Mar 052008
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!
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Although I never saw him play, I met Eddie once when, to my amazement, he sat down next to me at a Return To Forever concert. An imposing and impressive fellow, I am glad to see he still is garnering new fans.
Thank you for this post, very cool to see something on the varitone.
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The gods will do everything in their power to prevent this, for they worked very hard to set up this degenerative environment.
As people begin to age the gods employ corrupting tactics. They ultimately begin to look down on the children and the wisdom they recently understood:::
They voluntarily turn their back on their opportunity to ascend and instead embrace evil.
It's not old people who go to heaven. Old people must come back because of the mistakes they've made throughout their lives. Children are the ones who have the opportunity to ascend.
Children are discounted by adults in society. The gods corrupt people as they age, use trust-building tactics and soon adults view the children as ignorant, yet to understand the god's system, and subsequently look down on the children. This is one of the most bitter, painful ironies the gods employ, for people consciously turn their back on and lose their opportunity to ascend::::
Religions teach that old people to go to heaven when they die. They don't. Old people are reincarnated. It's the children who go to heaven.
The wisdom the gods impart to children, either through their innocence/purity or religious-based educational pursuits are the gods sharing the truth with their most favored people::::It's the children whom the gods teach the right way for it is the children who have a chance. For example, they teach children to have faith, for understanding the god's geographical clues hurts people by illustrating negative things, opening the door for the god's to employ deceptive tactics.
Old people don't go to heaven. Old people must come back because of the mistakes they've made throughout their lives. It's the children who have the opportunity to go to "heaven". They must behave apprioriately, think correctly and be genuinely god-fearing. Their innocence and lack of desensitization ensures they have a real opportunity to achieve this goal.
Females are better people than males
Historically the role of females was as enforcers of decency. Men have god's disfavor and enagage in behavior damaging to themselves and their families. Women who adhered to this crucial role helped the men understand and avoid inappropriate behavior while enhancing decency in their domestic environment. These women sacrifice to help the disfavored:::They are like Jews, scattered throughout Europe to help the misled Christians.
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The gods are users.
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