Lafayette Harris, Jr.

The first jazz record I bought was actually 2 records. I was walking through the mall in downtown Baltimore heading over to the Inner Harbor probably to hear Gary Thomas or Charles Covington. I’d just gotten out of high school and I was about to go away to my first year of college. So as I was walking I heard some music that I’d heard on pop radio in Baltimore. I’m sure that it was WEAA which at that time played a mixture of stuff. (I’ll have to confirm with probably Gary Ellerbee, he’ll know for sure because he knows all about Baltimore radio!) Anyway the music I heard was by the Yellowjackets. A fusion group with a cut that was getting a lot of play in the same markets that Spry Gyra had been getting. I’d liked this piece a lot so when I heard it I thought I should get this recording whoever it is. So I walked in the record shop and the guy pointed to the album cover on display when I asked him what was playing. I said cool. I loved the cover too. So he directed me to where it was in the bin. While I was there I saw a familiar artist. The great Oscar Peterson. I knew of him because our band teacher in High School often played him with his Clark Terry records. (Thanks Mr. Charles Funn!) Anyway the OP record jumped out at me because of the unique cover design. It was a photo of a series of hard cover books! So I went ahead and got both these records. And both records I ended up learning tunes off of and playing with different ensembles while I was in college. A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of meeting pianist Russell Ferrante at the Blue Note in Manhattan. He’s the co founder of the Yellowjackets along with Jimmy Haslip the bassist. I told him this story and he loved hearing it. He was flattered that I’d bought his bands record at the same time I bought as OP record! I told him how his records influenced me early on but that I’d ended up gong in the direction more of what was on the OP record. He asked what I was doing and I told him that was then the pianist for Ernestine Anderson. He was thrilled to hear that and I thanked him for his positive impact. I am one who plays and appreciates the jazz people think is the “real stuff”, whether that’s Art Tatum, Bird, Dizzy, Duke, Miles or even Oscar Peterson! But it’s great that I got there by hearing some fusion first! Thanks Russell!