Billy Harper Quintet Antibes '75

Produced by François Lê Xuan and Fred Thomas for Sam Records/Saga. Mastered from the original stereo master tapes. Limited edition 2000 copies. Cut by SST (Schallplaten Schneid Technik). 180g vinyl LP pressed by Pallas in Germany. 6-page booklet . Each record has been visually checked to prevent defects.

Sam Records and Saga present:

A never-before released Billy Harper 1975 live recordings.

First official release with the full permission and cooperation of the Billy Harper & INA (Institut National de l’Audiovisuel).

Billy Harper Quintet – Antibes ‘75

Two days after recording the first album ever issued on the Black Saint label, Billy Harper and his quintet were onstage at the Antibes Juan-Les-Pins jazz festival. Though Black Saint is a phenomenal album and is rightfully considered as one of the finest jazz releases of the period, Antibes ’75 shows that Billy and his men gathered momentum to push the boundaries of their studio effort even further.

That night, surrounded by stars, pine woods and a captivated audience, the quintet delivered a powerful and inspired performance. Never had Harper’s signature tunes “Cry of Hunger” and “Croquet Ballet” reached such a soulful expression, and we only wish that this moment of truth would have lasted a little longer.

We are honored to present to you this concert for the first time on record, a 180g LP including a 6-page insert with previously unseen photos by Gérard Rouy and Thierry Trombert and an essay by Bernard Loupias.

Virgil Jones (Trumpet) Billy Harper (Tenor saxophone) Joe Bonner (Piano, arranger) David Friesen (Double Bass) Malcolm Pinson (Drums)