Sonic Explorations in Jazz: The Varitone

Eddie Harris: Eddie Sings the Blues

From: Eddie Sings the Blues [Atlantic, 1972]

Eddie Harris: Silver Cycles and Smoke Signals

From: Silver Cycles [Atlantic, 1969]

Eddie Harris: It's Crazy and Theme In Search of a T.V. Commercial

From: Plug Me In [Atlantic, 1968]

Eddie Harris: Listen Here and Sham Time

From: The Electrifying Eddie Harris [Atlantic, 1968]

Don Patterson with Sonny Stitt: Donny Brook

From: Donny Brook [Prestige, 1969]

Landon "Sonny" Cox: Chocolate Candy

From: 45 [Bell Records, 1969]

Jerome Richardson: Soul Cry Part One and Two

From: 45 [Verve, 1968]

I have been digging the intoxicating sounds of Eddie Harris for quite some time. It all started with this album called "Eddie Sings the Blues" that I picked up for a couple bucks at a local record store. I had heard of Eddie Harris before, but never owned anything by him. So, I thought why not give it a chance for the highly affordable price of $3. Once I threw this on the record player, the hypnotic sounds elevated me to another world. There was no turning back now! I had to see this one through to the end, and one of the most fantastic songs was waiting for me to discover it's natural beauty. The title track "Eddie Sings the Blues" is twelve-and-a-half minute tour de force of creative spontaneous energy propelled by wicked guitar solos, sublime orchestration and the fascinating "singing through the saxophone"technique that Eddie incorporated into his repertoire on several other occasions. I am including it here for your listening pleasure, since it was my introduction to Eddie's magnificent soundworld.

The varitone saxophone was an electric saxophone that was developed by H&A Selmer, Inc. in 1965. Sonny Stitt and Eddie Harris were the main practitioners of the instrument, and both of them continued to make it a staple in their recordings and live shows. The Varitone was essentially a saxophone with a built-in effects box and amplifier that could emulate the sounds of other instruments while playing along with the natural sound of the saxophone. This created a doubling effect that increased the complexity and richness of the sound, not unlike the harmolodics technique that Ornette Coleman employed in his various groups.

Effects such as tremelo, echo and reverb are only a few of the many effects built into this box. Eddie's experiments with the sound effects of the varitone saxophone can best be heard on albums such as Silver Cycles, Plug Me In and The Electrifying Eddie Harris. However, his entire discography is peppered with incendiary varitone saxophone playing that pushes the envelope of conventional jazz. The title track on Silver Cycles is one of the trippiest psychedelic jazz tunes I've ever heard, with Smoke Signals coming in at a close second. Silver Cycles layers the sound of the horn with effects such as tremelo, reverb and delay, creating a swirling sonic tapestry that sends the listener on a mesmerizing head-trip. This is definitely one of the most amazing songs ever committed to wax. Plug Me In features songs such as It's Crazy which incorporates more of a funky sound, making the sax sound like a synthesizer at times, and at other times ( like on Theme In Search of a T.V. Commercial) it sounds like an indian pungi flute. The Electrifying Eddie Harris features the uptempo latin boogaloo track Listen Here, and the groovy Sham Time with a more understated use of the Varitone that makes the saxophone sound muted.

I'm not as familiar with Sonny Stitt's work, but he is on a couple records where he uses the varitone tenor sax to great effect. One of these records is Don Patterson with Sonny Stitt entitled Brothers 4 released on Prestige Records in 1969. The one I'm featuring here is the downright funky Donny Brook which showcases Stitt's dynamic virtuosity on the varitone with organ virtuoso Don Patterson hammering the keys with an unwavering intensity.

Finally, I am featuring the only other varitone sax players that I know of: Sonny Cox and Jerome Richardson. Landon "Sonny" Cox led a trio called The Three Souls in the late 60's and released only one solo album. Chocolate Candy was released on single only in 1969 and it was to be his final commercial release. It has the signature soul jazz sound of the late 60's with a funky rhythm section and an outstanding varitone solo that seals the deal. Jerome Richardson's two part funky vamp entitled Soul Cry employs a more synthesized varitone sound. However, there are other effects used in this song that remind me of the more experimental Eddie Harris tracks. This is the end of my extremely comprehensive post on the varitone. I hope your eyes aren't tired from reading all of this. Now, check out the tunes!