Harold Land
Texas-born tenor saxophonist Harold Land was an adept stylist whose sound brought together the big swinging tone and edgy harmonics of the hard bop era with the warm lyricism and dusky romance of the West Coast, where he spent much of his life. A member of the celebrated Clifford Brown and Max Roach Quintet, Land also enjoyed a vibrant solo career, releasing albums like 1959's The Fox, 1963's Jazz Impressions of Folk Music, and 1968's The Peace-Maker, the latter of which introduced his long-running quintet with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson. He also worked with luminaries like Wes Montgomery, Thelonious Monk, Hampton Hawes, and Red Mitchell, and was a member of the Gerald Wilson Orchestra. Influenced by John Coltrane, his playing grew more exploratory throughout the '60s and '70s, yet he never lost his swinging, melodic style as evidenced by such late-career albums as 1995's A Lazy Afternoon and 2001's A Promised Land.
Born in 1928 in Houston, Texas, Land grew up in San Diego, where he started playing sax at age 16. He made his recorded debut for Savoy in 1949 leading his All-Stars with Leon Petties, Froebel Brigham, and others. Following a move to Los Angeles in the mid-'50s, he joined the Max Roach-Clifford Brown quintet, replacing Teddy Edwards. Land stayed in the group for over a year, appearing on such classic albums as 1954's Brown and Roach Incorporated and 1955's Study in Brown. He then left the group to play with Curtis Counce from 1956 to 1958, during which time he recorded with the bassist for labels like Contemporary and Dooto. There were also sessions with Herb Geller, Cal Tjader, Victor Feldman, and others.
As a leader, Land made his debut with 1958's Harold in the Land of Jazz, playing alongside trumpeter Rolf Ericson, pianist Carl Perkins, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Frank Butler. A year later, he returned with The Fox, an superb quintet set with trumpeter Dupree Bolton and pianist Elmo Hope. By the '60s, Land was dividing his time between leading his own groups, as with bassist Red Mitchell on 1961's Hear Ye!, and playing with bandleader Gerald Wilson and his orchestra. In 1963, he showcased his wide-ranging taste reinterpreting traditional folk songs like "Tom Dooley" and "On Top of Old Smokey" on Jazz Impressions of Folk Music. There were also dates with Wes Montgomery and Kenny Dorham for Jazzland, and sessions with such notable players as Carmell Jones, Bud Shank, Gary Peacock, and Thelonious Monk, among others.
While Land never went completely avant-garde, he did expand his approach throughout the '60s, influenced by the work of John Coltrane and other progressive players. He formed a lasting quintet with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson which they debuted on 1968's The Peace-Maker and continued through the early '70s. Land also co-led a group with trumpeter Blue Mitchell from 1975 to 1978, recording albums like 1977's Mapenzi.
Beginning in the early '80s, he and Hutcherson often appeared as members of the Timeless All Stars, a group of veteran players connected to the Timeless label, also featuring pianist Cedar Walton, trombonist Curtis Fuller, bassist Buster Williams, and drummer Billy Higgins. Though his own recording slowed in the '80s (he released 1981's Xocia's Dance), Land continued his association with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra and performed live, often working with his son pianist Harold Land, Jr. He also moved into education, working as a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. He also joined guitarist Kenny Burrell's UCLA Jazz Studies Program. In 1995, he released A Lazy Afternoon, a lush orchestral album featuring arrangements by Ray Ellis. Following a long recording hiatus, Land returned in March 2001 with Promised Land, a hard-swinging quartet date featuring pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Ray Drummond, and drummer Billy Higgins. Land died in July 2001 after suffering a stroke at the age of 72.
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Happily Dancing / Deep Harmonies Falling (Live)
Jazz - Released by Cellar Live on 18 Jun 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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The Fox: Essential Jazz Masters
Jazz - Released by Classic Music International on 8 Mar 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
West Coast Blues
Bebop - Released by Supreme Media on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Triple Trouble, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by Top Tracks on 30 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Harold in the Land of Jazz
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 3 Aug 2009
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The Essential Jazz Collection: West Coast Blues
Bebop - Released by Top Tracks on 30 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Essential Jazz Collection: Hear Ye!
Bebop - Released by Top Tracks on 30 Oct 2013
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West Coast Blues!
Jazz - Released by Vintage Cellar on 7 Feb 2022
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On a Little Street in Singapore
Jazz - Released by Jazz Arena on 26 Nov 2014
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Complete Recordings: Eastward Ho! + Fire in the West
Jazz - Released by Black Satin Recordings on 10 Jun 2016
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Harold Land - The Red Poppy Classics
Jazz - Released by Red Poppy on 4 Dec 2015
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The Land of Jazz
Bebop - Released by Supreme Media on 1 Jan 2013
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West Coast Jazz, Vol. 3
Shorty Rogers, André Previn Orchestra, Harold Land
Jazz - Released by Documents 2 on 13 Dec 2014
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Pure American Hard Bop
Jazz - Released by Jane Jazz on 2 Jul 2015
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Triple Trouble, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Top Tracks on 30 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Eastward Ho! Harold Land in New York
Jazz - Released by Music Manager on 31 May 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo