Soul-Jazz Horns Meet Electric Groove
Harris plugs into a funkier, grittier sound than his usual sophisticated stride.
Plug Me In hits you with a thick horn section right away—Eddie Harris on saxophone steering the ship, Haywood Henry adding baritone sax weight, and a three-trumpet front line of Melvin Lastie, Joe Newman, and Jimmy Owens creating a brassy, almost orchestral density. The rhythm section locks tight, with Ron Carter or Melvin Jackson on bass grounding everything in a funkier pocket than Harris's earlier work. This is soul-jazz territory, but earthier and less refined than you might expect from Harris at this point in his career. The horns are warm and full-bodied, the tempos lean toward groove rather than bebop velocity, and the whole session breathes a late-sixties funk sensibility that feels closer to Stax than to the modal sophistication Harris explored elsewhere. Harris himself plays with swagger here—less the virtuoso technician, more the bandleader channeling street-level soul. Tom McIntosh and Garnett Brown anchor the trombone chair, adding texture without overwhelming the saxophone or trumpets. Jodie Christian on piano (when present) keeps things grounded and soulful rather than flashy. The album sits at an interesting crossroads in Harris's catalog: it's solidly crafted, well-executed group playing, but it lacks the innovation or memorability of his very best records. For Harris completists and soul-jazz devotees, it's worthwhile. For newcomers, start with his Blue Note work first.
Who's playing
Ron Carterbass
Melvin Jacksonbass
Jodie Christianpiano
Eddie Harrissaxophone
Haywood Henrybaritone saxophone
Melvin Lastietrumpet
Joe Newmantrumpet
Jimmy Owenstrumpet
Tom McIntoshtrombone
Garnett Browntrombone
Where next?
More by Eddie Harris
All 36 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
