American jazz musician
Musical artist
William Godvin "Beaver"Harris (April 20, 1936 – December 22, 1991)[1] was an Americanjazz drummer who worked extensively withArchie Shepp.[2]
Harris was born inPittsburgh,Pennsylvania. Coming from an athletic family, he played baseball as a teenager for theKansas City Monarchs (then part of theNegro American League) and was scouted by theBrooklyn Dodgers andNew York Giants.[3]
After serving in theUnited States Army, Harris began playing drums. In 1963, he moved toNew York City and was encouraged to pursue a musical career byMax Roach. While in New York, he worked and/or toured withMarion Brown,Dexter Gordon,Albert Ayler,Joe Henderson,Freddie Hubbard,Clifford Jordan,Howard Johnson,Sheila Jordan,Lee Konitz,Thelonious Monk,Roswell Rudd,Sonny Rollins,McCoy Tyner,[3]Sonny Stitt,Clark Terry,Chet Baker,Doc Cheatham andLarry Coryell among other musicians.[1]
In addition, Harris founded a "world music" band and called itthe 360 Degree Music Experience. The band included some of the most significant artists of the time, includingBuster Williams,Hamiet Bluiett,Don Pullen,Jimmy Garrison,Ron Carter,Ricky Ford, and many others.
Harris and his wife, Glo Harris, had three children. Harris died ofprostate cancer inNew York at the age of 55.[4]
- From Rag Time to No Time (360, 1975)
- In: Sanity (Black Saint, 1976)
- African Drums (Owl, 1978)
- Beautiful Africa (Soul Note, 1979)
- Safe (Red, 1980)
- Negcaumongus (Cadence, 1981)
- Live at Nyon (Cadence, 1981)
- A Well Kept Secret (Shemp, 1984)
- Beaver Is My Name (Timeless, 1987)
- Thank You for Your Ears (Dizim, 1998)
WithAlbert Ayler
WithMarion Brown
WithRoswell Rudd
WithArchie Shepp
- Archie Shepp Live in San Francisco (Impulse!, 1966)
- Mama Too Tight (Impulse!, 1967)
- The Magic of Ju-Ju (Impulse!, 1967)
- Life at the Donaueschingen Music Festival (SABA, 1967)
- The Way Ahead (Impulse!, 1968)
- Three for a Quarter One for a Dime (Impulse!, 1969)
- One for the Trane (Polydor, 1969)
- For Losers (Impulse!, 1970)
- Things Have Got to Change (Impulse!, 1971)
- Attica Blues (Impulse!, 1972)
- The Cry of My People (Impulse!, 1973)
- A Sea of Faces (Black Saint, 1975)
- There's a Trumpet in My Soul (Arista, 1975)
- Montreux One (Arista, 1976)
- Montreux Two (Arista, 1976)
- Jazz a Confronto 27 (Horo, 1976)
- À Massy - U-Jaama "Unité" (Uniteledis, 1976)
- Body and Soul (Horo, 1978)
- Steam (Enja, 1976)
With others
- Chet Baker andLee Konitz,In Concert (India Navigation, 1982)
- Gato Barbieri,The Third World (Flying Dutchman, 1969)
- Larry Coryell,Toku Do (Muse, 1988)
- Larry Coryell,Major Jazz Minor Blues (32 Jazz, 1998)
- Charles Greenlee,I Know About the Life (Baystate, 1977)
- Vincent Herring,American Experience (Musicmasters, 1990)
- Stafford James,Jazz a Confronto 26 (Horo, 1976)
- Jazz Composer's Orchestra,The Jazz Composer's Orchestra (JCOA, 1968)
- Sheila Jordan,Confirmation (East Wind, 1975)
- Karin Krog,Archie Shepp,Hi-Fly (Compendium, 1976)
- Steve Lacy,Trickles (Black Saint, 1976)
- Ken McIntyre,Chasing the Sun (SteepleChase, 1979)
- Grachan Moncur III,Echoes of Prayer (JCOA, 1975)
- Massimo Urbani,360º Aeutopia (Red, 1979)
- The Blue Humans,Live – N.Y. 1980 (Audible Hiss, 1995)
- ^abColin Larkin, ed. (1992).The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.).Guinness Publishing. p. 1088.ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^"Beaver Harris Biography, Songs, & Albums".AllMusic.Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. RetrievedSeptember 9, 2021.
- ^abPareles, Jon. "Beaver Harris, 55, A Leading Drummer in Jazz Ensembles"Archived 2020-04-20 at theWayback Machine.The New York Times, January 7, 1992.
- ^"Beaver Harris / April 20, 1936 - Dec 22, 1991".Peaceandrhythm.com. 20 April 2017.Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. RetrievedSeptember 9, 2021.
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