Tom Harrell

{{Short description|American jazz musician, composer, and arranger (b. 1946)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Tom Harrell

| image = Tom Harrell 2011.jpg

| image_size = 250

| caption = Harrell performing in 2011

| landscape = yes

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|6|16|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = Urbana, Illinois, U.S.

| genre = Jazz

| occupation = Musician

| instrument = Trumpet, flugelhorn

| years_active = 1969–present

| label = Contemporary, Chesky, RCA, High Note

| associated_acts = Horace Silver, Phil Woods

| website = {{URL|tomharrell.com}}

}}

File:Tom Harrell Victoria teater Oslo Jazzfestival (181605).jpg

Tom Harrell (born June 16, 1946){{cite book|title=The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-580-8|page=190}} is an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer, and arranger. Voted Trumpeter of the Year of 2018 by Jazz Journalists Association, Harrell has won awards and grants throughout his career, including multiple Trumpeter of the Year awards from DownBeat magazine,{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-dec-04-ca-40252-story.html|title=Tom Harrell Goes the Big-Band Rout|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 4, 1999|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728161334/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/dec/04/entertainment/ca-40252|archive-date=July 28, 2013|url-status=live}} SESAC Jazz Award, BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) Composers Award, and Prix Oscar du Jazz. He received a Grammy Award nomination for his big band album, Time's Mirror.

Biography

Tom Harrell was born in Urbana, Illinois, United States, but moved to the San Francisco Bay Area at the age of five. He started playing trumpet at eight, and within five years he was playing gigs with local bands. In 1969 he graduated from Stanford University with a music composition degree and joined Stan Kenton's orchestra, touring and recording with them throughout 1969.{{cite web|url=http://notoriousjazz.com/era/1941-1960/daily-dose-of-jazz-896|title=Daily Dose of Jazz… Tom Harrell|date=16 June 2014 |website=Notoriousjazz.com|access-date=September 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902022222/http://notoriousjazz.com/era/1941-1960/daily-dose-of-jazz-896|archive-date=September 2, 2014|url-status=live}} Harrell pursued his musical career despite experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia since he was an adolescent.{{cite book| last = Sacks| first = Oliver| author-link = Oliver Sacks| title = Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain| publisher = Vintage Books| edition = first| date = 2007| location = New York| pages = 332 | isbn = 978-1-4000-3353-9}}

After leaving Kenton, Harrell played with Woody Herman's big band (1970–1971), Azteca (1972), the Horace Silver 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 performed with Vince Guaraldi on the Peanuts television specials You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (1972), There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (both 1973) and It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown (1974).

Harrell also performed with Bill Evans, Dizzy Gillespie, Jim Hall, Ronnie Cuber, Bob Brookmeyer, Lionel Hampton, Bob Berg, Cecil Payne, Bobby Shew, Philip Catherine, {{Interlanguage link multi|Ivan Paduart|fr}}, Joe Lovano, Charlie Haden's Liberation Orchestra, Charles McPherson, David Sánchez, Sheila Jordan, Jane Monheit, the King's Singers and Kathleen Battle among others.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-harrell-mn0000605535/biography|title=Allmusic: Tom Harrell - Biography|website=AllMusic|access-date=September 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209064116/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-harrell-mn0000605535/biography|archive-date=February 9, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=842&page=1|title=Interview: A Fireside Chat With Tom Harrell|publisher=All About Jazz|date=November 14, 2003|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019103400/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=842&page=1|archive-date=October 19, 2013|url-status=live}} Harrell is featured on Bill Evans' final studio recording, We Will Meet Again, which won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Group.{{cite web|url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1981-229.html|title=Awards & Shows – Grammy Awards 1981|website=Awardsandshows.com|access-date=August 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021164628/http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1981-229.html|archive-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=live}}

While Harrell recorded several albums as a leader during his tenure with the Phil Woods Quintet, it was after his departure that he started producing albums as a leader, in succession for Contemporary Records (now owned by Concord), Chesky, and RCA/BMG. During his years as a BMG artist (1996–2003) first with RCA, then Bluebird and finally Arista, Harrell made six albums, many of which feature his arrangements for larger groups. Since the early 1990s, Harrell has toured and performed with his own groups of various sizes and instrumentation.

Harrell is a prolific arranger and composer. He has arranged for Vince Guaraldi's work on Peanuts, Carlos Santana, the Metropole Orchestra, the Danish Radio Big Band, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and Elisabeth Kontomanou with the {{Interlanguage link multi|Orchestre National de Lorraine|fr}}, among others. His compositions have been recorded by other jazz artists including Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Art Farmer, Chris Potter, Tom Scott, Steve Kuhn, Kenny Werner and Hank Jones. Harrell's composition and big band arrangement entitled "Humility" was recorded on the Grammy-winning album by Arturo O'Farrill's Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Song for Chico. As a composer and arranger, Harrell works in different genres, including classical music.{{cite web|url=http://jazztimes.com/articles/21089-tom-harrell-senses-and-sensibilities|title=Tom Harrell: Senses and Sensibilities|website=Jazztimes.com|date=May 1998 |author=Bill Milkowski|access-date=July 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720004415/http://jazztimes.com/articles/21089-tom-harrell-senses-and-sensibilities|archive-date=July 20, 2015|url-status=live}}

Tom Harrell Quintet

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 most major jazz clubs and festival venues, and recorded under his own name for such record labels as RCA, Contemporary, Pinnacle, Blackhawk, Criss Cross, SteepleChase, Chesky, and HighNote.

From 1994 to 1996, the quintet contained Don Braden, Kenny Werner, Larry Grenadier, and Billy Hart.{{cite journal|title=New York Magazine|website=Newyorkmetro.com|date=1976-08-16|issn=0028-7369|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_B-QCAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_B-QCAAAAMBAJ/page/n72 75]|access-date=2015-05-14}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonphoenix.com/alt1/archive/music/reviews/07-04-96/TOM_HARRELL.html|title=Tom Harrell|website=Bostonphoenix.com|access-date=2015-05-14}} From 2000 to 2005, it contained Jimmy Greene, Xavier Davis, Ugonna Okegwo, and Quincy Davis.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/tom-harrell-quintet/Content?oid=905609|title=Tom Harrell Quintet | Theater Critic's Choice | Chicago Reader|date=7 June 2001 |website=Chicagoreader.com|access-date=2015-05-14}}

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's later quintet of tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, pianist Danny Grissett, bassist Ugonna Okegwo (who has performed with Harrell since 1997), and drummer Johnathan Blake,{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=36196|title=Tom Harrell: Roman Nights (2010)|publisher=All About Jazz|date=April 18, 2010|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014085403/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=36196|archive-date=October 14, 2013|url-status=live}} was noted for the strong chemistry between the musicians and the distinctive sound achieved primarily through Harrell's compositions.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2010/0709/1224274309183.html|title=Tom Harrell - Roman Nights|publisher=The Irish Times|date=July 7, 2010|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812230050/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2010/0709/1224274309183.html|archive-date=August 12, 2011|url-status=live|url-access=subscription }}{{cite web|url=http://audaud.com/2010/05/tom-harrell-roman-nights-high-note/|title=Tom Harrell - Roma Nights - High Note|publisher=Audiophile Audition|date=May 3, 2010|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228091655/http://audaud.com/2010/05/tom-harrell-roman-nights-high-note/|archive-date=December 28, 2013|url-status=live}} It recorded five albums for HighNote:{{cite web|last=Dryden |first=Ken |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/number-five-mw0002352149|title=Tom Harrell: Number Five |website=AllMusic|access-date=December 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902125453/http://www.allmusic.com/album/number-five-mw0002352149|archive-date=September 2, 2012|url-status=live}} Light On, Prana Dance, Roman Nights, The Time of the Sun, and Number Five. For the last of these, Harrell received his seventh SESAC Jazz Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.sesac.com/News/News_Details.aspx?id=1670|title= SESAC Honors Music Greats at 8th Annual Jazz Awards Luncheon|publisher=SESAC|date=March 9, 2012|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728154533/http://www.sesac.com/News/News_Details.aspx?id=1670|archive-date=July 28, 2013|url-status=live}}

Tom Harrell Chamber Ensemble

In June 2012, Harrell debuted his nine-piece chamber ensemble at the Highline Ballroom as part of the Blue Note Jazz Festival. Harrell arranged the music of Debussy, Ravel, and his own compositions for this ensemble, which consists of trumpet, soprano and tenor saxophones, c-flute and bass flute, violin, cello, acoustic guitar, piano, bass, and drums.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/nyc-style-jazz-meets-classical-music-muses-trumpeter-tom-harrell-article-1.981270|title=NYC-style jazz meets classical music|location=New York|work=Daily News|date=November 27, 2011|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119050022/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/nyc-style-jazz-meets-classical-music-muses-trumpeter-tom-harrell-article-1.981270|archive-date=November 19, 2012|url-status=live}} The Tom Harrell Chamber Ensemble has since performed at the Village Vanguard, Autumn Jazz Festival in Bielsko Biala, the Jazz Standard, the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Scripps Auditorium in San Diego, and Soka University Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo, CA. Harrell considers the arrangements and compositions some of the most challenging works he has written to date.{{cite web|url=http://sanjose.jazznearyou.com/event_detail.php?id=461254|title=Tom Harrell Chamber Ensemble at Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival|website=Jazznearyou.com|access-date=October 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027012423/http://sanjose.jazznearyou.com/event_detail.php?id=461254|archive-date=October 27, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{Additional citation needed|date=July 2015}}

''Colors of a Dream''

In 2013, Harrell formed a piano-less sextet with two basses called Colors of a Dream, which comprises Harrell on trumpet and flugelhorn, Wayne Escoffery on tenor saxophone, Jaleel Shaw on alto saxophone, Johnathan Blake on drums, Ugonna Okegwo on bass and Esperanza Spalding doubling on bass and vocal. The group debuted at the Village Vanguard during its six-night run starting March 26, 2013 and the second night's performance was webcast for live streaming by NPR.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/event/music/174986548/tom-harrells-colors-of-a-dream-live-at-the-village-vanguard|title=Tom Harrell's 'Colors Of A Dream': Live At The Village Vanguard|website=Npr.org|date=March 27, 2013|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110052603/http://www.npr.org/event/music/174986548/tom-harrells-colors-of-a-dream-live-at-the-village-vanguard|archive-date=January 10, 2014|url-status=live}} A studio album by the same name was released on October 22, 2013, for which Harrell received his eighth SESAC Jazz Awards the following year.{{cite web|title=SESAC Honors Music Greats at 9th Annual Jazz Awards Luncheon|url=http://www.sesac.com/News/News_Details.aspx?id=2140|website=Sesac.com|access-date=25 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/colors-of-a-dream-mw0002579683|title=Allmusic: Tom Harrell - Colors of a Dream - overview|website=AllMusic|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406022251/http://www.allmusic.com/album/colors-of-a-dream-mw0002579683|archive-date=April 6, 2015|url-status=live}}

TRIP

Harrell also recorded with TRIP, a piano-less quartet featuring saxophonist Mark Turner, bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Adam Cruz in 2013. The group first performed in Rochester, New York, and at the Jazz Standard during Dave Douglas' Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT) in October 2012. Harrell premiered the suite with six sections he wrote specifically for this group. TRIP reconvened a year later at the Village Vanguard and made a studio recording the following week.{{cite web|url=http://www.downbeat.com/digitaledition/2014/DB1401/_art/DB1401.pdf|author=Phillip Lutz|title=Tom Harrell 'Magic Can Happen Anytime'|publisher=DownBeat Magazine|date=January 2014|pages=34–38|access-date=June 29, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://exodustojazz.com/tom-harrell-quartet/|title=Rochester, NY: Exodus To Jazz presents Tom Harrell|website=Exodustojazz.com|access-date=October 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111002817/http://exodustojazz.com/tom-harrell-quartet/|archive-date=January 11, 2014|url-status=live}} The quartet released the self-titled album TRIP on August 12, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/trip-mw0002701860|title=Allmusic: Tom Harrell – Trip|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140928085942/http://www.allmusic.com/album/trip-mw0002701860|archive-date=September 28, 2014|url-status=live}}

Publications

Harrell's work as composer and jazz soloist has been published in books by Hal Leonard,{{cite web|url=http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=672382&lid=110&seriesfeature=ARTTRN&|title=Tom Harrel - Jazz Trumpet Solos Collection|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728195041/http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=672382&lid=110&seriesfeature=ARTTRN&|archive-date=July 28, 2013|url-status=live}} Jamey Aebersold,{{cite web|url=http://www.jazzbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JAJAZZ&Product_Code=V63DS&Category_Code=|title=Volume 63 - Tom Harrell|website=Jazzbooks.com|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728202341/http://www.jazzbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JAJAZZ&Product_Code=V63DS&Category_Code=|archive-date=July 28, 2013|url-status=live}} Sher Music,{{cite web|url=http://www.shermusic.com/new/1883217148.shtml|title=The All-Jazz Real Book|publisher=Sher Music Co|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109192641/http://www.shermusic.com/new/1883217148.shtml|archive-date=January 9, 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.trumpetspot.com/1060474.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829133331/http://www.trumpetspot.com/1060474.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-08-29|title=The New Real Book, Volume Three - B Flat Instruments|access-date=September 12, 2024}} and Gerard and Sarzin.{{cite web|url=http://www.changingtones.com/gerandsz/fakbok.html|title=Straight Ahead Jazz Fakebook|publisher=Gerard and Sarzin Publishing Co|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020193342/http://www.changingtones.com/gerandsz/fakbok.html|archive-date=October 20, 2013|url-status=live}}

Discography

= As leader =

Aurora (1976, reissued as Total, 1987)
Mind's Ear (1978)
Play of Light (Palo Alto, 1982)
Moon Alley (Criss Cross, 1985)
Sundance (1986) with George Robert
Open Air (SteepleChase, 1987)
Stories (Contemporary, 1988)
Sail Away (Contemporary,1989)
Lonely Eyes (GPR Records, 1989) with George Robert
Form (Contemporary, 1990)
Visions (Contemporary, 1991)
Sail Away (Musidisc, 1991)
Passages (Chesky, 1991)
Moon and Sand (Jazz Aux Remparts, 1991) with Jacky Terrasson
Upswing (Chesky, 1993)
Cape Verde (Mons, 1995) with George Robert
Labyrinth (RCA Victor, 1996)
The Art of Rhythm (RCA Victor, 1998)
Time's Mirror (RCA Victor, 1999)
Paradise (RCA Victor, 2001)
Live at the Village Vanguard (Bluebird, 2002)
Wise Children (Bluebird, 2003; recorded 1993)
The Auditorium Session (Parco Della Musica Records, 2008; recorded 2005)
Light On (HighNote, 2007)
Prana Dance (HighNote, 2009)
Roman Nights (HighNote, 2010)
The Time of the Sun (HighNote, 2011)
Number Five (HighNote, 2012)
Colors of a Dream (HighNote, 2013)
Trip (HighNote, 2014)
First Impressions (HighNote, 2015; recorded 2013)
Something Gold, Something Blue (HighNote, 2016)
Moving Picture (HighNote, 2017)
Infinity (HighNote, 2019)
Oak Tree (HighNote, 2022; recorded 2020)
Alternate Summer (HighNote, 2024)

=As co-leader=

With Art Farmer

The Company I Keep (Arabesque, 1994)

With John McNeil

Look to the Sky (SteepleChase, 1979)

With Dado Moroni

Humanity (Abeat Records, 2007)

=As sideman=

With Ben Aronov, Bob Brookmeyer, Buster Williams and Joe LaBarbera

Shadow Box (Choice, 1979)

With Don Braden

The Time Is Now (Criss Cross, 1991)

With Gordon Brisker

Cornerstone (Sea Breeze, 1984){{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/cornerstone-mw0000849757|title=Allmusic: Gordon Brisker - Cornerstone - overview|website=AllMusic|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126035759/http://www.allmusic.com/album/cornerstone-mw0000849757|archive-date=November 26, 2015|url-status=live}}

With Donald Brown

People Music (Muse, 1990)

With Thomas Chapin

You Don't Know Me (Arabesque, 1995)

With Harold Danko

Coincidence (Dreamstreet, 1979){{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/coincidence-mw0001007525|title=Allmusic: Harold Danko - Coincidence - overview|website=AllMusic|access-date=June 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111004204/http://www.allmusic.com/album/coincidence-mw0001007525|archive-date=January 11, 2016|url-status=live}}

With Bill Evans

We Will Meet Again (Verve, 1979)

With George Gruntz

Theatre (ECM, 1983)

With Charlie Haden

Dream Keeper (Verve, 1990)
The Montreal Tapes: Liberation Music Orchestra (Verve, 1999)

With Jim Hall

These Rooms (Denon, 1988)

With Shinobu Itoh

Sailing Rolling (1991)

With Ethan Iverson

Common Practice (ECM, 2019)

With Steve Kuhn

Seasons of Romance (Postcards, 1995)

With Lee Konitz

Yes, Yes, Nonet (SteepleChase, 1979)

With Mike LeDonne

'Bout Time (Criss Cross, 1988)
The Feeling of Jazz (Criss Cross, 1990)

With Joe Lovano

Village Rhythm (Soul Note, 1988)
Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note, 1994)

With Charles McPherson

First Flight Out (Arabesque, 1994)

With Idris Muhammad

House of the Rising Sun (Kudu, 1976)

With Bob Mover

On the Move (Choice, 1978)

With Gerry Mulligan

Walk on the Water (DRG, 1980)

With Mark Murphy

Satisfaction Guaranteed (Muse, 1980)
The Artistry of Mark Murphy (Muse, 1982)
The Latin Porter - Featuring Tom Harrell (Go Jazz, 2000)

With Bobby Paunetto

Paunetto's Point (Pathfinder Records, 1975)

With Cecil Payne

Bird Gets the Worm (Muse, 1976)

With Horace Silver

Silver 'n Brass (Blue Note, 1975)Blue Note LP BN-LA406G, 1975
Silver 'n Wood (Blue Note, 1976)
Silver 'n Voices (Blue Note, 1976)
Silver 'n Percussion (Blue Note, 1977)
Silver 'n Strings Play the Music of the Spheres (Blue Note, 1979)

With Steve Swallow

Real Book (Xtra Watt, 1993)

With Joris Teepe

Bottom Line with Don Braden, Darrell Grant, Carl Allen (Mons, 1996)

With Phil Woods

Integrity (Red, 1984){{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-harrell-mn0000605535/credits|title=Allmusic: Tom Harrell - Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=September 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905020501/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-harrell-mn0000605535/credits|archive-date=September 5, 2014|url-status=live}}
Gratitude (Denon, 1986)
Dizzy Gillespie Meets Phil Woods Quintet (Timeless, 1986)
Bop Stew (Concord, 1987)
Evolution (Concord, 1988)
Flash (Concord, 1989)
Bouquet (Concord, 1989)