The Perlich Post: Strata East

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Happy Birthday Harold Vick!

Remembering saxophonist Harold Vick aka Sir Edward with "Don't Look Back" and a couple of other gems.

Here's the scoop on Harold Vick's Sir Edward album...

One of the great unsung saxophone hero's, the late great Harold Vick worked as a sideman with Hammond Legends Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Big John Patton, and Larry Young. He played on and off with Walter Bishop, Jr. and also worked with Philly Joe Jones, Howard McGhee, Donald Byrd and Ray Charles and appeared with Dizzy Gillespie, King Curtis, and from 1970 to 1974 with Aretha Franklin.

He played in Jack DeJohnette's jazz-rock band Compost from 1971 to 1973, recording with them in 1972 which is about the same time Vick cut The Power Of Feeling album for Bernard Purdie's short-lived Encounter label which is probably why it was issued under the pseudonym of "Sir Edward." Add to that an absolutely top notch band, including bassist Wilbur "Bad" Bascomb, Jumma Santos on percussion and the mellow vibes of Omar Clay and this is a must have soulful jazz outing.

The music is a funky mix of some of the big soul tunes of the day, with versions of Donny Hathaway and The Stylistics and a nod to the CTI stylings of the day with a get down version of "People Make The World Go Round". Plus of course the opening track "Keep On Moving On" which Harold Vick had recorded with Shirley Scott on her album "One For Me" (Re-issued by the UK's Brownswood label.

With original Encounter label copies now changing hands for three figures, we can all thank Jazz Room Records for delivering the first re-issue of Harold Vick's sought-after "Sir Edward" recording. Get a copy of Sir Edward's album The Power Of Feeling right here.

Check out the Harold Vick clips below, starting with a rare performance of "Don't Look Back" featuring Shirley Scott from 1976.