A very ambitious project from reedman Donald Harrison Jr – a real standout in his early career as a solo leader, and one that pays tribute to Harrison's roots in New Orleans! The cover image should give you part of the vibe of the set – heavy on elements from the world of the Mardi Gras Indians – almost a more sophisticated, more jazz-styled take on territory that the Wild Magnolias had explored in the 70s – as the group features plenty of contributions from assorted parade musicians on percussion – plus vocals from Donald Harrison Sr, and Dr John too – the last of whom also plays piano on a few tracks. Cyrus Chestnut plays piano on the other – and next to bass from Phil Bowler and drums from Carl Allen, the core group only just features the younger Harrison on alto and tenor, sneaking in solos at all the right moments. Titles include "Uptown Ruler", "Two Way Pocky Way", "Indian Blues", "Hu Ta Nay", "Shallow Water", "Indian Red", "Uptown Ruler", "Walkin Home", and "Shave Em Dry". CD

A very ambitious project from reedman Donald Harrison Jr – a real standout in his early career as a solo leader, and one that pays tribute to Harrison's roots in New Orleans! The cover image should give you part of the vibe of the set – heavy on elements from the world of the Mardi Gras Indians – almost a more sophisticated, more jazz-styled take on territory that the Wild Magnolias had explored in the 70s – as the group features plenty of contributions from assorted parade musicians on percussion – plus vocals from Donald Harrison Sr, and Dr John too – the last of whom also plays piano on a few tracks. Cyrus Chestnut plays piano on the other – and next to bass from Phil Bowler and drums from Carl Allen, the core group only just features the younger Harrison on alto and tenor, sneaking in solos at all the right moments. Titles include "Uptown Ruler", "Two Way Pocky Way", "Indian Blues", "Hu Ta Nay", "Shallow Water", "Indian Red", "Uptown Ruler", "Walkin Home", and "Shave Em Dry". CD

A very ambitious project from reedman Donald Harrison Jr – a real standout in his early career as a solo leader, and one that pays tribute to Harrison's roots in New Orleans! The cover image should give you part of the vibe of the set – heavy on elements from the world of the Mardi Gras Indians – almost a more sophisticated, more jazz-styled take on territory that the Wild Magnolias had explored in the 70s – as the group features plenty of contributions from assorted parade musicians on percussion – plus vocals from Donald Harrison Sr, and Dr John too – the last of whom also plays piano on a few tracks. Cyrus Chestnut plays piano on the other – and next to bass from Phil Bowler and drums from Carl Allen, the core group only just features the younger Harrison on alto and tenor, sneaking in solos at all the right moments. Titles include "Uptown Ruler", "Two Way Pocky Way", "Indian Blues", "Hu Ta Nay", "Shallow Water", "Indian Red", "Uptown Ruler", "Walkin Home", and "Shave Em Dry". LP, Vinyl record album

Donald Harrison on saxophone, Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Cobham on drums. Tracks include "Harrisburg Address", "Body and Soul", "Third Plane", and "Star Eyes". CD

Donald Harrison on alto saxophone, Glenn Patscha on piano, Ron Carter and Vicente Archer on bass, and Billy Cobham and John Lamkin on drums. CD

Features Harrison on alto, Marlon Jordan on trumpet, Cyrus Chestnut on piano, Christian McBride on bass, and Carl Allen on drums. Tracks include "So What", "Nut", "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise", "In A Sentimental Mood", and the original and title track, "For Art's Sake". CD

Features Donald Harrison on saxes, Steve Nelson on vibes, and Bill Mobley on trumpet! CD

A totally cool little album from DJ Harrison – one that offers up a whole host of unusual cover versions – these soulful re-styles of a host of well-chosen cuts – all given a lean, funky sort of style – lots of jazzy keyboards in the background, and raspy vocals from Harrison up top! This is almost bedroom soul at its best, but there's also an ear for a wider range of music – no surprise, given that the mix of original sources here runs from the Ohio Players to Donald Fagan to Vince Guaraldi – a wide reach that DJ handles beautifully, on titles that include "Little Birdie", "Together", "Tomorrow Never Knows", "Contusion", "Sweet Sticky Thing", "Galaxy", "IGY", and "Ebony Moonbeams". LP, Vinyl record album

A great Art Blakey lineup here, as usual – filled with fire from younger musicians who are really finding their voice in the Jazz Messengers – a group that includes Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Donald Harrison on alto, Jean Toussaint on tenor, and Mulgrew Miller on piano! Miller's work is a great match for Blakey's vibe – a bit like that time when Cedar Walton brought both lyricism and swing to the Messengers – and we love Toussaint at this point in his career, as he plays with this raspy tone that always gets us, and holds onto us long after his solos are done! Blanchard and Harrison are as great as you'd expect – and titles include "Blue Night", "Two Of A Kind", "Blue Minor", and "Mr Combinated". CD features three bonus alternate takes, too. CD

Maybe the most majestic album from this very majestic group – a righteous combo of musicians whose sound is far more than the simple "cookers" name might imply – as they really reach for the skies with a masterful blend of talents from an all star group! Trumpeter David Weiss leads the group, but also gives plenty of space to the giants alongside him – a lineup that includes Billy Harper on tenor, Donald Harrison on alto, Eddie Henderson on trumpet, George Cables on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – all musicians who maybe sound better here together than they sometimes do on their own! And despite the status of these players, there's no ego involved – as the unified passages come together beautifully, the unfurl into solos that really stake some individual territory Titles include "Destiny Of Yours", "The Mystery Of Monifa Brown", "Somalia", "Aka Reggie", "Traveling Lady", and "Mutima". LP, Vinyl record album

An album that begins with a drumbreak, then features electric piano from George Cables – all at a level that almost feels like Eddie Henderson has gone back to those sublime funky years of the mid 70s! Back in the day, the trumpeter's spacious approach to jazz funk really marked the start of a new era for the music – and since that time, Henderson's only gotten better and better in an acoustic setting too – really developing strongly since his initial appearance on spiritual sessions for others, with a range of expression that's on full display here! The album moves from the electric start to more acoustic modes – sometimes swinging, sometimes intimate – and Cables is a superb accompanist throughout, on both electric and acoustic keys – in a group that also features Donald Harrison on alto, Gerald Cannon on bass, and Lenny White on drums. Titles include "Totem Pole", "Scorpio Rising", "Why Not", "It Never Entered My Mind", "I Am Going To Miss You My Darling", and "Freedom Jazz Dance". CD

An album that begins with a drumbreak, then features electric piano from George Cables – all at a level that almost feels like Eddie Henderson has gone back to those sublime funky years of the mid 70s! Back in the day, the trumpeter's spacious approach to jazz funk really marked the start of a new era for the music – and since that time, Henderson's only gotten better and better in an acoustic setting too – really developing strongly since his initial appearance on spiritual sessions for others, with a range of expression that's on full display here! The album moves from the electric start to more acoustic modes – sometimes swinging, sometimes intimate – and Cables is a superb accompanist throughout, on both electric and acoustic keys – in a group that also features Donald Harrison on alto, Gerald Cannon on bass, and Lenny White on drums. Titles include "Scorpio Rising", "Why Not", "It Never Entered My Mind", "I Am Going To Miss You My Darling", and "Freedom Jazz Dance". LP, Vinyl record album

A relatively recent effort by Eddie, but also one of his best albums in 25 years! The record's a beautiful batch of Latin jazz instrumentals, played with a lot of fire, but also a lot of maturity and creativity. The compositions are great, and Eddie's in top form on piano, with backing by Donald Harrison, Conrad Hewig, and Brian Lynch. Titles include "Palmas", "Doctor Duck", "Bouncer", and "Slowvisor". Recorded in the 90s, but with a beautifully classic sound! CD

Maybe the most majestic album from this very majestic group – a righteous combo of musicians whose sound is far more than the simple "cookers" name might imply – as they really reach for the skies with a masterful blend of talents from an all star group! Trumpeter David Weiss leads the group, but also gives plenty of space to the giants alongside him – a lineup that includes Billy Harper on tenor, Donald Harrison on alto, Eddie Henderson on trumpet, George Cables on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – all musicians who maybe sound better here together than they sometimes do on their own! And despite the status of these players, there's no ego involved – as the unified passages come together beautifully, the unfurl into solos that really stake some individual territory Titles include "Destiny Of Yours", "The Mystery Of Monifa Brown", "Somalia", "Aka Reggie", "Traveling Lady", and "Mutima". CD

One of the greatest groups going in recent years – a strong revival of key soulful jazz talents from previous years, all working under the leadership of trumpeter David Weiss – who's really helped them come together and find a whole new sort of energy! The lineup features tremendous tenor from Billy Harper – sounding at his classic best with The Cookers – especially when the rhythms spin out majestically from George Cables on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Billy Hart on drums – often with these dark undercurrents that make the music wonderfully powerful! And in addition to Weiss on trumpet, the frontline also includes Eddie Henderson's trumpet as well, plus the alto of Donald Harrison – and the horns have a great way of folding together and interweaving, before breaking out in these very personal solos. Titles include tracks by almost all members of the group – and tunes include "Slippin & Slidin", "Renada", "Sir Galahad", "Time & Time Again", "Dance Of The Invisible Nymph", "Dance Eternal Spirits Dance", and "Three Fall". CD

Mighty funky work from The Headhunters – a group who really keep things in the same tight pocket that they had back in the 70s – while also really expressing the jazzier side of their music as well! All the players here have matured strongly – and the core energy comes from the highly rhythmic work of Bill Summers on percussion, and Mike Clark on drums – both very funky throughout! The great alto player Donald Harrison is in the group too – next to the keyboards of Kyle Roussel and bass of Chris Severin – a core group who are always on the money, and excellent at serving up a contemporary take on older jazz funk modes! Craig Handy guests on tenor on one track – "ESP" – and the title "New Levels New Devils" has vocals. All others are instrumentals, and include "Stuntman", "Attitude Of Gratitude", "Avant Clark", and "The Sandcastle Headhunter". CD

The electric years of Miles Davis have left a huge legacy in music – one that's referenced again and again, and continually revisited by generations of musicians, both young and old! Here, that legacy gets some especially nice treatment – by a group of artists who include some key collaborators with Miles in years back, plus other musicians too – in a project that even features two unreleased solo performance by Davis himself! Vince Wilburn Jr is the leader of the project, and players are almost far too many to mention here – so we'll just list a few – including Wallace Roney, Bernard Wright, Vernon Reid, Stanley Clarke, Ron Carter, Donald Harrison, Marcus Miller, Jeremy Pelt, John Scofield, and Lenny White – all working in deeply layered territory that definitely pushes the older electric mode forward. Titles include "Over My Shoulder", "Hail To The Real Chief (long version)", "Mellow Kisses", "That You Dare Not To Forget", and "Bitches Are Back". CD

Live At Kimballs is a smoking club set – recorded with Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Donald Harrison on alto, Jean Toussaint on tenor, and Mulgrew Miller on piano! The group's got a great soulful swing, and titles include "Jody", "second Thoughts", "Dr Jeckyl", "You & The Night & The Music", and "Old Folks". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the boldest album so far from The Cookers – a tremendous assemblage of legendary jazz talent, working together as a perfect unit on this recording! There's a sharpness and sense of unity that really holds the record together – part of which comes from the arrangements, by Billy Harper or trumpeter David Weiss – the only slightly younger member of the group, and a great guiding voice to the project. Speaking of voices, Billy Harper's is loud and proud – that soaring, spiritual tenor that we love so much – especially on the group's readings of his compositions – and in addition to Harper and Weiss, other group members include Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Donald Harrison on alto, George Cables on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. There's a balance of darkness and light that really makes the album sparkle – and titles include "Call Of The Wild & Peaceful Heart", "Beyond Forever", "Third Phase", "Teule's Redemption", "Blackfoot", "Thy Will Be Done", and "Oceans Of Time". CD

An incredible tribute to the greatness of Rashaan Roland Kirk – featuring mixed groups of soulful players who do a wonderful job of capturing the spirit of Kirk's groundbreaking work on reeds! None of these guys is really doing a lot of Kirk's "three in one" blowing – but they all do a wonderful job of reaching Kirk's level of imagination in terms of tone, space, and all-out sense of humor. Players include sometime Kirk bandmates – like Hilton Ruiz or Jaki Byard – plus Eric Alexander, James Spaulding, Craig Handy, Xavier Davis, John Stubblefield, Donald Harrison, Joe Lovano, and many others. All tracks are Kirk compositions – and titles include "Rip Rig & Panic", "Gifts & Messages", "Bright Moments", "My Delight", "The Inflated Tear", "The Haunted Melody", and "A Stritch In Time". Way more than a simple tribute album – and a great set of all-out creative jazz! CD

The legendary Headhunters are still in mighty great shape after all these years – different in lineup, but still a sublime showcase for the work of Mike Clark on drums and Bill Summers on percussion – two of the core Headhunters who first worked with Herbie Hancock back in the 70s! The rest of the lineup features alto sax from Donald Harrison, plus keyboards from Kyle Roussel and bass from Chris Severin – and as with other later iterations of the group, there's a fair bit of jazz in the mix, alongside the more familiar funk of the Headhunters' own records from back in the day – a quality that's probably even more pronounced here in the live setting, which features extended tracks with plenty of room for solos! Titles include versions of "Chameleon", "Headhunter Jam", "Four String Drive", "Butterfly", "Hey Pocky A Way", "Rocking At The Mole House", and "Watermelon Man". CD

Saxophonists include Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Frank Morgan, Archie Shepp, Houston Person, Dave Liebman, Bennie Wallace, Steve Coleman, Donald Harrison, John Zorn, and Craig Bailey – accompanied by George Cables on piano, Rusus Reid on bass, and Joe Chambers on drums. CD

Jazzy goodness from Eddie Palmieri – a recent set that shows him still burning strong after a stunning 50 years in Latin music! The arrangements are spare, but extremely creative – well-penned jazz charts that allow Eddie plenty of modern moments on the keys of the piano, but which also always swing into a tight Latin groove when needed. Other players include Brian Lynch on trumpet, Conrad Herwig and Doug Beavers on trombones, Donald Harrison on alto sax, and John Benitez on bass – and titles include "Nica's Dream", "In Flight", "Listen Here", "Vals Con Bata", "Tema Para Eydie", "EP Blues", and "Mira Flores". CD

Features Donald Harrison on alto sax. CD

A masterful set from the great Dr Lonnie Smith – whose 00s efforts have been irresistible and indispensable examples of Hammond B-3 based soul jazz at its finest – one of very best classic figures still out there who is killing it every time! Lonnie's nimble fingers sound to us like they've lost nothing for how ever many years young he is in 2009, with tunes mostly running north of the six minute mark – and traipse through funky, skillful soul jazz, to more of an elegiac and laidback groove, with plenty of room for Lonnie and his players to solo. Core players include Peter Bernstein on guitar, Donald Harrison on alto sax and Herlin Riley on drums, with some further accompaniment when the groove calls. Steeped in and lust permeating soulfulness – this is a true gem! Titles include "A Matterapat", "Come Together", "Pilgrimage", "Dapper Dan", "And The World Weeps", "People Make The World Go Round", "Tyrone", "Sweet Sreams" and "Voodoo Doll". CD

A great Art Blakey lineup here, as usual – filled with fire from younger musicians who are really finding their voice in the Jazz Messengers – a group that includes Terence Blanchard on trumpet, Donald Harrison on alto, Jean Toussaint on tenor, and Mulgrew Miller on piano! Miller's work is a great match for Blakey's vibe – a bit like that time when Cedar Walton brought both lyricism and swing to the Messengers – and we love Toussaint at this point in his career, as he plays with this raspy tone that always gets us, and holds onto us long after his solos are done! Blanchard and Harrison are as great as you'd expect – and titles include "Blue Night", "Two Of A Kind", "Blue Minor", and "Mr Combinated". LP, Vinyl record album