Articles

Harvie S / Sheryl Bailey: Plucky Strum

By Dan Bilawsky

Two musicians, two acoustic string instruments, and ten original works recorded live in the studio with no overdubs, edits, or fixes of any sort. That's Plucky Strum in a nutshell, but that's also unfairly reductive in its explanation of the project. For when the two musicians under discussion are as special and seasoned as bassist Harvie S and guitarist Sheryl Bailey, even the simplest of concepts can turn into something special. While neither of these players is ...

Harvie S, Sheryl Bailey, Steve Johns: Nyack, NY, July 29, 2012

By David A. Orthmann

Harvie S, Sheryl Bailey, Steve JohnsNyack Jazz Week at the Turning Point CafePiermont, NYJuly 29, 2012Sometimes auspicious events occur in unlikely circumstances. The last part of Nyack Jazz Week 2012 was billed as a closing night concert with surprise guests, followed by a jam session. Long before the first set began, some of the invited guests arrived, instruments in tow, eager to play. All of this activity forecast a night filled with familiar tunes, and ...

Harvie S: Cocolamus Bridge

By Raul d'Gama Rose

The re-imagining of a traditional Irish ballad, “Eili Gheal Chiuin," does more than define the breathtaking skills of bassist Harvie S, as he takes wing on Cocolamus Bridge. It sets him apart as one of the very few virtuoso bassists of today. He has courage way beyond the narrow definition of the word, and has a fecund mind that is continually searching for new horizons towards which to stretch, taking with him a bass violin that sings with almost limitless ...

Harvie S with Kenny Barron: Now Was The Time

By John Barron

Bassist Harvie S has worked with a who's who of jazz artists, including saxophonists Stan Getz and Michael Brecker and vocalists Sheila Jordan and Mark Murphy. As a leader or co-leader, S has recorded extensively, most recently in the Latin-jazz realm with Funky Cha (Zoho Music, 2006). Now Was The Time, a previously unreleased session from 1986, is an extraordinary, straight-ahead duo recording by S and pianist Kenny Barron. Aside from S's original “Take Your Time," the repertoire consists of ...

Harvie S: Give The Bassman Some

By C. Michael Bailey

Bassist Harvie S's name is becoming practically synonymous with Latin jazz. Two recent recordings find the mercurial S wearing different musical hats, first leading his own band, then playing on and producing vocalist Sherri Roberts' disc. Harvie S Funky Cha Zoho Music 2006 In 2004, Harvie S released his Zoho Music debut, the excellent Texas Rumba, inaugurating a perfect meeting of minds between artist and label. The bassist ...

Harvie S: Funky Cha

By Todd S. Jenkins

Harvie S's inimitable, fearless and fun-filled approach to Latin jazz reaches a new pinnacle on Funky Cha. The bassist's musical sensibilities couldn't be summed up better than on the opening track, a re-visioning of Monk's “Rhythm-A-Ning. His bass and Daniel Kelly's piano pulse out Thelonian arhythmic fragments over Beaver Bausch's tappy drum groove, building in quirky intensity until we're jumping to find out where they're going with it. Jay Collins, the final piece of the puzzle, leaps in with the ...

Harvie S: Funky Cha

By Jerry D'Souza

The Latin jazz beat goes on, and Harvie S takes his turn to profile the music on Funky Cha. The bassist works with a core quartet, augmenting it with four other musicians; all eight appear on “Mariposa en Mano.

The music finds its muse in the various styles that make up the body of Latin jazz. Even Thelonious Monk does not escape treatment. So how does “Rhythm-a-ning work? Well indeed, to the beat of the rumba. Jay ...