One of the most hyped jazz groups of the late '80s,
the Harper Brothers (co-led by drummer
Winard Harper and trumpeter
Philip Harper) symbolized what was right and wrong about the "Young Lions" movement. The musicianship in this hard bop unit was excellent and the young players respected their elders, but strong originality was lacking (they were largely revisiting the past) and
the Harper Brothers received an excess of publicity at the expense of more innovative players. Still, during its five years, the group produced four enjoyable bop albums for Verve, and its sidemen (altoist
Justin Robinson, tenors
Javon Jackson and
Walter Blanding, pianists
Stephen Scott and
Kevin Hays, and bassists
Michael Bowie and Nedra Wheeler, among them) all had strong starts to their career. Both
Winard and
Philip Harper have grown musically since the band's breakup. ~ Scott Yanow