Willard Palmer Harris (October 28, 1916 – August 21, 1973) was an American jazz trombonist.
Biography
Harris was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
Early in his career, Harris performed with
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing".
From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...
Eddie Condon
Albert Edwin Condon (November 16, 1905 – August 4, 1973) was an American jazz banjoist, guitarist, and bandleader. A leading figure in Chicago jazz, he also played piano and sang.
Early years
Condon was born in Goodland, Indiana, the son of J ...
. He is remembered for his broad, thick tone and quick vibrato, that remained for the duration of each tone.
He joined Woody Herman's First Herd in 1944. He was also in the Four Brothers Second Herd during the late 1940s, and he worked with Herman again in the 1950s. He then teamed up with Charlie Ventura and later with Chubby Jackson. Together with Flip Phillips, he became a stalwart of Benny Goodman's group in 1959, although it has been said that Goodman was frequently irritated at Harris because of Harris' indifferent approach to "sight-reading," the skill of playing previously unseen written music with fluency, an ability which Goodman and trumpeter Harry James both possessed.
As an improviser, Harris seemed comfortable playing among divergent stylists, as shown on Jazz at the Philharmonic recordings, as his "one-off" style seemed to work in any context, from Dixieland, to swing, or bebop.
His solo on "Bijou" with Herman remains a classic, while his idiosyncratic treatment of the ballad, "Everything Happens to Me", is known for its vocality, and his treatment of the ballad "Everywhere" was inspiration for Roswell Rudd's free-contrapuntal "Everywhere." Later, Harris worked in Las Vegas, Nevada, finally retiring to Florida.
Harris died in Hallandale, Florida, in August 1973, at the age of 56.
Discography
As leader
* ''Bill Harris Herd'' (Norgran, 1956)
* ''Bill Harris and Friends'' (Fantasy, 1957) – with Ben Webster
* ''Live at the 3 Deuces!'' – with Charlie Ventura (Phoenix Jazz, 1975)
* ''Aces at the Deuces'' – with Charlie Ventura (Phoenix Jazz, 1976)
As sideman
With Woody Herman
* ''Blues Groove'' (Capitol, 1956)
* ''
Songs for Hip Lovers
''Songs for Hip Lovers'' is a 1957 vocal album by the jazz bandleader Woody Herman, arranged by Marty Paich.
Recording and music
The album was recorded in two sessions, in January and March 1957. The material is standards and the arrangements ar ...
'' (Verve, 1957)
* ''Woody Herman and His Orchestra '58 Featuring the Preacher'' (Columbia, 1958)
With Charlie Ventura
* ''Jumping with Ventura'' (EmArcy, 1955)
* ''Carnegie Hall Concert'' (Columbia, 1956)
* ''East of Suez'' (Regent, 1958)
With others
*
Ralph Burns
Ralph Joseph P. Burns (June 29, 1922 – November 21, 2001) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger.
Early life
Burns was born in Newton, Massachusetts, United States, where he began playing the piano as a child. In 1938, he attend ...
, ''Ralph Burns Among the JATPs'' (Norgran, 1955)
* Benny Carter, ''
Benny Carter Plays Pretty
''Benny Carter Plays Pretty'' (also released as ''Moonglow'') is an album by jazz saxophonist Benny Carter that was recorded in 1954 and released by Norgran Records.Norgran, 1954)
* Benny Carter, ''
New Jazz Sounds
''New Jazz Sounds'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Benny Carter featuring trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and trombonist Bill Harris recorded in 1954 and originally released on the Norgran label.Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles M ...
, ''The Great Hamp and Little T'' (Coral, 1963)
* Chubby Jackson, ''Chubby's Back!'' (Argo, 1957)
* Chubby Jackson, ''I'm Entitled to You!!'' (Argo, 1958)
* Gene Krupa, ''The Exciting Gene Krupa'' (Verve, 1965)
* Anita O'Day, ''Anita O'Day Sings Jazz'' (Norgran, 1955)
* Charlie Parker, '' Big Band'' ( Clef, 1954)
*
Nat Pierce
Nathaniel Pierce Blish Jr., known professionally as Nat Pierce (July 16, 1925 – June 10, 1992) was an American jazz pianist and prolific composer and arranger, perhaps best known for being pianist and arranger for the Woody Herman band from 195 ...
Charlie Teagarden
Charlie Teagarden (July 19, 1913 – December 10, 1984), known as 'Smokey Joe', was an American jazz trumpeter. He was the younger brother of Jack Teagarden. His nickname was ''Little T''.
Born in Vernon, Texas, United States, Teagarden worked loc ...