bob harris (2)

Bob Harris recorded with Frank Zappa.

In 2002, Bob Harris took part in the Zappanale festival in Germany, where he performed various Frank Zappa compositions (in various line-ups), a couple of which can be found on the "Zappanale 13" album, and on the additional "Zappanale # 13" album.

discography

random notes

Frank Zappa employed two guys named Bob Harris.
It would appear that Bob Harris #1 has passed on, but due to the inherent confusion of the names I will await confirmation of this.

Thana Harris is the wife of Bob Harris #2.  Her vocals on Sleep Dirt were not recorded at the original sessions, but were overdubbed years later for the CD release. The 80's Bob Harris lives in central Colorado and performs on the weekends with his wife, Thana.

It could be mentioned that the 80's Bob Harris appeared on Steve Vai's "Flexable", and also, I think, on "Passion and Warfare". Thana Harris also performed on "Flexable".

     lowyoyo@colorado.net said:
Bob Harris regularly performes in central colorado and is currently active with other Zappa alumni.

     culrich@u.washington.edu (Charles Ulrich) said:
Yesterday I discovered an LP by Bob Harris #2. I bought it for $2.99, but I haven't heard it yet, since my turntable is in another country.
The title is The Great Nostalgia. It was released in 1986 on Mastahna Records, catalog number MA-419. There are six tracks, all composed by Bob Harris. Three have lyrics, and five have vocals. Bob Harris is credited with keyboards on all tracks, vocals on five, and trumpet on three.
Suzanna (Thana) Harris sings on two tracks (probably joint lead vocals with Bob, since other people are credited with backing vocals). Another track features Steve Vai on electric sitar and Tommy Mars on "recorder and Blue Moon".

     Michael McPherson(mmcpherson@ball.com) said:
Bob and his wife are now living in a small town near Grand Junction, Colorado. He is currently working on some recordings with producer Bobby Barth and is listed as the lead vocalist in Barth's recently reunited band, "AXE". He also plays trumpet, keyboards and sings backing vocals for Michael McPherson on his recently released CD, "Don't Look Back" available on the independent Oxford Road Records label. In addition to working with Steve Vai he has also done some work with  Warren Zevon.

Here's a link to his band, "Axe."

http://www.nehrecords.com/Axe/axe.htm

2007 11 29

Crossfire Releases Zappa Veteran Bob Harris´ The Great Nostalgia with Guests Steve Vai, Thana Harris, Tommy Mars and Stuart Hamm

11/28/07 - New York - Bob Harris, keyboardist/vocalist of the 1980 Frank Zappa band with guitarists Steve Vai, Ray White and Ike Willis, keyboardist Tommy Mars, bassist Arthur Barrow and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, will soon have his 1986 album The Great Nostalgia released in an expanded format by Crossfire Publications. The Great Nostalgia, originally a self-financed release on his Mastahna label, has been remastered (and in some cases remixed) from the original session tapes.

More than twenty-one years after its first release, The Great Nostalgia has been expanded by six additional tracks. Frank Zappa heard the album in 1986 and thought that the track "Ageless Love" was outstanding and should kick off the album. Bob Harris, who is currently working with '80s rock legends Axe, wanted to change the song order because he highly valued Zappa´s opinion, but the album had already been pressed. Out of respect for Frank Zappa, "Ageless Love" is now the first track on Crossfire´s reissue, and Jeremy Barber´s violin has replaced the original keyboard emulation of that instrument.

Suzannah (Thana) Harris, known to Zappa fans for her vocals on the revised Sleep Dirt album, can be found throughout The Great Nostalgia on the tracks "Ageless Love," "The Flower" and three of the bonus tracks. Of the additions to the album, Thana and Bob´s duets on the standard "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" (live at the Zappanale 13 festival) and It´s A Beautiful Day´s "White Bird" (from Thana´s album Thanatopsis) are obvious highlights.

Guitar legend Steve Vai played electric sitar on "Autumn In Nepal," presented here in Vai´s remixed version. He also played lead guitar on a remixed version of the bonus track "There´s Still Hope." Fellow FZ band member Tommy Mars played on "Autumn In Nepal," and noted bassist Stuart Hamm contributed to the track "The Flower." Billy James, known to music fans as the Ant-Bee, played percussion on the entire album. James´ tasteful use of percussion instead of drum machines is a very important asset to the longevity of The Great Nostalgia, as it sounds fresh without the usual `80s trappings.

One instrumental track recorded at the original sessions, "The Blue Gazebo," has been included on this edition. Two more recent tracks complete the album: the brilliant piano ballad "Magnet And Iron" and "Nobody Wins In A War," featuring sped-up vocals from Bob, Thana and son Nathan Harris.

The Great Nostalgia will be available at retail and through dozens of paid download services.

For more information: www.crossfirepublications.com