Joe Harris 1926

Photo Credit: Nate Guidry/Post-Gazette

Batterista e percussionista statunitense (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 23.12.1926 – Manchester, New Hampshire 27.1.2016). Studia percussioni a quindici anni ed esordisce a fianco di Dizzy Gillespie, con cui suona quasi ininterrottamente fra il 1946 e il 1948. Nel 1948 si unisce ad Arnett Cobb, quindi a Billy Eckstine (1950), Erroll Garner (1952), James Moody (1954), suonando nel frattempo come musicista indipendente a New York.

Diretto da Alfred Freise impara lo xilofono e i timpani. Si esibisce agli inizi del 1955 con i Young Men’s Symphony. L’anno successivo emigra a Stoccolma dove forma un quintetto con il trombettista Rolf Ericson e accompagna diversi solisti in tournée. Lo stesso farà a Berlino, dove si trasferisce per un ingaggio con la Radio Free Berlin (1961-66).

Di ritorno negli Stati Uniti lavora a Pittsburgh prima di recarsi a Los Angeles per esibirsi dapprima al Playboy Club e quindi al Donte’s con Benny Carter (1967). Nel 1968 gira in tournée con Ella Fitzgerald, poi torna in Germania per suonare con Max Greger a Monaco. Si esibisce in televisione e lavora in studio, partecipando a diverse formazioni contemporaneamente (Jimmy Woode, Fritz Pauer, Peter Herbolzheimer).

Partecipa al film Non si uccidono così anche i cavalli? (Sidney Pollack, 1969). Nel 1971 è di nuovo a Pittsburgh, dove lavora al club Walt Harper’s Attic e insegna la storia del jazz e percussioni all’università. Nel 1980 presenta la sua formazione, Joe Harris And Friends, al Pink Poodle di Pittsburgh.

Elemento propulsore della formidabile orchestra di Gillespie e, più tardi, della formazione di Quincy Jones, Joe Harris riesce, in modo altrettanto efficace e felice, quale accompagnatore dei solisti più diversi, in contesti anche intimi. Da bopper equilibrato, sa mettersi al servizio del leader senza attirare su di sé l’attenzione.
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[A.T.]

American drummer and percussionist (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 23.12.1926 - Manchester, New Hampshire 27.1.2016). He studied percussion at fifteen and debut alongside Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he played almost continuously between 1946 and 1948. In 1948 he joined Arnett Cobb, then Billy Eckstine (1950), Erroll Garner (1952), James Moody ( 1954), meanwhile playing as an independent musician in New York.

Directed by Alfred Freise learns the xylophone and timpani. He performed in early 1955 with the Young Men's Symphony. The following year he emigrated to Stockholm, where he formed a quintet with trumpeter Rolf Ericson and accompanied several soloists on tour. He will do the same in Berlin, where he moves to Radio Free Berlin (1961-66).

In the United States, he worked in Pittsburgh before going to Los Angeles to perform first at the Playboy Club and then at Donte's with Benny Carter (1967). In 1968 he toured with Ella Fitzgerald, then returned to Germany to play with Max Greger in Munich. He performs on television and works in the studio, participating in several formations simultaneously (Jimmy Woode, Fritz Pauer, Peter Herbolzheimer).

Take part in the film They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (Sidney Pollack, 1969). In 1971 he was back in Pittsburgh, where he works at the Walt Harper's Attic club and teaches the history of jazz and percussion at the university. In 1980 he presented his lineup, Joe Harris And Friends, at Pittsburgh's Pink Poodle.

Driving element of the formidable orchestra of Gillespie and, later, of Quincy Jones's formation, Joe Harris succeeds, equally effectively and happily, as an accompanist for the most diverse soloists, even in intimate contexts. As a balanced bopper, he knows how to put himself at the leader's service without drawing attention to himself.
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[A.T.]