Joe Harriott: The Joe Harriott Story – review

(ProperBox 160, 4 CDs)The West Indian saxophonist Joe Harriott was one of the few true innovators on a British jazz scene that mostly mimicked American models during the 1950s and early 60s. Brought up in an orphanage, Harriott came to Britain from Jamaica in 1951, and was by 23 already an outstanding jazz and dance-band saxist. He was a star bebop soloist in bands led by Tony Kinsey and Ronnie Scott, but quickly grew restless. While in hospital with the tuberculosis that eventually killed him i...

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