Barry HarrisThe method

People Barry talks about

Chuck Israels

bass

Bassist who played in Barry’s trio, one of the two bassists Barry named for his Village Vanguard engagements, and who dropped in on Barry’s workshop when he was in town.

mentions
2
recordings
1
Barry speaking
2

What Barry says

Asked whether he performs with a set group, Barry says he mostly uses local musicians, but in New York at the Village Vanguard he uses either Chuck Israels or Ray Drummond on bass, with Leroy Williams on drums.

Victor L. Schermer (interviewer); Barry Harris, Barry Harris: Iconic Jazz Pianist and Keeper of the Flame ¶46Victor L. Schermer (interviewer); Barry Harris, Barry Harris: Iconic Jazz Pianist and Keeper of the Flame ¶47

In a 2016 Rome class Barry recalls Chuck Israels saying loudly that at last Barry was playing a song he knew. They played Stella by Starlight, and afterwards Israels admitted he had only thought he knew the piece.

11 March 2016: Stella by Starlight4:305:04

Barry’s verdict is that Israels did not really know the tune at all. He tells the story while taking the class through the tune’s harmony in B-flat, saying he examines a piece to find the chord that makes it beautiful.

11 March 2016: Stella by Starlight4:305:04

In his own words

In New York at the Vanguard, I use either Ray Drummond or Chuck Israels on bass and Leroy Williams on drums.

Victor L. Schermer (interviewer); Barry Harris, Barry Harris: Iconic Jazz Pianist and Keeper of the Flame. All About Jazz 2015, on the musicians he works with ¶47

when we got through, you know what he said, he said. I thought I knew that piece.

11 March 2016: Stella by Starlight, Rome, 2010–19. Rome class 2016, on Israels and Stella by Starlight 5:04 Watch on YouTube at 5:04

Every mention

2 moments in the recordings, 2 of them Barry speaking. Each says who is talking.

11 March 2016: Stella by Starlight

Rome, 2010–19

  1. 4:30

    Barry

    Barry starts a story: Chuck Israels (captioned ‘Chuck. Israel’) loudly said at last Barry was playing a song he knew.

    Watch on YouTube at 4:30

  2. 5:04

    Barry

    After they played Stella by Starlight, Israels said he thought he knew it; Barry says he didn’t.

    Watch on YouTube at 5:04

In the interviews and notes

Recordings that name them

Barry’s performances and records in the archive that credit or name them.

Method ideas nearby

Ideas of the method taught in the classes where they come up, with how many mentions fall in each.

  1. 13.3Standards worked in class2
  2. 14.2Every key, every degree, every way2
  3. 9.6Half-diminished = minor with the sixth in the bass; major -> relative minor -> minor/62