Wendell Harrison
| Wendell Harrison | |
|---|---|
Photo by Patricia Harrison
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| Background information | |
| Born |
1 October 1942 Detroit, Michigan United States |
| Genres | Jazz, R&B, Avant-Garde |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Composer, Producer, Publisher, Educator |
| Instruments | Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone |
| Years active | 1956-present |
| Labels | Tribe, Rebirth, WenHa, Enja |
| Associated acts | Hank Crawford, Sun Ra |
| Website | |
Wendell Harrison (born October 1, 1942) is an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist.
Wendell Harrison was born in Detroit, Michigan. In Detroit, Harrison began formal jazz studies with pianist Barry Harris. He began playing clarinet at age seven. He switched to tenor saxophone while attending Northwestern High School, and at 14, performed professionally for the first time. In Detroit, early gigs included backing Marvin Gaye as part of Choker Campbell's band. In 1960, Harrison moved to New York. He began performing with artists such as Grant Green, Chuck Jackson, Big Maybelle, and Sun Ra. Along with saxophonist Howard Johnson, and trumpeters Marcus Belgrave and Jimmy Owens, Harrison toured with Hank Crawford and appeared as a sideman on four of Crawford's albums recorded for Atlantic Records during 1965-67.
In the late 1960s, Wendell Harrison relocated to California and entered substance abuse treatment at Synanon center. During his two-year stay, he collaborated with artists such as Esther Phillips and Art Pepper. In addition, Harrison and other residents recorded an album under the musical direction of Greg Dykes. Prince Of Peace was released on Epic Records in 1968.
In 1971, Harrison headed back to Detroit and began teaching music at Metro Arts, a multi-arts complex for youth. At Metro Arts, Harrison reconnected with Marcus Belgrave, and first met pianist/composer Harold McKinney and trombonist Phil Ranelin, who had moved to Detroit from Indianapolis in 1969. With Ranelin, Harrison formed the Tribe record label and artist collective. Tribe used this vehicle to convey a growing black political consciousness. In addition to McKinney and Belgrave, the group also included drummer and composer Doug Hammond, pianist Kenny Cox, trumpeter Charles Moore, pianist David Durrah, and bassist Ron Brooks.
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