Billy Harper

This is Texas-born tenor sax giant Billy Harper captured on tour in Europe in 1979. Mr Harper's gorgeous tone drives a highly energetic quintet featuring a young Fred Hersch on piano, Everett Hollins on trumpet, Louie "Mbiki" Spears on bass and Horace Arnold on drums. Billy Harper's seminal masterpiece, which gained more widespread recognition in the 70s, is a scorching and powerful record that exudes righteousness from start to finish. At this stage of his career, Billy has developed a strong command over his musical style. On this album, he showcases his talent on the tenor saxophone with a remarkable sense of grandeur that can be compared to the best performances of John Coltrane or Pharoah Sanders. The CD includes an exceptional interpretation of Harper's renowned song "Preistess", a 22-minute rendition of "Illumination", and the shorter yet as captivating track "Calvary". "In Europe gives a fine glimpse at the power and intensity of Harper's compositions and his tremendous abilities as an improviser... Highly recommended music for post-bop and free jazz appreciators." -  Allmusic