Donald "Duck" Harrison—Modern Jazz Archive

Read About This Recording

Altoist Donald Harrison was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers during part of the 1980s. With Blakey, he grew as an improviser and as an individual voice. He actually had little choice since the drummer forced his players to swing hard, pushing Harrison as he had such earlier sidemen as Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter and Benny Golson, among many others.

Donald Harrison shared the frontline of the Jazz Messengers with trumpeter Terence Blanchard, and they co-led a group before Harrison went out on his own. His alto sound was always distinctive and he has been heard in many settings since that era. His twofer has music originally on The Power of Cool and Blues at Bradley's. The former set has Harrison joined by many different musicians on a date produced by Creed Taylor. There are vocalists, spots for trumpeter Wallace Roney and guitarist Larry Coryell and even a posthumous appearance by Jimi Hendrix. Blues at Bradley's was originally led by Charles Fambrough, although Harrison is well featured with the octet, along with trombonist Steve Turré and Joe Ford on soprano. Together they perform adventurous hard bop and modern mainstream music.

—Scott Yanow

Quotes

"All those guys (jazzer) have passed down a tradition to each other. And hopefully I'm trying to do the same." —Donald Harrison

Contents

Imported from Europe!

CD 1: The Power of Cool (TT: 51:20): The Tropic of Cool; The Wind Cries Mary; Shadowbrook; All I Want is You; Till You Come Back; Close the Door; The Power of Cool; Too Fast; Ceora; Four.

CD 2: Blues at Bradley's (TT: 55:00): Duck Feathers; Blues for Bu; Andrea; Better Days Are Coming; Steve's Blues.

Donald Duck Harrison, Joe Ford, Soprano Saxes; Wallace Roney, Trumpet; Steve Turre, Trombone/Shells; Charles Loeb, Roy Aries, Keys; John Werking, Bill O'Connell, Pianos; Larry Coryell, Marlon Graves, Bobby Broom, Guitars; Charles Fambrough, Will Lee, Mark Egan, Basses; Zach Danziger, Ricky Sebastian, Drums; David Charles, Steve Berrios, Percussion; John Bonadio, Drums/Percussion; Vaneese Thomas, Roberta Lawrence, Carmen Cuesta, Loni Groves, James “D Train” Williams, Sharon Bryant, Vocals.

Includes 20-page book.