- Donald Harrison
-
Donald Harrison 
Donald Harrison, Jr. at the New Orleans Jazz Fest 2007Background information Born 23 June 1960
New Orleans, Louisiana United StatesGenres Jazz, smooth jazz, Hiphop Occupations Musician, Composer, producer, Instructor Instruments Vocalist, Saxophone Donald Harrison, Jr. (born June 23, 1960) is an American jazz saxophonist from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Contents
Biography
Harrison studied at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and Berklee College of Music.[1] He played with Roy Haynes, Jack McDuff, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Terence Blanchard and Don Pullen in the 1980s. He also played with the re-formed Headhunters band in the 1990s. In 1991 he recorded "Indian Blues," which captured the sound and culture of Congo Square in a jazz context. In 1994 Harrison created the "Nouveau Swing" style of jazz, which merges the swing beat with many of today's popular dance styles of music, as well as styles that are prominent from his cultural experiences in his hometown.
Harrison also performs in the smooth jazz genre. His group Donald Harrison Electric Band has recorded popular radio hits and have charted in the top ten of Billboard magazine. He performs as a producer, singer and rapper in the traditional Afro-New Orleans Culture and Hiphop genres with his group, The New Sounds of Mardi Gras. The group, which has two recorded 2CDs, was started four years ago[when?] and has made appearances worldwide. Harrison is the Big Chief of the Congo Nation Afro-New Orleans Cultural Group which keeps alive the secret traditions of Congo Square.
Harrison also writes orchestral works for major orchestras. Harrison was chosen as the "person of the year" by Jazziz magazine in January 2007.[citation needed] His latest CDs, 3D Vols. I, II, and III, feature him in three different musical genres. On Vol. I he writes, plays, and produces music in the smooth jazz, and R&B style. On Vol. II he writes, produces and plays in the classic jazz style. On Vol. III he writes plays and produces in the hiphop genre.
As of 2007[update], Harrison is working on a large orchestral work which investigates what it is like to be a participant in New Orleans culture. Harrison was forced to evacuate New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and proceeds from his album Nouveau Swing will go to victims of the hurricanes.
Harrison has nurtured a number of young musicians including the young Grammy-nominated trumpeter Christian Scott (Harrison's nephew), as well as Mark Whitfield, Cyrus Chestnut, Christian McBride, and The Notorious B.I.G.[2] Harrison was featured in Spike Lee's HBO documentary, When the Levees Broke, and in HBO drama TV series "Treme"
Harrison also directed the New Jazz School for the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans,.[3]
Discography
As leader
- The New Sounds of Mardi Gras Vol 1 - (Hip-Hop)
- The New Sounds of Mardi Gras Vol 2 - (Hip-Hop)
- Evolution Revolution - with The Headhunters
- Live - with Clark Terry
- Live at The Supper Club - with Lena Horne
- 1991: Indian Blues
- 1994: The Power of Cool
- 1996: Nouveau Swing
- 1997: Free To Be
- 1999: Paradise Found
- 2001: Spirits of Congo Square
- 2002: Kind of New
- 2003: Real Life Stories
- 2004: Heroes - with Ron Carter and Billy Cobham
- 2005: Free Style
- 2006: "NY Cool" Live at The Blue Note
- 2006: The Survivor
- 2007: 3D Vol I Smooth Jazz
- 2008: 3D Vol II Classic Jazz
- 2008: The Chosen Classic Jazz
- 2009: 3D Vol III Hip-Hop
As sideman
With Don Pullen
- The Sixth Sense (Black Saint, 1985)
With Esperanza Spalding
- Esperanza (Heads up, 2008)
References
- ^ Yanow, Scott. "Donald Harrison: Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/donald-harrison-p84493. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
- ^ "Biggie Smalls: The Voice That Influenced A Generation". NPR. 2010-08-02. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128916682. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
- ^ Isidore Newman
External links
Categories:- 1960 births
- African American musicians
- American jazz saxophonists
- Hard bop saxophonists
- Jazz-funk saxophonists
- Living people
- Musicians from New Orleans, Louisiana
- Jazz musicians from New Orleans, Louisiana
- People from New Orleans, Louisiana
- Post-bop saxophonists
- Impulse! Records artists
- Columbia Records artists
- GRP Records artists
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
