The Three Sounds

The Three Sounds were an influential American jazz trio with Gene Harris on piano, Andrew Simpkins on bass and Bill Dowdy on drums. They recorded and performed together from 1956 to 1970, though Dowdy departed in 1967 and was replaced by Donald Bailey. Simpkins left in 1969 and was briefly replaced by Henry Franklin.

They recorded for the Blue Note, Verve and Mercury labels. Their debut album was 'Introducing the Three Sounds' in 1958, which became a surprise hit. The trio recorded numerous albums, including 'Bottoms Up' (1959), 'Black Orchid' (1962), 'Blue Genes' (1962), 'Vibrations' (1966), 'Live at the Lighthouse' (1967), 'Coldwater Flat' (1968) and their last studio album 'Soul Symphony' (1969). The album 'Live at the It Club' was released in 1970.

Harris's blues and gospel-influenced piano playing made him a very accessible jazz pianist. Many recordings were left unreleased until after the demise of the trio. Harris estimated they had 35 albums worth of material and they left behind a rich legacy, with Harris enjoying a successful solo career in the '80s and '90s after he left the Three Sounds. Simpkins passed away in 1999, Harris in 2000 and Dowdy in 2017.