darkprinceofjazz Eddie Harris is one of my favorite artists, I have just about every session of his in my collection, A very underrated saxophonist and composer, Probably best know for the tune "Compared to What" with Les McCann, and for his composition Freedom Jazz Dance, Made a standard by Miles Davis and his second great quintet, on the classic Miles Smiles Album.

Excursions is a bit of a mixed bag, something for every one if you will, Sessions from 1966, 1968, and 1973 make up the lengthy double album, You have straight ahead bop selections, some tunes with a dose of funk, and some way out there experimental tunes, The centerpiece of the album has to be the 16 minute "Turbulence" that goes off the map into free and avant guard territory in between a modal Coltrane's "Impressions" style groove, Eddie breaks out the reed trumpet,"I didn't even know one existed before this album", There is a lot going on with Excursions. I think Excursions is sort of a microcosm of Eddie's entire career, Four different pianists are featured, Larry Nash, Richard Abrams, Jodie Christian and Cedar Walton, Guitarist Ronald Muldrow also stretches out as well.

Eddie Harris has an entire Discography's worth of great music to discover with a wide variety of styles, Some of my favorites are, Mean Greens, The in Sound, Swiss Movement and Instant Death, Excursions is right there with them.