunado que Harriott y el trompetista / flügelhornista Shane Keane se perdieran ser tan ampliamente utilizados como Coleman y Don Cherry finalmente se convirtieron. En 1999, el saxofonista tenor Ken Vandermark intentó destacar esa desafortunada situación lanzando un disco de composiciones de Harriott, incluidas tres de Free Form, en su lanzamiento de 1999 Straight Lines.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/free-form-red-mw0000889879

Tracks:
1 - Formation - 6:08
2 - Coda - 7:56
3 - Abstract - 3:34
4 - Impression - 5:28
5 - Parallel - 5:38
6 - Straight Lines - 5:33
7 - Calypso - 4:40
8 - Tempo - 6:23

Credits:
    Alto Saxophone, Composed By – Joe Harriott
    Bass – Coleridge Goode
    Design – P. Linard & Co. Ltd.
    Drums – Phil Seamen
    Liner Notes [Reissue] – Richard Cook
    Mastered By – Erhard Meldau
    Piano – Pat Smythe
    Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Shake Keane

Recorded in London, England, 1960. Originally released in 1961 on Jazzland.

Label:    Redial – 538 184-2, EmArcy – 538 184-2
Format:
CD, Album, Reissue
Country:    UK & Europe
Released:    1998
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Free Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/785851-Joe-Harriott-Quintet-Free-Form