Bennie Harris's "Crazeology," listed here as "Little Bennie," is a blazing bebop contrafact on the chord changes of "I Got Rhythm" that serves as one of the most exciting performances on Roy Hargrove's 1990 debut album Public Eye. The AABA form in B-flat is taken at a ferocious up-tempo pace, and the track features extended solos from all four front-line musicians. Hargrove leads with three choruses of trumpet, his lines navigating the rhythm changes with the speed and precision of a seasoned veteran, his articulation crisp even at this demanding tempo. Antonio Hart matches him with three choruses of alto saxophone, the two horn players' competitive energy recalling the spirit of the bebop jam sessions where this tune originated. Stephen Scott contributes two choruses of piano, his fingers racing through the changes with clarity and swing. Christian McBride closes the solo section with two choruses of acoustic bass, a tour de force at this tempo that announces him as a player of extraordinary facility. The choice of a Bennie Harris tune, rather than the more commonly played rhythm changes heads, reveals Hargrove's deep knowledge of the bebop repertoire. Billy Higgins drives the performance with the tireless swing and joyful energy that made him one of the most beloved drummers in jazz history.
