For more than 30 years, Harrison Bankhead, a bassist, has been a vital part of Chicago’s jazz scene. He is a deeply soulful, adventurous musician who has anchored groups including Ernest Dawkins, Malachi Thompson and Fred Anderson. The Waukegan native, despite his popularity in local clubs and concert halls, as well as on recordings, had never released an album until 2010, when he released the amazing Morning Sun Harvest Moon (Engine). The album featured many of the bassist’s most trusted colleagues, including Mars Williams and Wilkerson, as well as James Sanders and drummer Avreeyl Ra. It was definitely worth the wait. The band’s high-energy performance seamlessly switches between spiritual blowouts and quiet reflection, each member enjoying extended solo space. The improvisations are great, but what’s more rewarding is the close friendship between the musicians: although this unit was formed only a few years ago the relationships among its members date back to decades. from http://jazzinchicago.org
