Free Style by Donald Harrison

Donald Harrison is one of the most confident and convincing improvisers in jazz today. The boundary leaping New Orleans alto saxophonist's distinctive broad toned sound is immediately recognizable as his own, regardless of the environment in which it is being heard, be it bebop, hard bop, New Orleans R & B or funk. Harrison has managed to forge his variegated influences and extensive experience into a uniquely personal style.
Free Style is, as its title implies, Harrison's amalgamation of jazz improvisation with funky hip hop rhythms. The youthful accompanying trio of pianist Glen Patscha, bassist Vicente Archer and drummer John Lamkin is well suited to the contemporary music, the melodic and harmonic simplicity of which allows the leader ample space to improvise freely. The disc opens with "Hand Jive", the Johnny Otis rock 'n' roll classic. Harrison transforms the popular piece, taking it uncharacteristically soft and slow, with Patscha's moody chords altering it to more of a dirge. The Harrison composed title track, a spare trio dance with the altoist getting down on top of Archer's insistent bass line and Lamkin's steady drumbeat, lives up to its rap influenced name. "New Hope" is an exquisitely beautiful ode to optimism by the quartet. "Get Your Swerve", another funky trio performance, has some interesting twists, while the quartet's soulful interpretation of "So What" is an alto tour de force played over a backbeat. The collectively composed "Rock Song", covers of "Well You Needn't" and "Iko Iko" and Harrison's "Free To Be" follow similar routes. The disc is filled out with two pieces from Harrison's Heroes CD - worthwhile alternate takes of that date's title track and Ron Carter's "Candlelight".

- Russ Musto, All About Jazz

Donald Harrison, who gained his initial recognition in the 1980s when he was with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and co-led a band with Terence Blanchard, has continued growing and evolving ever since that time. Though underrated, he is currently at the peak of his powers. With this fabulous recording - his third album for Nagel Heyer - Harrison shows one more time that he is a superior post-bop improviser with a sound of his own.