Search - Gene Harris :: Another Night in London (Dig)

"New" Gene Harris - Don't Miss It!

D. Gould | 01/15/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another Night in London, like Live in London, documents Gene's "English Quartet". But most importantly, 10 years after his death, we are blessed to get another posthumous recording. While both are essential documents of Gene stretching out in a live setting with a superlative rhythm section, I think I like this one just a bit better, for this reason: More blues. By that I mean, while Gene always brought the blues and gospel to almost any song, the set list here is even more conducive to that part of Gene's playing.



I have to give a big raspberry to Concord/Fantasy for being so foolish as to refuse Gene's widow, Janie Harris's offer of these recordings. Gene made Concord a great deal of money while he was alive and I am sure he was one of their most popular artists. Being a Concord recording artist at the time, Concord/Fantasy has right of first refusal for any commercial recording made during that time. Why would they decline the chance to continue the success they had? Everything changed after Carl Jefferson died, and now Concord has fallen even further in my eyes.



With Concord-Fantasy behind it, this recording might make a bigger impression, but all the credit goes to Resonance Records for jumping at the opportunity to release this gem, and to Janie Harris for continuing to keep Gene's memory, and music, in the public eye.



May they both continue for a very, very long time."