[Updated] The collaboration between alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Billy Cobham blossomed into something more during a 2002 tour featuring Harrison, Carter, and Cobham with the late pianist James Williams. 2004’s Heroes is an extraordinarily reflective and intimate affair, interspersing three artful Harrison-Carter duets between a series of Harrison and Carter [...]
Tag Archives: Donald Harrison
Donald Harrison, Ron Carter and Billy Cobham), This Is Jazz: Live at the Blue Note (Half Note Records)
October 1, 2011 – 12:59 am
Louis and Patches
August 10, 2011 – 1:27 pm
Last weekend was hot as hell, but a lot of fun: Satchmo SummerFest all weekend, the Club Strut on Frenchmen on Friday evening, White Linen Night, and the highlight of my weekend: the awards from the Mardi Gras Indian Council. I was so honored and thrilled to receive the “Scribe” award from the Mardi Gras [...]
YouTube du Jour: Dr. Lonnie Smith
May 3, 2011 – 9:06 am
The cult of the B3 organ is strong, and one of its great players, Dr. Lonnie Smith, performs tonight at the Blue Nile with Shannon Powell, Donald Harrison (who appeared on Smith’s Rise Up! album) and Will Bernard. Here Smith is putting on a clinic with a camera positioned so you can see the maestro [...]
Jazz Fest vs. Treme
May 1, 2011 – 10:04 am
[UPDATED] I know this is Jazz Fest time, but don’t forget to set your DVRs for Treme tonight. If you remain on the fence about the show, give it through tonight and next week’s episodes before making any decisions. Last week established where the characters are in their lives; this episode written by David Simon [...]
Taking the Treme Out of New Orleans
April 12, 2011 – 12:43 pm
Thanks to the success of HBO’s Treme, musicians featured in the show are booking a national tour. “A Night in Treme” headlines with Kermit Ruffins, Rebirth Brass Band, and Donald Harrison on nine dates this Summer, starting June 10 in San Francisco. Confirmed stops include Los Angeles June 11, Chicago June 12, and Washington D.C. [...]
New Jazz School Auditions Saturday
March 16, 2010 – 11:29 am
The proliferation of free music education programs is one of the healthiest post-Katrina developments. One, the New Jazz School, starts its fourth year June 7 at Isidore Newman School. Donald Harrison, Jr. is the director, and Christian Scott, Jesse McBride, Detroit Brooks and David Pulphus are on the educational staff. The program teaches vocals, brass, [...]
Damn, That Light’s in My Eyes!
January 7, 2010 – 10:40 am
Got to work this morning and there was a film crew out, apparently shooting a scene for HBO’s series Tremé in, of all places, Mona’s Restaurant. My office overlooks the corner of Frenchmen and Decatur, and they’re shooting something inside, with a god-awfully bright light shining in my left eye. Alex tells me that Steve [...]
“Ah-Ha” Moments
July 1, 2009 – 12:01 am
Under the shady oak in a courtyard at Isidore Newman School, young musicians from all over the city are playing old jazz favorites, composing new songs, discovering their musical personality, and sometimes breaking for a quick game of basketball. This is a typical morning at the New Jazz School, a free music camp now in [...]
The Bridge to Somewhere
May 1, 2009 – 12:01 am
Nineteen year-old Conun Pappas began playing piano out of sheer curiosity. Now, as part of the Bridge Trio, he’ll back up Donald Harrison when Harrison plays the Jazz Tent. At an early age he realized he could pick out the piano parts in songs while listening to his grandmother’s old records. He was also fascinated [...]
Dr. Lonnie Smith, Rise Up! (Palmetto)
May 1, 2009 – 12:01 am
Dr. Lonnie Smith is no stranger to New Orleans. Over the years, the venerable funk-master has recorded and performed with many of the Crescent City’s finest musicians and, most recently, he has become a staple during the Jazz Fest season with his regular appearances at the Blue Nile. Given this, its no surprise that the [...]
