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LP
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ST 007LP
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Sonitron Records present a reissue of Dave Harris And The Powerhouse Five's Dinner Music For A Pack Of Hungry Cannibals, originally released in 1961. Recorded in 1958, Dave Harris's only release as a band leader was a magnificent tribute to Raymond Scott, the legendary forerunner of space sound and author of many classics referenced by jazz to pop/rock musicians and engraved in millions of minds through their use in countless cartoons and movies during the years. Harris was a highly considered studio musician and played tenor sax in Scott's legendary Quintette during the late 1930s. During his stance in the Quintette, Harris developed a deep respect for Scott and learned from the master a few compositional techniques: wild changes in rhythm, accelerations in tempo, exotic references, and thundering percussion to name a few. Those wild elements, plus Harris's own skills as band leader and the consummated and playful musicianship of his sidemen, make this album a whirlwind of sensations in which Harris and his quintet glow with energy, joy and sharp craftsmanship while adapting the master's legendary tunes to a modern, hi-fi style. All through the 12 themes that compose the album, Dave Harris And The Powerhouse Five make the listener part of a joyful trip in which Scott's "portraits in music" come back to life filled with a new manic energy, a playful spirit and an undeniable love for Scott's repertoire that doesn't stop the musicians from giving the tunes their own, fun-fueled-spin. Long out of print, it's time for this space-age-gem and it's amazing cover art to be released again. Edition of 300.
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CD
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BASTA 9189
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"Dave Harris played tenor sax in Raymond Scott's legendary late 1930s six-man 'Quintette.' Over a long career as a sought-after session musician in New York and L.A., Harris (1913-2002) released only one record as a bandleader. That was Dinner Music For A Pack Of Hungry Cannibals in 1958, and it was a tribute to his old boss, for whom he held deep respect. Harris and the Powerhouse Five recaptured the manic elegance and rhythmic wit of twelve classic Scott tunes. Nostalgia was the inspiration, but sharp musicianship and a celebratory gusto mark this album as a missing link in the Scott legacy. Basta presents the first CD reissue of this long out of print album. When Raymond Scott organized his Quintette, he recruited CBS Radio Orchestra compatriot Harris. The group was short-lived -- in 1939, Scott expanded the group into a swing orchestra. However, the original RSQ created a sensation during its brief existence, and left a lasting impact on music history. Scott composed 'portraits in music,' programmatic novelties with eccentric titles like 'War Dance for Wooden Indians,' 'Reckless Night on Board an Ocean Liner,' and 'In An 18th Century Drawing Room.' A dozen tunes from this group's repertoire were later adapted by Warner Bros. music director Carl Stalling in hundreds of classic Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons. Thus was the RSQ's legacy -- quite apart from the bandleader's own efforts -- preserved for future generations. One title, 'Powerhouse,' has become a staple of cartoon fare, having been used in The Simpsons, Ren & Stimpy, and Animaniacs, as well as in forty anarchic WB shorts and several major motion pictures. In addition to leading a succession of orchestras, Scott composed a Broadway musical in 1946, conducted orchestra on TV's Your Hit Parade in the 1950s, and was a pioneer in electronic music development. But in late-life interviews, he professed that his 1937-1939 Quintette was his favorite band. That opinion was doubtless shared by Harris, who always spoke fondly of working under Scott. Such was Harris' affection for this band that in 1958 he organized a sextet, called his sidemen the Powerhouse Five, and recorded an album of RSQ favorites in modern high fidelity. After the RSQ, Harris remained with Scott's first swing band, then compiled an impressive résumé as a session player on radio and TV, and in the recording studio. In a career that extended into the 1970s, he worked with Billie Holiday, Gene Krupa, Eddie Cantor, Mickey Katz, Stan Webb, Russ Case, Bob Haggart and countless others. As a director with a musical pedigree, Harris, on Dinner Music For A Pack Of Hungry Cannibals, maintains the high standards set by his old boss, recapturing the spunk, energy, and humor of the original RSQ. While there's an obvious element of nostalgia at play, don't underestimate the joyfulness and craftsmanship of these performances."
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