Donald Harrison

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Donald Harrison
Donald Harrison, Jr. at the New Orleans Jazz Fest 2007
Background information
Born	23 June 1960 (1960-06-23) (age 49) New Orleans, Louisiana United States
Genres	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. He is nicknamed "The King of Nouveau Swing".^{[citation needed]} His father, Donald Harrison, Sr. was a legendary "Big Chief" in New Orleans cultural history.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Donald Harrison played with Roy Haynes, Jack McDuff, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers 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 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 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.

Teaching

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..^{[citation needed]} Harrison was featured in Spike Lee's HBO documentary, When the Levees Broke.

Harrison also directed the New Jazz School for the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans,^[1].

Discography

• The Chosen Classic Jazz - 2008
• 3D Vol I Smooth Jazz - 2007
• 3D Vol II Classic Jazz - 2008
• 3D Vol III Hip-Hop - 2009
• The Survivor - 2006
• The New Sounds of Mardi Gras Vol 1 - (Hip-Hop)
• The New Sounds of Mardi Gras Vol 2 - (Hip-Hop)
• "NY Cool" Live at The Blue Note - 2006
• Free Style - 2005
• Heroes - with Ron Carter and Billy Cobham - 2004
• Real Life Stories - 2003
• Kind of New - 2002
• Spirits of Congo Square - 2001
• Paradise Found - 1999
• Free To Be - 1997
• Nouveau Swing - 1996
• The Power of Cool - 1994
• Indian Blues - 1991
• Live at The Supper Club - with Lena Horne
• Live - with Clark Terry
• Evolution Revolution - with The Headhunters

References