Arthur Harper Jr.; jazz bassist
Hyfler/Rosner
BYLINE: By Gayle Ronan Sims; Inquirer Staff Writer
Arthur Harper Jr., 65, the fiery jazz bassist who
collaborated with pianist and composer Shirley Scott during
a career that spanned five decades, died Monday of lung
cancer at home in Germantown.
Born in North Carolina, the grandson of a Baptist minister,
Mr. Harper was exposed to gospel, hymns, and the culture of
music at an early age. He was raised in North Philadelphia,
near what is now Ortlieb's Jazzhaus, where he played with
drummer Granville "Mickey" Roker, among others.
During his high school years, Mr. Harper played with the
Heath Brothers, the Bryant Brothers and trumpeter Lee
Morgan.
Roker, who was a classmate of Mr. Harper's at Mastbaum High
School, said yesterday: "Arthur was a better musician than
me. When we were young, we jammed with bass fiddlers Reggie
Workman and Don Moore at each other's houses."
Mr. Harper left high school to play with the Charlie Parker
All Stars, vocalist Betty Carter, pianist Bud Powell, and
one of the first leading ladies of jazz, pianist Mary Lou
Williams, in New York. For 12 years, he was part of J.J.
Johnson's world-traveling sextet.
In the 1960s in New York, Mr. Harper and Roker shared an
apartment, and they worked with Williams at the Hickory
House and with Ray Bryan's Philly trio.
Mr. Harper returned to Philadelphia in the early 1970s and
continued to work with jazz legends, including bandleader
and bassist Charles Mingus and trumpeter Miles Davis.
It was with Shirley Scott that he made his most enduring
contribution to jazz.
He played bass on Scott's Blues Everywhereand with her on
Bill Cosby's 1992 television show You Bet Your Life.
"Harper was one of the greatest bass players to come out of
Philadelphia," said tenor saxophonist Robert "Bootsie"
Barnes yesterday. "He knew every song in any key. He was a
joy to play with."
Saxophonist Charles David recalled yesterday: "I called him
the last of the upright bassists because he stood erect when
he played. Arthur had a personal voice in his music."
Mr. Harper worked until his illness made it impossible to
play.
Mr. Harper is survived by his companion of 30 years, Gloria
Lewis Ware; four sisters; and one brother.
Friends may visit at 8 a.m. Wednesday at New Hope Temple
Baptist Church, 711 S. 12th St. A funeral service will
follow at 10. Burial will be private. A musical tribute will
be held at 3:30 p.m. at the Clef Club of Jazz, 738 S. Broad
St.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer
Society, 1626 Locust St., Philadelphia 19103.
Contact staff writer Gayle Ronan Sims at 215-854-4185 or
gs...@phillynews.com