Tom Harrell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2010)
Tom Harrell
Background information
Born June 16, 1946 (1946-06-16) (age 65)
Origin Urbana, Illinois, U.S.
Instruments Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Associated acts Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Azteca, Horace Silver, many others
Website www.tomharrell.com

Tom Harrell (born June 16, 1946) is a renowned American post-bop jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer and arranger.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Tom Harrell was born in Urbana, Illinois, but moved to the San Francisco Bay Area at the age of five. He started playing trumpet at eight and within five years, started playing gigs with local bands. In 1969 he graduated from Stanford University with a music composition degree[1] and joined Stan Kenton's orchestra, touring and recording with them throughout 1969.

After leaving Kenton, Harrell played with Woody Herman's big band (1970–1971), Azteca (1972), the Horace Silver[2] Quintet (1973–1977), with whom he made five albums, the Sam Jones-Tom Harrell Big Band, the Lee Konitz Nonet (1979–1981), George Russell, and the Mel Lewis Orchestra (1981). From 1983 to 1989 he was a pivotal member of the Phil Woods Quintet and made seven albums with the group. In addition, he recorded albums with Bill Evans, Dizzy Gillespie, Ronnie Cuber, Bob Brookmeyer, Lionel Hampton, Bob Berg, Bobby Shew, Ivan Paduart, Joe Lovano, Charlie Haden's Liberation Orchestra, Art Farmer, Charles McPherson, and Kathleen Battle among others.

Since 1989 Harrell has led his own groups, usually quintets but occasionally expanded ensembles such as chamber orchestras with strings, and big bands. He has appeared at virtually every major jazz club and festival venue, and recorded under his own name for such record labels as RCA, Contemporary, Pinnacle, Blackhawk, Criss Cross, SteepleChase, Chesky, and HighNote. He received a Grammy nomination for his big band album, Time's Mirror.

Harrell is a prolific arranger and composer. He has arranged for Vince Guaraldi's work on Peanuts, Carlos Santana, Arturo O'Farrill's Latin Jazz Orchestra, the Metropole Orchestra, the Danish Radio Big Band, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and Elisabeth Kontomanou with the Orchestre National de Lorraine, among others. His compositions have been recorded by other notable jazz artists including Ron Carter, Joe Lovano, Kenny Barron, Art Farmer, Chris Potter, Tom Scott, Steve Kuhn, Kenny Werner and Hank Jones.

[edit] Tom Harrell Quintet

In contrast to his signature recordings during the RCA/BMG years (1996–2003), where much of his focus was on projects involving large ensembles, big bands and chamber orchestras, Harrell's more recent works demonstrate his skills as a leader of a tight, smaller unit. Harrell has made four albums with the current quintet of six years, which comprises tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, pianist Danny Grissett, bassist Ugonna Okegwo (whom Harrell has employed consistently since 1997), and drummer Johnathan Blake.[3] The group is noted for its strong chemistry between the musicians and the distinctive sound achieved primarily through Harrell's compositions that combine memorable and accessible melodies with complex but groove-based rhythms and sophisticated harmonic textures.[4][5] Harrell's current quintet differs from previous editions of quintets he has formed and worked with, in the use of Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano.[6] Harrell's 2010 recording, Roman Nights, received his fourth SESAC Jazz Award. In May 2011, the group's latest album, The Time of the Sun, will be released on Highnote Records.[7][8]

Despite his well-documented schizophrenia,[9][10] Harrell has successfully coped with the illness through medication and has become an influential figure as a jazz trumpeter and composer.[11][12] He has been recorded on over 260 albums (according to the discography on his website) and continues to actively compose, record and tour extensively around the world.[13]

Harrell has won numerous awards and grants, including multiple Trumpeter of the Year awards from Down Beat magazine,[14][15] SESAC Jazz Award, BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) Composers Award, and Prix Oscar du Jazz.

Harrell's work as composer and jazz soloist has been published in a number of books by Hal Leonard,[16]Jamey Aebersold,[17] Sher Music,[18][19] and Gerard and Sarzin.[20]

Harrell is currently represented by Addeo Music International (AMI).

[edit] Discography

[edit] As leader

[edit] As sideman

[icon] This section requires expansion.

With George Gruntz

With Charlie Haden

With Joe Lovano

With Horace Silver

With Jacky Terrasson

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Tom Harrell". All About Jazz. 2010-05-09. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=7432. Retrieved 2010-05-11. 
  2. ^ Jung, Fred (2003-11-14). "A Fireside Chat with Tom Harrell". All About Jazz. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=842. Retrieved 2010-05-11. 
  3. ^ http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=36196
  4. ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2010/0709/1224274309183.html
  5. ^ http://www.audaud.com/article?ArticleID=7304
  6. ^ http://www.jazziz.com/uploads/May2010/pageflip.html
  7. ^ http://www.tomharrell.com
  8. ^ http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=36138
  9. ^ Tom Harrell - AOL Music http://music.aol.com/artist/tom-harrell/1067177
  10. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica Online Edition - Tom Harrell http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/255848/Tom-Harrell
  11. ^ all about jazz - Tom Harrell http://www.allaboutjazz.com/reviews/r0502_095.htm
  12. ^ The New York Oberserver: http://www.observer.com/node/40257
  13. ^ CD Universe - Tom Harrell Discography http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/artist/Harrell,+Tom/a/Tom+Harrell
  14. ^ Los Angeles Times - Tom Harrell Goes the Big-Band Rout http://articles.latimes.com/1999/dec/04/entertainment/ca-40252
  15. ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/tom-harrell
  16. ^ http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=672382&lid=110&seriesfeature=ARTTRN&
  17. ^ http://www.jazzbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JAJAZZ&Product_Code=V63DS&Category_Code=
  18. ^ http://www.shermusic.com/new/1883217148.shtml
  19. ^ http://www.trumpetspot.com/1060474.html
  20. ^ http://www.changingtones.com/gerandsz/fakbok.html
  21. ^ Blue Note LP BN-LA406G, 1975

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tom_Harrell&oldid=479853099"
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages