Wendell Harrison

Wendell Harrison (born October 1, 1942) is an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist.

Early life and career Wendell Harrison was born in Detroit, Michigan. In Detroit, Harrison began formal jazz studies with pianist Barry Harris. He began playing clarinet at age seven. He switched to tenor saxophone while attending Northwestern High School, and at 14, performed professionally for the first time. In Detroit, early gigs included backing Marvin Gaye as part of Choker Campbell's band. In 1960, Harrison moved to New York. He began performing with artists such as Grant Green, Chuck Jackson, Big Maybelle, and Sun Ra. Along with saxophonist Howard Johnson, and trumpeters Marcus Belgrave and Jimmy Owens, Harrison toured with Hank Crawford and appeared as a sideman on four of Crawford's albums recorded for Atlantic Records during 1965-67.

In the late 1960s, Wendell Harrison relocated to California and entered substance abuse treatment at Synanon center. During his two-year stay, he collaborated with artists such as Esther Phillips and Art Pepper. In addition, Harrison and other residents recorded an album under the musical direction of Greg Dykes. Prince Of Peace was released on Epic Records in 1968.

Rebirth and WenHa In 1978, with encouragement from John Sinclair, Harrison and Harold McKinney co-founded Rebirth, Inc. Run by Harrison's second wife, Pamela Wise, who he met while on a "profound pilgrimage" to Israel , Rebirth is a non-profit jazz performance and education organization, whose mission is to “educate youth and the greater community about jazz through workshop and concert presentations throughout the Midwest”.

During this time, Harrison also created the WenHa record label and publishing company, which released many of his recordings as well as that of other artists, such as Wise, Phil Ranelin, and Doug Hammond.

Return to clarinet In the late 1980s, Harrison increased his focus on the clarinet. He formed the Mama's Licking Stick clarinet ensemble, which features E flat soprano, B flat, alto, bass and contrabass clarinets. With this ensemble, Harrison recorded several albums: Mama's Licking Stick, Rush and Hustle, Live In Concert, and Forever Duke. Harrison has continued to bring attention to the jazz clarinet via education workshops, as well as public performances. He has showcased the clarinet in such varied settings as his own Swing Ensemble (where he occasionally sings) and accompanying techno artist Carl Craig.

Recent projects Wendell Harrison continues to hold the position of artistic director of Rebirth[citation], organizing and executing workshops and residencies in school music programs. Harrison also continues to perform and record, collaborating on sessions with artists such as Proof, Amp Fiddler, Don Was, and Will Sessions.

Education Wendell Harrison earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in 2014 from Spring Arbor University, majoring in Organizational Management. In 2017 he earned a Masters in Communications Degree, also from Spring Arbor University.

Discography Albums as Leader: An Evening with the Devil (Tribe Records, 1972) A Message From the Tribe with Phil Ranelin (Tribe, 1973) Dreams of a Love Supreme (Rebirth Records, 1979) Organic Dream (Rebirth, 1981) Birth of a Fossil (Rebirth, 1985) Reawakening (Rebirth, 1985) Wait Broke the Wagon Down (Rebirth, 1987) The Carnivorous Lady (Rebirth, 1988) Fly by Night (WenHa, 1990) Forever Duke (Wen-Ha, 1991) Live in Concert (WenHa, 1992) Something For Pops with Harold McKinney (Wenha, 1993) Rush & Hustle (WenHa/Enja, 1994) The Battle of the Tenors (WenHa/Enja, 1998) Eighth House: Riding with Pluto (Entropy Records, 2002) Urban Expressions (WenHa, 2004) It's About Damn Time (Rebirth, 2011)

Appears on: Hank Crawford - Dig These Blues (Atlantic, 1965) Hank Crawford - After Hours (Atlantic, 1966) Hank Crawford - Mr. Blues (Atlantic, 1967) Hank Crawford - Double Cross (Atlantic, 1967) Greg Dykes - The Prince Of Peace, 1968 Phil Ranelin - The Time is Now!, 1973 Harold McKinney - Voices and Rhythms of the Creative Profile, 1974 Marcus Belgrave - Gemini II, 1974 Phil Ranelin - Vibes From the Tribe, 1976 William Odell Huges - Cruising, 1982 Michigan Jazz Masters - Urban Griots, 1998 Telefon Tel Aviv - Map of What Is Effortless, 2004 Phil Ranelin - Inspiration, 2004 Slicker - We All Have a Plan, 2004 Proof - Grown Man Shit, 2005 Proof - Searching for Jerry Garcia, 2005 John Arnold - Style and Pattern, 2005 Amp Fiddler - Afro Strut, 2007 Carl Craig - Paris Live, 2007 Tribe - Rebirth, 2009 Sean Blackman - In Transit, 2009 Will Sessions - Kindred, 2010 John Lindberg BC3 - Born in an Urban Ruin, 2016