BIG CHIEF DONALD HARRISON

Acclaimed NEA Jazz master Donald Harrison selects Ropeadope to continue his pioneering and transformational concept of multi genre recordings that present a song in different musical styles. Harrison began this direction in 2005 with the recording 3D, and now presents a refined and intriguing set of three tracks dubbed ‘The Art Of Passion’.

The first track - The Art Of Passion (Hard Swing) brings to focus Harrison and company’s take on 1960s hard swinging music.Track 2 - The Art Of Passion (Trap Hip-Hop Jazz) mixes trap hip-hop with jazz. The two styles are merged into a permutation of Harrison's Nouveau Swing style.

Track 3 - The Art Of Passion (Trap Hip-Hop) is a soulful trap hip-hop instrumental. This is recording is an Omniverse Music example of music that mirrors and merges. Music from the people, for the people.

Donald Harrison has embodied the innovative spirit of Jazz throughout his illustrious career. For many years, the world’s greatest musicians have considered him a Master in every sense. This has been documented in many ways - from his status and an NEA Jazz Master, to an honorary doctorate from Berklee, to public statements from the likes of Eddie Palmieri, Mike Clark, and more. In the HBO drama Treme, Emmy winning director David Simon created two characters to portray how Harrison innovated new styles of music. Harrison has appeared in in 9 episodes of Treme, Oscar-winning director Johnathon Demme’s film Rachel Getting Married, Spike Lee’s When The Levees Broke documentary, and Marvel’s Luke Cage. As the recognized Big Chief of Congo Square in Afro-New Orleans culture, Harrison has firmly demonstrated his commitment to the powerful culture of New Orleans, and the people who carry the tradition forward in innovative ways. His interaction with Chris Wallace (Notorius B.I.G) had a profound influence on the rapper as Harrison introduced him to the rhythm of Max Roach and Cannonball Adderley. This is perhaps the best example of the breadth of Harrison’s full understanding of how music can flow, change, and influence culture.

‘We have always honored those musicians, who as global citizens take a venerated art form and make it live for the next generation of listeners - through their wisdom, talent, and sheer courage. Big Chief Donald Harrison does this with ease, and we are grateful to be a part of this moment’ (Louis Marks, Ropeadope)

The Art Of Passion is set for release on all digital platforms on January 11, as Harrison presents his Music Omniverse at Town Hall in New York City. His guest lineup speaks volumes : Dave Holland, DJ Logic, Vernon Reid, Charles Tolliver, Joe Dyson, Arturo O’Farrill, Fred Wesley, and The Headhunters (Bill Summers & Mike Clark). A special sneak listen and download will be available on January 5 at bigchiefdonaldharrison.bandcamp.com

More About Big Chief Donald Harrison

Donald Harrison honed his experience playing with Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, Eddie Palmieri, Dr. John, Lena Horne, McCoy Tyner, Dr. Eddie Henderson, Miles Davis, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Chuck Loeb, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Digable Planets, Guru’s Jazzmatazz, The Headhunters, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and The Notorious BIG. He has performed with over 200 jazz masters and created three influential styles of jazz. 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. With quantum jazz, Harrison heard how to move music from a two-dimensional state into a four-dimensional state. Harrison has been a mentor to artist as diverse as The Notorious BIG, Jonathon Batiste, Christian Scott, Trombone Shorty, and Esperanza Spaulding.

Credits:

1) The Art Of Passion (Hard Swing)

composers: Harrison, Donald Eldridge, Harrison, Victoria, Harrison, Darius J

Big Chief Donald Harrison alto sax

Thomas Glass drums

Max Moran bass

Cameron Watson piano

producer: Donald Harrison

recording studio:Artisound Production

recording engineer: Keenan McCrae

Mixing Studio: Esplanade Studios

Mixing Engineer: Misha Kachkachishvili

Mastering Studio: Esplanade Studios

Mastering Engineer: Misha Kachkachishvili

2) The Art Of Passion (Trap Hip-Hop Jazz)

composers: Donald Harrison, Deezle, Victoria Harrison

Big Chief Donald Harrison alto sax

Thomas Glass drums

Max Moran bass

Cameron Watson piano

producer: Donald Harrison

recording studio: Artisound Production

recording engineer: Keenan McCrae

Mixing Studio: Esplanade Studios

Mixing Engineer: Misha Kachkachishvili

Mastering Studio: Esplanade Studios

Mastering Engineer: Misha Kachkachishvili

3) The Art Of Passion (Trap Hip-Hop)

composers: Donald Harrison, Deezle,

Donald Harrison alto sax

Deezle electric bass

produced by: Donald Harrison & Deezle

recording studio:TMS SOUND

recording engineer: Deezle

Mixing Studio: TMS SOUND

Mixing Engineer: Deezle, Abby Urbina

Mastering Studio: Artisound Production

Mastering Engineer: Keenan McCrae