Jazz Articles about Harvie S

Harvie Swartz: Urban Earth & Smart Moves

by C. Andrew Hovan
April 10, 2004

One of the pleasures of doing a column like this is in seeing an album finally make the leap from obscurity to compact disc reissue. Additionally, I enjoy hearing from others who have taken pleasure from the records I’ve highlighted over the past few years. From this latter category, I’ve had the recent satisfaction of receiving an e-mail from bassist Harvie S. in regards to last month’s profile of the ECM album Dawn by Double Image. As a charter member ...

Harvie S: Texas Rumba

by Jim Santella
March 3, 2004

Bridging the gap between Afro-Cuban jazz and modern jazz, Harvie S issues ten original pieces and one classic standard in support of the argument that Latin jazz consists of equal parts Latin and jazz.

The leader’s 1996 visit to Cuba offered him the opportunity to study with masters in the field. Politics aside, that cultural blend has to be nurtured. A large body of musical veterans resides in Havana, and remains inaccessible to many outside the country. ...

Harvie S: Texas Rumba

by Franz A. Matzner
January 17, 2004

Bassist/Composer Harvie S made two good decisions when producing his latest release, Texas Rumba : he emphasized his turn towards Latin Jazz, and he recorded it live, thus presenting to best advantage his bands ability to build energy, keep loose, and entertain.

Unfortunately, the latter choice compromised the sound quality, leaving the recording at times muddy and soft. Despite this handicap, Texas Rumba captures on disc Harvie S’s transformation into a full-blown Latin jazz enthusiast. In fact, ...

Harvie S: Texas Rumba

by C. Michael Bailey
January 16, 2004

Recorded live (as are all great jazz albums), Texas Rumba thunders with adore y la alegra. It is Latin Jazz fresh and crisp as spring tomatoes and cilantro. Harvie S (AKA Harvie Swartz) is an exceptional bassist, composer, and band leader who has immersed himself in the Latin music pabulum, transforming the style into a innovative and critical entity. Integral to this evolution is his working quintet, who, together, is sharp as razors. Harvie S founded the group Eye Contact ...

Harvie S & Eye Contact: New Beginning

by Jack Bowers
September 1, 2002

Bassist Harvie S (formerly Harvie Swartz) has made a New Beginning by producing an album that uses a variety of Latin rhythms to enliven what is essentially the sort of smooth Jazz that one must endure on so many radio stations these days. That's not to say there's no substance here; the ensemble plays well together, and Harvie's tunes (he wrote all of them except “African Heartbeat") are not devoid of charm or interest. But everything is scrupulously middle-of-the-road and ...

Suzanne Pittson: Blues And The Abstract Truth

by AAJ Staff
July 1, 2001

Billy Eckstine once said to an aspiring vocalist “Use your natural chops, never affect an accent that is not your own" and to her credit there is not one iota of affectation in Suzanne Pittson's vocal style. She sings with clarity and never loses the essence of the song with useless histrionics. Pittson's instrument is her voice. No Saxophones, Brasses, Strings or Percussion can duplicate the human voice, it is an entity unto itself capable of twists, turns and innuendo ...

Mary Pearson: You and I

by Dave Hughes
September 1, 2000

Vocalist Mary Pearson's CD You and I is interesting in that each song is a duet in which she is accompanied by a lone instrument. It may be a piano (Lynne Arriale on four tunes, Fred Hersch on two), a guitar, a bass, or on two tunes, drums. While Pearson doesn't delve into scat singing or daring improvizational flights, her interpretations, phrasing, and articulation are excellent. Of the dozen tunes on the program, nine are standards and three are very ...