During the prime Blue Note years (1958-1962) of
the Three Sounds (a trio comprised of pianist
Gene Harris, bassist
Andy Simpkins and drummer
Bill Dowdy), the group did an awful lot of recording for the label. This 1998 CD has a dozen titles that had never been released previously from four sessions in 1959 and 1962. The standards (only "Lights Out" is actually a blues) are made bluesy by the trio. Strangely enough,
Harris often sounds closer here to
Red Garland (especially in his chord voicings) than to his own style. The fact that the music is not in general as funky as usual may be why producer
Alfred Lion did not release with the sessions when they were recorded. However, although not essential, the playing is enjoyable on its own terms, with highlights including "Makin' Whoopee, '" "Witchcraft," "Sometimes I'm Happy," "Red Sails In The Sunset" and "Lights Out."