Probably two years ago or so I scribbled Gene Harris Trio + 1 on the piece of scratch manuscript paper attached to the clipboard on my desk. Someone I respect must’ve mentioned it in an interview or something. Fast forward to now and a copy popped up on my weekly record shopping trip. Worth the wait! Stanley Turrentine is the + 1 and the rhythm section is completed by Ray Brown and Mickey Roker.
The album was recorded live at the Blue Note, NYC in November/December 1985 by the great Jim Anderson so you know its gonna sound superb. The whole album is swinging but what really knocked me out was the way Mickey Roker plays on the turnarounds on “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be.” From Ed Berger’s liner notes:
“The Ellington blues, Things Ain’t, is an object lesson in controlled excitement. Even at its most fervent emotional peaks, Gene’s playing retains an undercurrent of discipline, precision, and clarity.”
Mr. Berger could have easily substituted Roker’s name for Harris. I’m not going to say playing a shuffle is a lost art, but with less experienced players a shuffle can devolve pretty quickly into a bash fest. Dig how Roker paces the turnarounds on Stanley’s solo while pretty much laying it down otherwise during the form. First chorus is a couple cymbal crashes, second a little snare chatter. Third chorus the whole band starts to build some steam with repeated figures and Mickey brings a little heat on the turnaround (but not too much). Fourth chorus keeps building and by chorus five we are cruising along. This is grown folks music. Master Roker finally gets a little more active during the form on Stanley’s seventh chorus as they bring it down for the piano solo.
The way he shades the music on the whole track is complete master level playing. Just fantastic. Hat’s off to you, Master Roker!