Upcoming Events
Saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master “Big Chief” Donald Harrison is a musician/composer who is considered a master of every era of jazz, soul, and funk. Born in New Orleans, Harrison honed his experience playing with uncountable legends, including Art Blakey, Terence Blanchard, McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Ron Carter, The Headhunters, and The Notorious BIG. At the age of nineteen, Harrison created a modern jazz take on the New Orleans second-line tradition and introduced his composition “New York Second-Line” to the jazz world in 1979. By the mid-’80s, he created Nouveau Swing, a distinctive sound that blended the swing beat of modern jazz with hip-hop, funk, and soul music. In the ’90s, Harrison recorded hits in the smooth jazz genre. He began exploring music through the lens of quantum physics in 2000. Harrison’s new recording “The Art of Passion” is a multi-genre exploration of a single tune, showcasing Harrison’s versatility and creativity all at once. He will be joined at the Moss Theater by his band: pianist Dan Kaufman, drummer Brian Richberg, and bassist Nori Naroaka.
“A genius.”
–Eddie Palmieri
“Both old school and cutting-edge at the same time.”
–The Wall Street Journal