The Big Chief Donald Harrison

Next date: Saturday, January 18, 2025 | 08:00 PM to 10:00 PM

"A genius!" — Maestro Eddie Palmieri

"Donald Harrison is my GOAT." — Christian aTunde Ajuah

"One of the greatest teachers in the last fifty years." — Jon Batiste

"Genius!" — Nicholas Payton

"A master." — Jon Benitez

 

Hear the music of Big Chief Donald Harrison Quintet

 

National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master Donald Harrison, a New Orleans native, is a versatile saxophonist and composer hailed by music legends like Eddie Palmieri and Mike Clark as a genius. His innovative contributions to jazz, soul, funk, and classical music have earned him recognition as a master musician of every era. In the HBO series Treme, director David Simon depicted Harrison's musical innovations through two characters. Harrison's acting and musical talents have been showcased in various productions, including Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme’s film Rachel Getting Married, Spike Lee’s When the Levees Broke documentary, and Marvel’s Luke Cage.

As the recognized Big Chief of Congo Square in Afro-New Orleans culture and a Chief in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa, Harrison's influence spans continents. His extensive musical journey includes collaborations with jazz luminaries such as Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, and Ron Carter, among many others. Harrison's contributions to jazz extend beyond performance. He pioneered three influential jazz styles, including the modern jazz take on the New Orleans second-line tradition, nouveau swing, and smooth jazz hits in the '90s.

In 2022, Harrison was honored with the prestigious NEA Jazz Master Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the genre. Throughout his career, Harrison mentored diverse artists, from The Notorious B.I.G. to Jon Batiste, Christian Scott, Trombone Shorty, and Esperanza Spalding. His exploration of music through the lens of quantum physics in the 2000s further expanded the boundaries of jazz, demonstrating his enduring commitment to innovation and creativity.

Live music shows are presented in the historic Banyan Bowl amphitheater, an acoustically stunning amphitheater under a spectacular geodesic dome.

Thanks to our Jazz Season Sponsors and Partners Special thanks to Jazz at Pinecrest Gardens’ season sponsors and partners:  Steinway & Sons, Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs, Panter, Panter, & Sampedro P.A., WLRN, and WDNA.

The Jazz Series at Pinecrest Gardens subscriptions and tickets are non-refundable. Artists, titles, and dates are subject to change.

 

 

When

Location

Banyan Bowl, 11000 Red Road, Pinecrest FL, 33156, View Map