Saxophonist Donald Harrison, who was recently honored as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts, will lead a series of two performances and two workshops collectively titled The Afro-New Orleans Music Festival from April 16-19. Harrison is also a Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief with the Guardians of the Flame.
Events will include:
Big Chief Donald Harrison Rehearsal/Workshop
Saturday, April 16, 6-7:30 p.m.
Spreading the Music Studio, 2436 Valence Street
(Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test result suggested)
Donald Harrison and The Congo Square Nation Afro-New Orleans Cultural Group
Sunday, April 17, 4:30 p.m.
Congo Square, 835 N. Rampart Street
Big Chief Donald Harrison Performance/Rehearsal/Workshop
Monday, April 18, 6-7:30 p.m.
The Donald Harrison Museum, 1930 Independence Street
Audience members will be encouraged to ask questions as part of the performance
(Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test result suggested)
Big Chief Donald Harrison Performance
Tuesday, April 19, 6-7:30 p.m.
The Donald Harrison Museum, 1930 Independence Street
Donald Harrison will perform his latest works along with classic repertoire, accompanied by his band, including Joe Dyson on drums, Nori Naraoka on bass, Dan Kaufman on piano, and The Afro New Orleans Cultural Group.
The concerts will mark another phase of Harrison’s musical innovations. He has developed an individual and influential sound that stemmed from being a jazz artist who played with master innovators from practically every era of jazz, coupled with being named the only jazz artist to be initiated as the recognized Big Chief of Congo Square.
He began exploring music through the lens of quantum physics in 2000. With quantum jazz, Harrison says he has mastered how to move music from a two-dimensional state into a four-dimensional state. He has been a mentor to artists as diverse as The Notorious Big, Jonathon Batiste, Christian Scott, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and Esperanza Spaulding.
“I started out dancing and listening to music, so I think it is important to keep that perspective in the forefront of my playing and compositions,” Harrison said. I play music from the perspective of an open-minded individual, listener, dancer, and a musician simultaneously.”
