Donald Harrison

National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master, Big Chief Donald Harrison, a New Orleans native, is a versatile saxophonist and composer hailed by music legends like Eddie Palmieri and Nicholas Payton 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 “Tremé,” director David Simon depicted Harrison’s musical and cultural work through two characters. Harrison has also acted and played music in Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme’s film “Rachel Getting Married,” Spike Lee’s documentary “When the Levees Broke,” and Marvel’s “Luke Cage.” 

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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 Art Blakey, Fred Wesley, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, and Ron Carter, among many others. His contributions to jazz extend beyond performance, as the pioneer of four influential jazz styles, including his signature modern jazz take on the New Orleans second-line tradition, “nouveau swing,” quantum improvisation with quantum theorist  Dr. Stephon Alexander, and multi-genre singles. 

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In 2022, Harrison was honored with the prestigious NEA Jazz Master Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the genre, including his mentorship of diverse artists throughout his career, from The Notorious B.I.G. to Jon Batiste, Christian Chief Adjuah 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. ​
 

Following his 2024 EP on Rope-A-Dope Records, "The Art of Passion,"  and the re-issue of "Congo Square Suite" by Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr & The Congo Square Nation Afro-New Orleans Cultural Group with The Moscow Symphony Orchestra this year, Harrison has been back in the lab crafting his next release.  

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His upcoming recording, “The Magic Touch,” showcases his multi-genre approach to music. It is one song played in nine different genres. The first eight styles are post-bop, blues, bossa nova, reggae, hip-hop, second-line, soul, and salsa are true to their styles. The ninth version mixes the first eight styles into a coalesced modern jazz style, an example of his nouveau swing style, utilizing his experiences playing with jazz’s master innovators from every era to create his own new concepts.  
Harrison is the co-founder of the NOLA 2 NOFO production group and the artistic director of the Quantum Leap Music Festival, a new festival that weaves together all of his musical and cultural influences with his future music concepts. 

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Harrison is the co-founder of the NOLA 2 NOFO production group and the artistic director of the Quantum Leap Music Festival,   a new festival that weaves together all of his musical and cultural influences with his future music concepts.