Black Saint

It's fun that this is the inaugural album of an Italian label that shares the same name as the album, or maybe it's vice-versa. Some listeners like the envelopes to be pushed off the table so they can be caught, or turned into paper airplanes and chased. But Harper is very good at pushing the envelope in a gentle way, not challenging the ear but also not insulting it. This album is another example of American jazz musicians cutting an album while touring Europe (recorded in Paris), and we the listeners reap the benefit of this double-duty workload. Actually a handful of American jazz musicians in the 70s toured or lived temporarily in Europe as they pursued not only more recording opportunities but increased cultural recognition. Harper leads his newly-formed quintet through three original compositions, and to my joy, all of side B is a sprawling 21-minute piece where gospel meets the avant.