He boasts an imposing resume and has mentored and received critical acclaim from some of today’s most prominent and fastest-rising stars. American Grammy-winning pianist Eddie Palmieri calls him “a genius,” singer Jon Batiste says he’s “the greatest,” and pianist-producer Robert Glasper certifies him “a legend.”
We previously introduced you to New Orleans composer Donald Harrison with the release of Congo Square Suite, which fused his talents between orchestral, jazz, and African roots to create a masterful three-movement composition rich in history and the cultures that inspired its soundscape. Now, Harrison returns with The Magic Touch, a multi-genre Nouveau Swing Compilation, which includes nine stylistically different compositions of the same song.
The idea began in 2005 when Harrison recorded “3D,” a collection that included three separate CDs dedicated to different genres (jazz, soul, and hip hop, respectively) but were recreations of the same song collections. On The Magic Touch, he combined that same principal idea with new experiences and ideas hypothesized while working with Stephon Alexander, a quantum theorist. While conceptualizing theories about omni-verses and multiverses on a scientific level, Harrison could connect those same ideas to his approach to musical compositions, particularly how it would affect how he addressed multi-genre recordings going forward.
We were fortunate to get an early listen to the collection, which takes you on an enthralling journey through generations of musical expression from as early as the 1920s through the 1980s and into the modern age in a way that only someone with Harrison’s extensive experience, expertise and unique perspective of the world we live in could develop.
On the album opener, the saxophonist treats us to an almost anthemic party-inducing celebration of what is arguably Harrison’s omnipresent wheelhouse: Nouveau Swing. His credit and influence on the genre’s creation are quickly understood by the first few bars of the record, but that isn’t to say the renditions that follow lack in this unique sound and playstyle; in fact, they only seem to improve upon them.
It’s an upbeat number that kicks itself out of the gate with ferocious tenacity. It doesn’t let up for a second, resting on a casual bed of piano chords but driven by a flamboyantly charismatic horn-led melody that always seems sure of where it’s going and even more confident that you won’t expect any of its colorful twists and turns.
Before long, the horns have casually dropped out of frame, and it’s as though the entire atmosphere has shifted, allowing the piano space to add its playful spin to the track’s intoxicating story.
As the collection continues, different instrument features emerge, all hungry for their turn in the spotlight and to make their contributions to the history of their respective genres well understood. If you are someone who often finds yourself contemplating wonders of the musical sphere like “What makes a bop different from swing,” or “How do you distinguish New Orleans jazz from New York jazz,” then The Magic Touch provides a sensational backdrop to enrich those discussions making this compilation just as impressive for its encyclopedic quintessence as it is simply a breathtaking auditory experience for even the most casual listeners.
As the recording nears the halfway mark, it takes a sensual turn as it adapts from traditional swing to seductive and soulful temperaments. If you listened to the songs on The Magic Touch and hadn’t been told that everything you heard so far was developed from the same framework, there is almost no way you would deduce that from how Harrison has crafted these uniquely distinctive arrangements.
We carry on through the captivating omniverse Harrison has created for us into halls still soaking with the emotional vivacity of blues guitar greats, out into earthy Roots-Reggae before returning to a classic smooth jazz rendition embodied masterfully by Harrison, whose affinity for diving so deeply into the study of the artists who came before him and equally in their own right excel in the bracket is palpable with each note.
To our surprise and delight, the final composition comes most unexpectedly: a trap hip-hop-infused club beat to close out an unforgettable showcase of Harrison’s musical command and prowess.
It is simply one that cannot be wholly appreciated until heard in its entirety, and undoubtedly, it would be even more transcendent as performed live in person. Still, we have been equally moved by those captured on this spellbinding record.
Listen Live
The Magic Touch will premiere with a live performance on January 11th at the Town Hall in New York City. The concert will feature special guests Dave Holland, DJ Logic, Vernon Reid, Charles Tolliver, Joe Dyson, Arturo O’Farrill, Fred Wesley, and The Headhunters (Bill Summers & Mike Clark). Tickets are on sale and available now through Ticketmaster here.
Learn more about Donald Harrison by visiting his website: donaldharrison.com
Crooked Forest 