Donald Harrison

Biography Harrison was born to Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr in 1960 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The foundation of Harrison's music comes from his lifelong participation in New Orleans culture. He started in New Orleans second-line culture and studied New Orleans secret tribal culture, under his father, Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr. This was followed by an album that reached into Harrison's New Orleans heritage, with guest appearances by Dr. John and Cyrus Chestnut and chants by the Guardians of the Flame Mardi Gras Indians. He devoted half the album, Nouveau Swing (1997), to mixing the swing beat of modern acoustic jazz, with modern dance music and half to mixing the swing beat with Caribbean-influenced music. On the next album, his experiments continued by mixing modern jazz's swing beat with hip hop, Latin music, R&B, and smooth jazz.

His albums, 3D Vols. I, II, and III, present him in three different musical genres. On Vol. I he writes, plays, and produces smooth jazz and R&B style. Commenting on his choice for the group's name, Harrison has said, "I have a lot of respect for the guys who consider themselves to be Mardi Gras Indians, but I moved into describing what I do culturally in New Orleans to be Afro-New Orleans music from traveling all over the world. Going to places like Cuba and Brazil, they always put Afro in front of things that are from their country but are a derivative of African culture. For instance, Eddie Palmieri always says Afro-Caribbean when describing his music." He has taught at the College of William & Mary, the New York's New School of Music, and the Tipitina's Internship Program.

For 2026 Grammy Awards, he received a nomination for the album The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano & Chico Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra in the Best Latin Jazz Album category.

Personal life He is married to Mary Alicė Spears-Harrison and the father of Victoria Harrison.

Awards and honors National Endowment for the Arts In 2022, the National Endowment for the Arts recognized Harrison with the A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy. Harrison is "known for his hard-swinging improvisational style and the creation of 'Nouveau Swing,' a blend of jazz with R&B, hip-hop, rock, and soul. And his dedication to preserving the music and culture of New Orleans has been crucial to assuring its important legacy survives."

OffBeat's Best of The Beat Awards + Year Category Result Ref. 2017 Best Saxophonist 2020 Best Saxophonist Harrison was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Berklee College of Music in 2021.

Harrison was chosen Person of the Year by Jazziz magazine in January 2007.

Discography As leader 1990: Full Circle (Sweet Basil) 1991: For Art's Sake (Candid) 1992: Indian Blues (Candid) with Dr. John 1994: The Power of Cool (CTI) 1997: Nouveau Swing (Impulse!) 1999: Free to Be (Impulse!) 2000: Spirits of Congo Square (Candid) 2001: Real Life Stories (Nagel Heyer) 2002: Kind of New (Candid) 2003: Paradise Found (Fomp) 2004: Heroes (Nagel Heyer) 2004: Free Style (Nagel Heyer) 2005: New York Cool: Live at The Blue Note (Half Note) 2005: 3D (Fomp) 2006: The Survivor (Nagel Heyer) 2008: The Chosen (Nagel Heyer) 2011: This Is Jazz: Live at The Blue Note (Half Note)

As co-leader with Terence Blanchard 1983: New York Second Line (Concord) 1984: Discernment (Concord) 1986: Nascence (Columbia) 1986: Eric Dolphy & Booker Little Remembered Live at Sweet Basil, Vol. 1 (Evidence) 1986: Fire Waltz: Eric Dolphy & Booker Little Remembered Live At Sweet Basil, Vol. 2 (Evidence) 1987: Crystal Stair (Columbia) 1988: Black Pearl (Columbia)

As sideman With Roy Haynes Te-Vou! (Dreyfus, 1994) With Art Blakey Oh-By the Way (Timeless, 1982) New York Scene (Concord, 1984) Blue Night (Timeless, 1985) New Year's Eve at Sweet Basil (Evidence, 1985)

With Joanne Brackeen Turnaround (Evidence, 1992)

With The Headhunters Evolution Revolution (Basin Street, 2003) Speakers In The House (Ropeadope, 2022)

With Eddie Henderson Witness to History (Smoke Sessions, 2022)

With the Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project Simpático (ArtistShare, 2007)

With Eddie Palmieri Palmas (Elektra Nonesuch, 1995) Arete (RMM, 1995) Vortex (RMM, 1996) Listen Here! (Concord, 2005) Wisdom/Sabiduria (Ropeadope, 2017)

With Don Pullen The Sixth Sense (Black Saint, 1985)

With Lonnie Smith Rise Up! (Palmetto, 2008)

With Esperanza Spalding Esperanza (Heads Up, 2008)

With Jane Monheit Taking a Chance on Love (Sony Music Entertainment, 2004)

On DVD Live with Clark Terry Live at the Supper Club with Lena Horne With Larry Coryell "Live in Bahia