Portland, Oregon saxophonist Bill Harris is an educator, sideman and member of organist Steve Hall Steve Hall
b.1945
multi-instrumentalist Quintet when not leading his own band. Growing up listening to jazz masters Sonny Stitt Sonny Stitt
1924 - 1982
saxophone , John Coltrane John Coltrane
1926 - 1967
saxophone and Phil Woods Phil Woods
b.1931
sax, alto among others, he began playing woodwinds while in second grade and has favored the alto and tenor saxophones ever since. Though a veteran of the Portland, Oregon jazz scene since 1964, Inside-Out is his first outing as leader, an amazing top-notch recording of post-bop material that shines all over.

The album is one of those hidden gems sparkling with sensational renditions of jazz standards from Tadd Dameron Tadd Dameron
1917 - 1965
arranger , Thelonious Monk Thelonious Monk
1917 - 1982
piano , Harold Arlen Harold Arlen
1905 - 1986
composer/conductor and others. With stellar arrangements from Hall, the disc boasts nine classic standards and a single original ("Boston After Dark") penned by Harris when he taught at Boston's Berklee College of Music decades ago. The music is outstanding, the band, is just as impressive. Harris brings together four players with national reputations and, after one sampling of the album, it's clear why.

Trumpeter and flugelhornist Paul Mazzio Paul Mazzio
was a sideman for Tony Bennett Tony Bennett
b.1926
vocal and a member of Woody Herman Woody Herman
1913 - 1987
band/orchestra 's renowned Thundering Herd, while pianist George Mitchell George Mitchell
b.1899 spent 30 years with Diana Ross Diana Ross
and as a sideman with saxophonist Sonny Stitt Sonny Stitt
1924 - 1982
saxophone . Bassist Dave Captein Dave Captein
has worked with jazz greats Jack Sheldon Jack Sheldon
b.1931
trumpet and the late Bud Shank Bud Shank
1926 - 2009
saxophone among others, while longtime drummer Dick Berk Dick Berk
b.1939 has performed with everyone from Billie Holiday Billie Holiday
1915 - 1959
vocal and Charles Mingus Charles Mingus
1922 - 1979
bass, acoustic to Freddie Hubbard Freddie Hubbard
1938 - 2008
trumpet and Brazilian vibraphonist Cal Tjader Cal Tjader
1925 - 1982
vibraphone .

With an approach reminiscent of Phil Woods Phil Woods
b.1931
sax, alto , Harris peels off the first of many sizzling alto solos on the opening "You're My Everything," sharing the spotlight with Mazzio, Mitchell and Captein on a dazzling bop-infused rendition of this timeless classic. Gary Burton Gary Burton
b.1943
vibraphone once used Victor Assis Brasil Victor Assis Brasil
's obscure "Profiles" in a Berklee Jazz improvisation class attended by Harris, who copied the changes and has used it ever since. The boppish flair of the set continues with Harris's tenor voice on "I Hear A Rhapsody" and Clare Fischer Clare Fischer
1928 - 2012
band/orchestra 's "We'll Be Together Again."

The bossa-flavored "Pensativa," is the defining pieces of the disc, featuring Harris and crew glowing with incredible solos. The music is of apparent significance to the saxophonist for both his record label and website are titled after this Fischer song. Harris' alto continues to sing on Harold Arlen Harold Arlen
1905 - 1986
composer/conductor 's "A Sleepin' Bee" and takes to a softer, slower tempo on Tadd Dameron Tadd Dameron
1917 - 1965
arranger 's soulful ballad, "Soultrane." Closing with a strong statement on Monk's "Little Rootie Tootie," Harris emerges as a voice to be reckoned with in a solid performance and an impressive debut that should have the critics buzzing and audiences clamoring for more. Lending an exciting new sound to a host of familiar jazz standards, Harris may well turn the jazz world Inside-Out with this compelling first outing.

Track Listing: You're My Everything; Boston After Dark; Profiles; I Hear A Rhapsody; We'll Be Together Again; I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You); Pensativa; A Sleepin' Bee; Soultrane; Little Rootie Tootie.

Personnel: Bill Harris: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone; Paul Mazzio: trumpet, flugelhorn; George Mitchell: piano; Dave Captein: bass; Dick Berk: drums.

Record Label: Self Produced

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