Plug Me In - EP

1968’s Plug Me In was Eddie Harris’ grittiest work to date, focusing almost solely on a strain of tough-minded funk that was undoubtedly inspired by James Brown, Sly Stone and the other great practitioners of the day. “It’s Crazy,” “Ballad (For My Love)” and “Theme In Search of a T.V. Commercial” show how well Harris’ electronic Varitone sax melded to the rock-hard rhythms. With his band serving as platoon, Harris uses the Varitone as his megaphone, calling out marching orders and inciting his troops to action with furious shocking runs inspired by Jimi Hendrix’s recordings from the same year. Harris was a still an exceptionally nimble player, but the rhythms and livewire tones of the performances align him with the burgeoning black funk movement more than the jazz old-guard. The tone is militant and unapologetic, and though the album features no lyrics, it pledges allegiance to the burgeoning Black Nationalist movement with resolute groove of “Live Right Now.”