by Jason Ankeny Gene Harris never veered closer to mainstream jazz-funk than Tone Tantrum--a slick, propulsive record recalling Donald Byrd's classic sessions with the Mizell brothers (not surprising, given that Byrd turns up on a few tracks here), it's very much a product of its time, channeling influences from underground disco to Stevie Wonder, and remains arguably the most blatantly commercial release in the entire Blue Note catalog. Paired with singer/keyboardist Jerry Peters, bassist Chuck Rainey and drummer Harvey Mason, Harris' smooth, slinky Fender Rhodes grooves are couched in lush strings and shimmering backing vocals--still, while the sound is radio-friendly, the quality and complexity of the performances serve as a potent reminder that Tone Tantrum is first and foremost a jazz record, and a solid (if unconventional) one at that, purists be damned.