The Three Sounds by Gene Harris & Gene Harris of the Three Sounds by Gene Harris

The Three Sounds by Gene Harris & Gene Harris of the Three Sounds by Gene Harris

This CD compiles two albums titled with great flair (irony) especially considering neither of them feature the original Three Sounds. But that doesn't make them uninteresting. Gene Harris / The Three Sounds is the more surprising of the two, featuring ensemble singing and an attempt to funkify Harris' approach, perhaps to match what a Les McCann was doing at about the same time. It doesn't really work for me, it lacks the kind of organic vibe that makes Gene's blues roots sprout wherever he plays. Still, the surprising cover of the Beatle's Eleanor Rigby is probably the best cover of that song I've heard, so there's that to salvage at least. Gene Harris of the Three Sounds is a more expected quartet affair with a mix of bluesy numbers, swing stompers and some proper funky jazz like the timeless Listen Here. Probably not worth looking into unless you're a completist.