Saxofonist

The grand finale of the Charleston Jazz Festival is presented in partnership with Spoleto Festival USA and will feature the incomparable Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet from New Orleans. A National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and cultural ambassador, alto saxophonist Donald Harrison masterfully blends traditional New Orleans sounds with modern jazz, funk and more, creating a style as vibrant and dynamic as the city he calls home and as broad as jazz gets. 

Charleston Jazz Festival: Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet

Charleston Jazz

Experience counts, especially in jazz. The more time musicians spend interpreting tunes and interacting with others, the more articulation an audience can expect. You can hear the fruits of such work in the expressive language The Cookers bring to the bandstand and to their six critically acclaimed recordings, Warriors, Cast the First Stone, Believe, Time and Time Again (which was the iTunes Jazz CD of the year in 2014), The Call of the Wild, Peaceful Heart and Look Out!. This exciting all-star septet summons up an aggressive mid ‘60s spirit with a potent collection of expansive post-bop originals marked by all the requisite killer instincts and pyrotechnic playing expected of some of the heaviest hitters on the scene today.

EPSG:4326

The Cookers Featuring Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson, David Weiss, Donald Harrison, George Cables, Cecil McBee & Billy Hart

Soka Performing Arts Center

New Orleans born saxophonist Donald Harrison is a musician/composer who master musicians consider a master of every era of jazz, soul, funk, and a composer of orchestral classical music. He is also a genius, according to geniuses like Eddie Palmieri and Mike Clark. In the HBO drama Treme, Emmy winning director David Simon created two characters to portray how Harrison innovated new styles of music. Harrison has appeared as an actor/musician in 9 episodes of Treme, Oscar-winning director Johnathon Demme’s film Rachel Getting Married, Spike Lee’s When The Levee’s Broke documentary, and Marvel’s Luke Cage. This talented artist is the recognized Big Chief of Congo Square in Afro-New Orleans culture and was made a Chief in 2019 by Queen Diambi Kabatusuila in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa.

Donald Harrison Quartet

Jazz Showcase

Dr. Michael White and his Original Liberty Jazz Band: Tribute To Sidney Bechet with Special Guest Big Chief Donald Harrison.

Celebrating New Orleans

Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery

The group is on a nationwide tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Herbie’s “Head Hunters” album, which was the formative event for the band and the first platinum jazz album in history. Students will present 2-3 selections. Members Bill Summers, Mike Clark, Kyle Roussel, Chris Severin, and Donald Harrison will offer commentary and insights as they reflect on the student performances. 

Saxofonist

Donald Harrison

Events

Upcoming events

Dec 17, 2025

Donald Harrison · Naples Philharmonic

Past events

Apr 27, 2025

Charleston Jazz Festival: Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet · Charleston Jazz

Feb 24, 2024

The Cookers Featuring Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson, David Weiss, Donald Harrison, George Cables, Cecil McBee & Billy Hart · Soka University of America - Performing Arts Center

About

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