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Dr. Nelson Harrison

Male

Pittsburgh, PA

United States

Profile Information:

Favorite website: http://jazzhoprevolution.com
Favorite blog: http://www.novacopia.org
Pittsburgh Connection: Born raised and embedded in Pittsburgh. Crescent Elementary, Baxter Jr. High, Westinghouse High and University of Pittsburgh.
Favorite Pittsburgh musicians/performers: Pittsburgh musicians are the best in the world. There are too many to name especially since I have played here for 50+ years. I have had the honor and privilege of playing with a few of the legends of Pittsburgh, e.g., Billy Eckstine, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Kenny Clarke, Art Blakey, Stanley Turrentine, Sam Johnson, Joe Harris, J.C. Moses, Dakota Staton, Lena Horne, Grover Mitchell and Walt Harper.. My mentoring came from Warren Watson, Joe Westray, Carl Arter, Eddie "Rabbit" Barnes, Sam Hurt, Harold & Jerry Betters, Jerry Elliot, Bobby Jones, Art Nance, Cecil Brooks II, Bobby Boswell and Ahmad Jamal. My teachers were Fanetta Gordon, Carl McVicker, Sr. and Matty Shiner. My favorite pianist of all is Ahmad Jamal. If I went further to include my peer group down through the young lions of today I would run out of space.
Favorite Jazz Radio or media station: WZUM, WYEP (blues), WRCT
Favorite Pittsburgh Jazz Venue: The Crawford Grill #2 is my favorite stage to play in the entire world. There was also the Midway Lounge, the Hurricane, the Diplomat, the Ebony Lounge, the Crescendo, the Rendevous, the Florentine, the Loendi Club, the Local #471 Musicians' Club in S'Liberty, Horseley's, the Loft, Ramseys II, the Pirate Inn, the Copa, the Encore I & II, the Pink Cloud, the Pitt Pot, the Black Magic, the Tiger's Tail, the Zebra Room, etc. to bring back a few memories of the erstwhile clubs.
About Me:: Ph. D. in clinical psychology, educator, composer, archivist, lyricist, arranger, ASCAP, playwright, speaker, photographer; veteran trombonist of the Count Basie Orchestra featuring Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Helen Humes, Joe Turner, Eddie Vinson, Dennis Rowland (‘78-80 incl. Japan tour); played with Dionne Warwicke, The Supremesm The Spinners, Eddie Kendricks, and The Temptations (’64), Joe Westray, Brooke Benton, Earl Grant, Mary Wells (1962 – 72); Sonny and the Premiers (1963 – 67); Walt Harper (1967-70); Brook Benton, Earl Grant, Chuck Jackson, Gene Ludwig, James Brown (’67-68); Nathan Davis (1970-75); Lena Horne and Tony Bennett (‘74), Don Byas, Billy Eckstine and Earl "Fatha" Hines (1975), Marva Josie, Martha Reeves, Barry White ('76), Kenny Clarke (‘79), Liberace (’77), Nancy Wilson and Melba Moore (’78), J.C. Heard, Charlie Gabriel, Marcus Belgrave ('78), Sammy Davis, Jr. and Aretha Franklin (’79 & 2015), Perry Como and Johnny Mathis (‘80), Bobby Vinton (’81), Ginger Rogers, Jerry Butler, Teddy Pendergrass, George Gobel, Red Skelton, the Smothers Brothers, Joan Rivers, Lola Falana, Donna Summer, Engelbert Humperdinck and Glenn Campbell (’82), Jay McShann (‘87), Slide Hampton (‘86), Nelson Riddle (’84) Al Cohn, Marvin Hamlisch (’97) and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans (’98) Irma Thomas, also Jimmy Owens, Joe Lastie, Gerald French, John Clayton, Bobby Plater, Freddie Green, Cleveland Eaton, Gerald Wilson, Stanley Turrentine, Tommy Turrentine, Dr. David Baker, Butch Miles, Duffy Jackson, Karlton Hester, Arnett Cobb, Pauly Cohen, Ramon Morris, Geri Allen, Jothan Callins, Donald Byrd, Freddie Redd, Larry Ridley, Jack McDuff, J.C. Moses, Nathan East, Andy Bey ('77), Nathan Davis ('70-'75) to name only a few; inventor of the "Trombetto," a compact brass instrument with four valves that plays a chromatic range of six octaves with a trombone mouthpiece; played at festivals in New Orleans, London, Edinburg, Sacramento, New York City, Seattle; clinics and lectures in Santa Cruz and San Jose, CA, Quebec City and Montreal, Canada, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cleveland, New York and Toronto; scores written to movies by Georg Sanford Brown and John Russo and plays by Richard Wright, August Wilson and Rob Penny; lyricist of 125 bop standards; featured horn soloist avec vocalese with the Pittsburgh Connection Big Band at the 2007 IAJE Convention in NYC; nationally recognized expert on Pittsburgh jazz history.

Currently active in Pittsburgh with The Blues Orphans, Wee Jams, Studio-E Band, George Gee Orchestra, the Boilermaker Jazz Band and my own The World According to Bop, Jazz ‘N Jive, Dr. Jazz and the Salty Dawgs, Blue to the Bone, and Nelson Harrison and Associates and Ronnie Jones and Jazz Conversations.

Discography: Live at the Attic (1969) with the Walt Harper Quintet (Birmingham Label); Makatuka (1970) (Segue Label) and Suite for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1971) (Tomorrow International Label) with Nathan Davis; Kansas City Shout (1980) with the Count Basie Orchestra (Pablo Label); On A Coconut Island( 1993), Don't Give Up the Ship (1995), Burgundy Street Blues (1996) and Honky Tonk Town (1997) with the Boilermaker Jazz Band (Biograph Label); Tuesday Night at James Street (2002) with the RH Factor, Don’t Give Up (2003) with the Roger Humphries Big Band; Moonlit River (2003) songs by Fred Moolten, (MGO Media Label); 21st-Century Musicism (2005) compositions by Karlton E. Hester (Hesteria Records); If I Can’t Dance, It’s Not My Revolution (2006) Anne Feeney; Schism ‘n Blues (2005) & Root Rot (2007) with the Blues Orphans (Staggerin’ Fitz Label) which are the first commercial recordings of the trombetto, Not from Concentrate (2007) Genie Walker & Harmonique (Hip Tip Label).

He is is cited in the Marquis publication Who’s Who in the East (1979, The Jazz Men by Larry Tye, Mariner Books (2024)and August Wilson: A Life by Patti Hartigan, Simon & Schuster (2023); received the Renaissance Too Magazine Professional Men in Jazz Award (1989) and the East Liberty Hall of Fame (1991), the Westinghouse High School Hall of Fame (1995), Evolution of Jazz: Bridging the Gap Mentors Award (2006), the Walt Harper All That Jazz Award (2008), the Legacy Arts Project Keepers of the Flame Award (2008), the Build the Hill Award (2008) and the MCG Jazz Pittsburgh Legends of Jazz Award (2008), African American Council on the Arts Rob Penny Lifetime Achievement Award (2009), Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) Jazz Heroes Award (2015).

Blogs:
http://www.jjajazzawards.org/p/blog-page.html
http://oldmonmusic.blogspot.com/2009/12/dr-nelson-harrison.html
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cres-oneal/2010/06/16/dr-nelson-harrison
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theremix/2009/05/30/dr-nelson-harrison...
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/musicwoman/2008/10/01/metaphysics-of-m...
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/soulutionsradio/2009/07/06/dr-nelson-h...
Website:: http://www.pittsburghartistregistry.org/drjazz
Artist or Fan: artist, fan, industry professional, student, media

Comment Wall:

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Doretha Lowery

Hi Nelson
Thank you for the kind welcoming. That is so nice of you to do this. I am truly looking forward to meeting you when I come to the city of Pittsburgh. Again, thank you.

Sep 4, 2008
sonny bayko

Nelson It was great playing with you and Dave a few weeks ago. It's always a lot of fun to
play in the Jazz Workshop big band. I think that more local jazz cats should come around
more often

Sep 4, 2008
Trish Virgin

Thanks for the invite and your kind words, Nelson. It is good to be here!

Sep 5, 2008
Michael Vestal

Thanks for the invitation!

Sep 5, 2008
Frank Cohen

Nelson,

I heard you're playing with my friend Quinton ( trombonist) along with Roger on Friday. Quinton is one of my closest friends.

Tell him I said hello, and I hope all is well with you

Sep 8, 2008
Annie Cosmides

Nelson,We did stop by Big Mama's on Sunday and the door was locked and it was empty. I was real disappointed because we told Luther we would stop by. Did it really go on or were we at the wrong place? Looking in Big Mama's, it didn't look like there was enough room for a jam session to be going on in there. Unfortunately we invited four other sets of people to join us there. So I saw the jam going on at C.J.'s in the paper and I hung around till it started. We had a blast. If you talk to Luther, please tell him we tried to find him but had no luck or you can just forward him my email. Thanks, Annie

Sep 9, 2008
Frank Cohen

Yeah, I've been back for about three weeks. I've been hitting up some sessions and I got some gigs lined up at Dizzy's and Lincoln Center and a few other venues around. Everything's well

Sep 9, 2008
James R. Meny

Hi Nelson,
Yes, we did meet at Ava's. It was very nice to meet you and I'm sure we will bump into each other more frequently as I try to learn as much about the Pittsburgh Jazz scene as possible. Thanks for your support and kindness.
James

Sep 10, 2008
shirley riley-davis

thank you so much for the invitation. and bless you for the info on pola and j.c. one summer a lot of us were in new york. i think stan turrentine was playing at barrons. stan, pola, paul chambers, j.c. and i can't remember who else. i was living in new york with pola back then she was playing with Gloria Coleman.
we all were blessed to have grown up in pittsburgh where music was appreciated and loved. thanks again. i read your bio. you're pretty heavy.

Sep 10, 2008
shirley riley-davis

where is pola roberts?

Sep 10, 2008
Debi Sciranka

Nelson -- is that your kitty that looks like a baby lion? He/she is beautiful!

Sep 11, 2008
Debi Sciranka

I just saw your comment that it is Betters pet lion! Wow -- a real lion?

Sep 11, 2008
Debi Sciranka

Just an FYI - I think something positive will come out of my learning of this network already! I caught the Sunday Jam session two weeks ago and noticed that the space was hardly large enough to hold all the fans. I work with the New Hazlett Theater and am connecting with the organizer of the event, Luther. I can offer him the Theater to use for a jam session the last Sunday of every month. We host a free gathering of artists for an event called Last Days Cafe and it would be wonderful to be able to showcase local jazz music each month.n I am waiting to hear back from him! I will keep you posted. Debi

Sep 11, 2008
Aaron Jackendoff

Excellent thank you, I'll post my event for Saturday with the Pillow Project then.

As soon as this show is over I'll get to putting some images up and posting the ones from Tuesday.

Sep 12, 2008
Aaron Jackendoff

Would you mind inviting people to the event I just created on here?

Thanks

Sep 12, 2008
Aaron Jackendoff

Oh cool, Thanks very much.

Sep 12, 2008
Elli Fordyce

Hey Nelson:

Thanks for that, I missed it at the time -- would have been a great idea. The Cleveland gig went well and I hope to return to Nighttown.

Keep up the good work here. My rep is in Cleveland, Liz Rueger of Independent Artist Reps.

Best,
Elli
www.ellifordyce.com (new site in progress)

Sep 12, 2008
Edgar Um Bucholtz

My pleasure! Thank you for being such a force of musical, intellectual and spiritual good in Pittsburgh.

Sep 12, 2008
CeCe Cole

Hi Nelson,

All is going well, thanks for asking. We are just a tad bit behind given all the national events, but my staff and I are finally back on track, and will be releasing next week.

Along side your profile are two awesome women, Elli and Sydney, you are in good company :).

I might be coming your way mid-October will let you know.

Peace & Blessings,
CeCe`

Sep 12, 2008
Debi Sciranka

I will work on finding them a new home at the Hazlett --do you know who organizes that group? Debi

Sep 12, 2008
Debi Sciranka

Hi -- since I did not originally list the event for the City of Asylum Jazz Poetry concert I don't think I can make a change -- would you mind doing it for me? Please not in VERY BIG TEXT that because of rain the event has been moved to the New Hazlett theater on the North Side see www.newhazletttheater.org for directions. Thanks, Nelson, for your help. Debi

Sep 13, 2008
Debi Sciranka

Nelson -- If you make it to the concert tomorrow evening, please ask for me at the registration desk. I would love to say hello in person. Debi

Sep 13, 2008
Living Legends JaZzabrations

Thanks so much for the warm welcome. I watched all 6 of the videos, it was a great history lessons for me. Let me ask you the question, do you think that a sound such as Smoothahead can be created, enjoyed and admired around the world. Smooth or Contemporary Jazz mixed with Straight ahead Jazz to create a new sound or collaborative sound that the genres can perform together live? Thanks for your knowledge.

Sep 13, 2008
Living Legends JaZzabrations

Now that I have tapped into your vast knowlege, please allow me to be a sponge and educate me. I can't wait to see the African Music Tree. When I started down this road of Smoothahead, my idea was to keep Straight ahead jazz alive in this uneducated commercial world, I'll call radio play, concerts & festivals who cater to what is being labled as Smooth or Contemporary jazz. I've trademarked the word Smoothahead & I couldn't believe that someone didn't think of it many moons before I thought about it. My goal with it, is to teach children about Straight Ahead jazz and have them create music using both together to create great songs. What do you think of my idea? Is this a crazy idea, is this already being done somewhere? Your thoughts will be highly valued! Thanks again for allowing me to be a student via this new technology. If you want to talk via the phone I'll send my number via private message.

Sep 13, 2008
Waberi

Thank you for the warm welcome! Yes, I know I can rotate the profile picture.. but I like it like that. You will find its more a true representation of who I AM than not, lol!

Altho I am not from PA at all, I enjoy sharing the music and what I do. I will be sure to make new friends and keep in touch as I am able. I look forward to the learning and growing!

Sep 13, 2008
Diva JC

Nelson, I'm excited about our interview on MUSICWOMAN TALK RADIO - Metaphysics of Music - on Wednesday, October 1, 2008, from 6-8 p.m. Please tell everyone to tune in and call in, too. www.blogtalkradio.com/musicwoman

Sep 13, 2008
Dr. Nelson Harrison

Ok I feel you. I think the label is cool and may be effective in attracting kids. Ten years ago I created the term hipbop for the same reason and in many circles I am know as the Hipbopper. Another colleague of mine has created JazzHop, also to try to retrieve the attention of the hip hop culture to the older expressions..Feel free to start a discussion group on the topic on this network so we can get many points of view. We have to play the label game effectively in order to preserve the earlier values because kids these days don't want to be associated with anything that is earlier than 6 months ago. :-)

Sep 14, 2008
Nancy Dunaiski

Hi Nelson,

I saw in my e-mail that you left me a comment but couldn't find it, please assist. I'm looking for opportunities to further my music talent and am willing to travel. Do you have any suggestions?

Thank you,

Nancy

Sep 14, 2008
Kathleen Gorman

Dear Nelson,
I finally got signed up, and now I will be able to enjoy reading all the wonderful things in this special site. You are truly a wealth of musical knowledge and jazz history, which is so inspiring!
Ahmad Jamal is also one of my favorite pianists. I just saw him perform at the Toronto Jazz festival in June, and he and his group were incredible! And years ago I saw Stanley Turrentine play here at the Top of the Senator, another brilliant musician from Pittsburgh. I look forward to being more enlightened by the Jazz scene and information this site presents. Really glad to be aboard!

All the best,

Kathleen

Sep 15, 2008
Debi Sciranka

I am trying to pull a casual gathering together as part of the New Hazlett Theater/Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council/STUDIO for Creative Inquiry project of Last Days Cafe to address the diminishing venue opportunities for live performance for jazz in the area and the explore thoughts on resurrecting a Jazz Festival.

We were thinking we would like to do this on Sunday, September 28, at the New Hazlett Theater. We wanted to ask if you could be there to talk about your jazz network which is such a great resource for fans and artists.

Would you also be willing to perform for the group that evening?

I am sending out an email to the people from each co-sponsoring organization I listed above to propose this to them and I wanted to see if you would be available and willing to participate.

I have been talking with Sara Radelet the Executive Director of the theater and she is excited about doing something to support local jazz musicians and giving them a home for performances. We are also looking at ideas to get grant money to support the project and pay the musicians at the level they deserve.

She ran into Roger Humphries and talked with him a bit and he seems to want to be involved as well.

I think that this Last Days Café session will be a great opportunity to start conversations to see how the local jazz scene can best be supported.

As soon as this all solidifies, I will put together a press release and get it out to all my press contacts. We will also publicize the event to all of New Hazlett Theater’s, STUDIO for Creative Inquiry’s, and Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council’s email contacts. The Hazlett Theater will host the event in their lobby and will provide free appetizers and drinks for the crowd. If you perform, I will hookyou up with the technical director to see what he has to do to provide you with everything you need to set up and play.

Let me know if this works for you to be involved on 9/28.

Thanks

Debi

Sep 15, 2008
Aaron Jackendoff

Well I started to get some photos up here

Sep 16, 2008
Roy Sonne

Hi Nelson,
Thanks for inviting me to join this Pittsburgh Jazz Network. It looks like an exciting place to be.
Great seeing you, and hearing your fabulous playing -- not to mention your uniquely creative singing :-)
I've just started enjoying the videos and conversations on this site. Terrific interviews with you, and terrific dialog. You are indeed a renaissance man!
If you haven't checked out the website for my camp I think you'll find it interesting.
http://stringswithoutboundaries.com
It's for classical string players who want an intense, week-long total immersion into jazz, fiddling, rock and world music.
Looking forward to being in touch.
Roy

Sep 18, 2008
Luiz Santos

Hello Nelson
I wish you an awesome weekend!
Peace, Luiz

Sep 20, 2008
Ladyjd721

Have an aweome and blessed day................smile

Sep 22, 2008
Cheike Diongue

GOD Bless You Too.

Cheike diongue

Sep 23, 2008
Akil Esoon

Thanx Doc! i try to keep my word whenever I can! this network is da bomb! let's get it!!!

Sep 25, 2008
Verna

Thanx for your warm welcome it feels like home to me!

Sep 25, 2008
Delim Jamar

Nelson thanks for this wonderful medium that you have created to connect the musicians around the world in just a click!!
Delim Jamar

Sep 26, 2008
Phat Man Dee

I figured it out!!! I unblocked you!!!!! It took me long enough man... technology and I , it is an ongoing exploration for me....

Sep 26, 2008
Bob Boyce

Hi Nelson, Good to be with the Pittsburgh Group.
Had a time of it getting the photo up and running. I'm in the world of dial-up out in the country-about 50 miles from the ATL. I am looking to contact an Army Buddy Frank Mallah. I'm sure you know him. Bob

Sep 26, 2008
Ben

Nelson:
keep the faith......pleasure to share Jazz Thoughts ....see if you can prod my nephew Rob Jones to get his Bass cookin again......

Sep 27, 2008
Andrea

Greetings Mr Nelson, Did you know of or heard of my Daddy? He was a fine Fifth Avenue basketball player graduated, he played music in the Hill District with many other music lovers until he joined the Army and married my mother Thelma. He died from a brain anerism at my Sister's home in Georgia, 2004. Thank you for bringing your comments to my page and remembering his name. Jazz is good for the ears of talent.

Peace and love,

Andrea

Sep 28, 2008
Luiz Santos

Hi Nelson,
Check out my rhythm world!
Be blessed,
Luiz

Sep 30, 2008
claudia bolden

Thank you and I look forward to being apart of the Jazz network!

Oct 1, 2008
Ed Skirtich

Hi Nelson,

Thanks to your website I made a connection with a musician who wants to be on our Jazz Workshop, Inc. mailing list.

I'm really taking advantage of this website.

Thanks for creating a real gem for our Pittsburgh Jazz Community and the community at large.
Ed Skirtich
Artistic Director/Jazz Workshop, Inc.
(412) 422-4149 (H)
(412) 841-8046 (C)

Oct 3, 2008
Ken Lamison

Nelson,
Thank you for making me feel so welcome at the AVA jam last evening. Your gracious vibe and spirit is evident in all you touch. We are truly blessed to have such a phenomenal music community in Pittsburgh. Hope to see you again soon.
Ken

Oct 7, 2008
Douglas J Webster

Thank you so much sir. I love jazz and I also love art and so therefore I create both. I have tried to upload some images but every time I get move forward a message comes up and says i must be a member when I am a member. Can you help. thank you very much Douglas J webster

Oct 14, 2008
Douglas J Webster

Hello Nelson thank you for your quick response the problem is with my computer. I have to up grade. I was able to put a slide show of my art work. So thank you again and have a blessed night.

Oct 15, 2008
janice lee

Hello Nelson,
Wanted to wish you a great Sunday! Maybe you could bless Breathtaking with one of your tunes.
Much love and congratulation!
Janice

Oct 19, 2008
Raymond Ratiliff Jr.

Hello Nelson,
Just wanted to say thanks for those words of encouragement it means alot to me I hope to be a part of the Jazz scene in Pittburgh in the not to distant future. keep on groovin. Peace & love to all !

Oct 20, 2008

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