The 3 Sounds
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Jazz music |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Founder | Gene Harris, Andrew Simpkins, Bill Dowdy, Lonnie "The Sound" Walker |
| Defunct | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Benton Harbor , United States |
Area served | United States, international tours |
| Products | Jazz albums and performances |
The 3 Sounds—also referred to as The Three Sounds—was a notable American jazz piano trio that performed from 1956 until 1973.
Hailing from Benton Harbor, Michigan, the ensemble initially formed as the Four Sounds, featuring Gene Harris on piano, Andrew Simpkins handling the double bass, and Bill Dowdy on drums, accompanied by saxophonist Lonnie "The Sound" Walker, who departed after one year. The group moved first to Washington and subsequently to New York. As the Three Sounds, they produced recordings for Riverside Records before signing an exclusive contract with Blue Note.
Between 1958 and 1962, the trio issued nine albums through Blue Note, building a significant national reputation supported by extensive tours. Their collaborations spanned prominent jazz artists, including saxophonists Lester Young, Lou Donaldson, Stanley Turrentine, and Sonny Stitt, cornetist Nat Adderley, vocalist Anita O'Day, and guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli.
Samples in hip hop
The track "Put On Train," featured on the 1971 Gene Harris album The 3 Sounds, was notably sampled by the hip hop group Beastie Boys in their song "What Comes Around," included on the 1989 album Paul's Boutique.
1958 – 1962: Blue Note years
| Year | Catalog number | Title | Date recorded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | BLP 1600 | Introducing the 3 Sounds | 1958-09-16, -18 | |
| 1959 | BLP 4012 | LD + 3 | 1959-02-18 | featuring Lou Donaldson |
| 1959 | BLP 4014 | Bottoms Up! | 1958-09-16, -28, 1959-02-11 | |
| 1960 | BLP 4020 | Good Deal | 1959-05-20 | |
| 1961 | BLP 4044 | Moods | 1960 | |
| 1961 | BLP 4057 | Blue Hour | 1960 | with saxophonist Stanley Turrentine |
| 1961 | BLP 4072 | Feelin' Good | 1960 | |
| 1962 | BLP 4088 | Here We Come | 1960 | |
| 1962 | BLP 4102 | Hey There | 1961 |
1962: Verve year
| Year | Catalog number | Title | Date recorded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | V-8513 | Blue Genes | 1962 | |
| 1963 | V-8514 | Anita O'Day & the Three Sounds | 1962 | collaboration with vocalist Anita O'Day |
1962 – 1964: Mercury years
| Year | Catalog number | Title | Date recorded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | MG 20776 | The Three Sounds Play Jazz on Broadway | 1962 | |
| 1963 | MG 20839 | Some Like It Modern | 1963 | |
| 1964 | MG 20921 | Live at the Living Room | 1964 | required live recording session |
1965 – 1966: Limelight years
| Year | Catalog number | Title | Date recorded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | LM 82014 | Three Moods | 1965 | required arrangements by Julian Lee |
| 1965 | LM 82026 | 1965 | required arrangements by Julian Lee | |
| 1966 | LM 82037 | Today's Sounds | 1966-02 | live recording; Kalil Madi substituted for Bill Dowdy on drums |
1967 – 1970: Reengagement with Blue Note
| Year | Catalog Number | Album Title | Recording Year | Musicians/Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | BLP 4248 | Vibrations | 1966 | Andy Simpkins (bass), Kalil Madi (drums) |
| 1967 | BLP 4265 | Live at The Lighthouse | 1967 | Andy Simpkins (bass), Donald Bailey (drums); live performance |
| 1968 | BST 84285 | Coldwater Flat | 1968 | Andy Simpkins (bass), Donald Bailey (drums); accompanied by Oliver Nelson Orchestra |
| 1968 | BST 84301 | Elegant Soul | 1968 | Andy Simpkins (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); featuring orchestral arrangements |
| 1969 | BST 84341 | Soul Symphony | 1969 | Henry Franklin (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); with orchestral backing |
| Year | Catalog Number | Album Title | Recording Year | Musicians/Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 'N/A' | 'Live at the It Club' | '1970' | 'Henry Franklin (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); live session' |
| 2000 | 'N/A' | 'Live at the It Club Volume 2' | '1970' | 'Henry Franklin (bass), Carl Burnett (drums); live session' |