Fragments and Sessions: Harris in Transition
A patchwork of Eddie Harris across seven years, unified by restless improvisation and electric textures.
Excursions sits oddly in Eddie Harris's catalog — not quite a statement, more a collection. Recorded mainly in 1973 but reaching back to 1966 and 1967, it assembles outtakes and alternate takes from earlier sessions, including material from Mean Greens and The Electrifying Eddie Harris. This is Harris at a crossroads, neither fully electric nor acoustic, testing different rhythmic and harmonic waters without committing to one direction. The album captures him working with various rhythm sections — Leon Ndugu Chancler on drums alongside Andre Fischer on percussion, Rufus Reid and Melvin Jackson both on bass, pianists ranging from Jodie Christian to Muhal Richard Abrams. It feels like a working musician's daily life: trying things, seeing what sticks, moving on. The material is solid without being essential. Harris's saxophone work remains nimble and inventive, his tone never dull, but the fragmented nature of the source material means no single track builds the kind of narrative momentum his best records achieve. This is not the place to start with Harris — his earlier Atlantic work or his celebrated earlier recordings offer clearer entry points. But for listeners already familiar with his range, Excursions documents an artist in the studio at work, unpolished and genuine, sorting through possibilities rather than delivering conclusions.
Who's playing
Rufus Reidbass
Melvin Jacksondouble bass
Larry Nashelectric piano
Muhal Richard Abramselectric piano
Jodie Christianpiano
Ronald Muldrowguitar
Frank Gordontrumpet
Billy Howelltrombone
Leon Ndugu Chanclerdrums
Billy Jamesdrums
Richard Smithdrums
Andre Fischerpercussion
Marshall Thompsonpercussion
Eddie Harrisreeds
Where next?
More by Eddie Harris
All 36 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
