The historic Town Hall in the heart of Times Square hosted another legendary performance on Thursday Night, January 11th, as Donald Harrison conducted a musical history lesson and funky journey through the songs that inspire, motivate, and keep him creating amazing music. Calling the evening, Donald Harrison’s Music Omniverse, the artist gave a retrospective on a career that is still flowing in top-flight form.
Joined by a phalanx of jazz, funk, and rock legends, Harrison (dapperly dressed in a light brown suit) was completely in his element, smiling, dancing, improvising, singing, soloing, and telling stories throughout the two-hour show. Starting the night with his core quartet of Dan Kaufman (piano), Nori Naroka (bass) and Brian Richburg (drums), Harrison kicked things off what just may have been the exploratory highpoint, as he showed how his composition “Free To Be” was inspired by Duke Ellington, Art Blakley, James Brown, and hip-hop, before diving fully into the tune that stretched out for over fifteen minutes with fantastic interplay and dynamite soloing from Harrison.
Harrison’s “Nouveau Swing” was up next, a much shorter original that was popping and grooving. Harrison mentioned all his music is dance music you can put on at a house party and over the course of the evening he proved that again and again.
Some education was mixed in with the playing as Harrison took the crowd on a musical journey, starting in New Orleans, covering Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” in the vein of Sydney Bechet (adding a hyped-up tempo) before stopping upriver in Kansas City for a tribute to Charlie Parker via “One For Bird” which focused on bebop staples; cool piano and hot sax.
Before leaving KC, Harrison brought out Fred Wesley to help pay tribute to Miles Davis with a version of “Bye, bye Blackbird”. Harrison mentioned he couldn’t play Mles and not John Coltrane, so “Impressions” was up next as the Big Chief unleashed a flurry of sax notes up and down the scales with vengeance.
More guests arrived to help things out, Arturo O’Farrill joined on piano, Bill Summers on percussion, and Joe Dyson on drums and the players sonically moved to Puerto Rico for a version of “Temporal” which shook with energy like the hurricane it was written about. Dave Holland arrived to add his phenomenal bass work to a stretched-out take on “Autumn Leaves” which found trumpeter Charles Tolliver wandering on stage mid-song to pitch in a solo or two.
The party was in full motion now as Tolliver and Harrison led the ensemble on a blistering ride through Harrison’s own “Sandcastle Headhunter”, blowing brass with power, passion, and ingenuity. Vernon Reid (guitar), Mike Clark (drums) arrived and Fred Wesley returned for the meditative “Blues For Dave” which was kicked off by a mesmerizing solo from Holland to start.
The final guest, DJ Logic, added some beats, scratches, and rhythms as Harriosn freestyled and beatboxed to liven things up. While the collective artists were amazingly tight, there was also a clear sense of improvising on this night with added solos and fluid transitions. A James Brown double bill was infectious as “Hot Pants Road” kicked off the funk with great guitar from Reid and horn blowing from Wesley, while “Gonna Have A Funky Good Time” was a crowd pleaser as Wesley and Harrison both sang before Harrison’s solos injected mega jazz flurries into the funky tune, putting his spin on the classic.
That was the clear theme of the night, all of the music Harrison has loved has influenced his playing and writing as the legendary artist flows free-spirited through the sounds that have fed his soul. A double shot from The Headhunters brought out some greasy fusion, as the slick loose booty groove of “Watermelon Man” was delightful. The volume then kicked up as the group gave an extended take on Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality” with Harrison’s horn substituting for vocals in impressive rock fashion.
The extremely enjoyable night of music ended with a trip back to New Orleans as the Big Chief himself started the percussion and chants on “Hey Pocky Way” which morphed into a full band funk throwdown in the vein of The Meters as the crowd stood up, sang, and danced to the music. An impromptu brief encore of “Big Chief” closed the night with everyone on stage smiling and seemingly as happy as the attendees, as the legendary Big Chief Donald Harrison displayed why he is a must-see for music fans of any genre.
One Response
Shawn,
Great review. you nailed it as usual.