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Winard Harper
(September 2005 Issue)
Coming Into The Light The Savant label has recently released Winard Harper's Come Into The
Light.
The CD was recorded live at Cecil's, a jazz nightclub owned by
drummer/producer Cecil Brooks III in New
Jersey. Not since Art Blakey
& The Jazz Messengers has there been as exciting a group in jazz as
The Winard Harper
Sextet. The drummer-led group is one of the hottest
acts around.
Harper made his reputation playing with
such
greats as Dexter Gordon and saxophonist Johnny Griffin. He also spent
four years with vocalist Betty Carter, and for a
while was a part of
the famed Billy Taylor Trio. The foundation of his early work was his
collaboration with his brother Philip in
The Harper Brothers Band,
which received great critical acclaim.
A straight-ahead jazz drummer, Harper has
perfected the blend of
American jazz music with the sounds of African rhythms. At times, as he
performs live and on the new
CD, his entire group accompanies him on
djembe and other percussion instruments as he solos on the drums. "I
feel this is
one of the highlights of our performances," the drummer
says. For more information, go to www.winardharper.com.
Vince Giantomasi
 Go to Artist Index
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