Bill Harris

Bill Harris was one of the few modern trombonists of the 1945-1960 era who was not influenced by <a href="spotify:artist:3hZ5sdhYTvgrmXIwtVwqmS">J.J. Johnson</a>. A very distinctive player almost from the start with a strong and highly original wit, Harris became a professional musician in 1938, and toured with the big bands of <a href="spotify:artist:2YODXXiVE8ABc0TfihLOFj">Gene Krupa</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1UQnOfa4xodvnWg6TntMMa">Ray McKinley</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:7bUrX1lUvEJ1NKzQtTDPbW">Bob Chester</a>. After playing with <a href="spotify:artist:1pBuKaLHJlIlqYxQQaflve">Benny Goodman</a> (1943-1944) and <a href="spotify:artist:4SPws2VXOmZIiRTp75mzsb">Charlie Barnet</a>, and guesting on a couple of <a href="spotify:artist:1YaB5mqH5zlJqvJaKIsBrS">Eddie Condon</a>'s Town Hall concerts, Harris became famous for his work with <a href="spotify:artist:2KSxJY1WxGGVYSmoM0N54P">Woody Herman's First Herd</a> (1944-1946); "Bijou" was a showcase, and the trombonist is heard at his best on <a href="spotify:artist:2KSxJY1WxGGVYSmoM0N54P">Herman</a>'s many up-tempo (and often riotous) performances. One of the few First Herd members to also be in the <a href="spotify:artist:1Yjw5lfgHAmjaEmzed9WRf">Four Brothers Second Herd</a> (1948-1950), Harris also re-joined <a href="spotify:artist:2KSxJY1WxGGVYSmoM0N54P">Herman</a> a few times during 1956-1959. He co-led a band with <a href="spotify:artist:6ivz1LSbG04pV8AQUFaY53">Charlie Ventura</a> (1947), teamed up with <a href="spotify:artist:2PQwa4eR1ZH6YnmbcR0QCH">Chubby Jackson</a> (1953), and was a star with <a href="spotify:artist:1MrfEFvDJwmXQJADGBSEPV">Jazz at the Philharmonic</a> during 1950-1954. During the second half of the 1950s, Harris often collaborated with <a href="spotify:artist:6k3DSHCSh4p2EuIqm9hIU6">Flip Phillips</a>, and their band formed the nucleus of <a href="spotify:artist:1pBuKaLHJlIlqYxQQaflve">Benny Goodman</a>'s group in 1959. He mostly retired to Florida, in the 1960s after a spell in Las Vegas, occasionally leading his own groups and playing with <a href="spotify:artist:6TDBjaKrCj3BvbxhiUSbog">Red Norvo</a>. Bill Harris led dates during 1945-1957 for Mercury, EmArcy, Dial, Capitol, Verve, Fantasy, and Mode, usually featuring alumni from <a href="spotify:artist:2KSxJY1WxGGVYSmoM0N54P">the Woody Herman Orchestra</a>. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi