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Cass Harrison

( American Jazz Pianists )

Early life
Later life and career
Discography

As leader

References

C O N T E N T S

Cass Harrison Records Trio

Rank: 100%

Wiki
Comments
Media

Cass Harrison is an American jazz pianist and composer. He had two trio albums released by MGM Records in the 1950s.

Early life

Who's Who in Entertainment lists Harrison as being born in New York on April 25, 1917;

(1989). 9780837918501, Marquis Who's Who. . ISBN 9780837918501

the liner notes from his second LP, released in 1957, describe him as "thirtyish". He began playing the piano at the age of four.

Later life and career

Harrison's first significant exposure as a professional musician came with Teddy Powell's band. Harrison played in Pennsylvania in 1944. In 1948, he played intermissions at Cafe James in New York. In 1954, he played with a singer at the Hotel Warwick in Philadelphia. He led a big band on a tour of South America prior to recording with his trio.

Harrison's first trio album, The Duke and I, consisting of versions of little-known Duke Ellington compositions, was released by MGM Records in 1956. The reviewer for Billboard wrote: "Harrison is an extremely gifted pianist who ought to be better known. He is technically facile, imaginative, fresh in his harmonic conception and possessed of one of the most rock-ribbed beats imaginable." The following year, this was followed by Wrappin' It Up, another trio release by MGM. Critic John S. Wilson described the performances as "a lightly swinging, unencumbered workout". Around 1960, Harrison led a trio performing at the Park Central Hotel in New York.

Warren Vaché (1997). 9780810831629, Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810831629

Harrison later moved to Puerto Rico. He was also a composer.

Discography

As leader

1956?	The Duke and I	MGM Records	Trio, with Mort Herbert (bass), Cozy Cole (drums)
1957?	Wrappin' It Up	MGM Records	Trio, with Milt Hinton (bass), Cozy Cole and Jo Jones (drums; separately)
	Sauce from the Source	Cass Harrison