"He Has a Hefty Tone that Sometimes Barks in Raspiness with a Rhythm-and-Blues Soulfulness"
“The Rare Artist Who Still Knows How to Serve the Song Rather Than...the Showboating and Overplaying that Plague so Many Instrumentalists"
Harrison to Perform with THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS at The Beacon in New York, 2/2/08
Critics continue to weigh in on 'The Optimist', by rock/jazz saxophonist Stan Harrison. Soon to be seen in JAZZTIMES Magazine, Harrison has performed with and/or appeared on albums by some of music's most respected bands/singers (including David Bowie, Talking Heads, Radiohead, Duran Duran, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, They Might Be Giants, and many more...)
With the release of his new CD, Harrison finds himself in the spotlight instead of the shadows, and critics have praised his hybrid of jazz, classical, pop and World musics. His solo work “stands out," noted The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review -- “He has a hefty tone that sometimes barks in raspiness with a rhythm-and-blues soulfulness. The songs tend to have that nature, too..."
Nashville's Arts & Entertainment Monthly, City At Night Magazine, praised the CD as “A Winner" - “This is the rare artist who still knows how to serve the song rather than bending it into a pretzel through the showboating and overplaying that plague so many instrumentalists."
The ten original songs on 'The Optimist' showcase Harrison's sax, as well as the vocal talents of legendary artists, including Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire,) Phoebe Snow, Andy Vargas (Santana,) Najma Akhtar, and more. Harrison's long-time colleague Gerard McMann produced the upbeat CD.
On February 2nd, Harrison will join THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS at their concert at New York's The Beacon Theater.
City At Night Magazine
Nashville's Arts & Entertainment Monthly
JANUARY, 2008 ISSUE
by Cathey Stamps
“8 Tracks On the Download - 8 tracks worth putting on your iPod"
Nothing Less Than You, From 'The Optimist'
“Saxophonist Stan Harrison has a list of credits others can only dream about. He's played with Bowie, Talking Heads, Duran Duran, Stevie Ray Vaughn and countless others. Here he steps out on his own and the diversity of his playing history definitely follow him into his solo career. Smooth jazz, pop, classical and rock are all represented here. This is the rare artist who still knows how to serve the song rather than bending it into a pretzel through the showboating and overplaying that plague so many instrumentalists. Original arrangements and guests like Phoebe Snow and Phillip Bailey help make this a winner."
The Cincinnati Enquirer's CIN Weekly Entertainment Section described Harrison as a “legendary saxophone player," and commented: “As a successful studio and touring musician, Harrison could easily sit back and enjoy a career of adding to other people's musical creations. But what drives Harrison to play iconic parts in songs by the likes of David Bowie and Radiohead also drives him to write and record his own songs. The result is the new album, The Optimist, a collection of eclectic tunes - some instrumental, some with vocals - that display a...full musical range."
PhillyBurbs described him as a “Seasoned music veteran who can make the saxophone come alive. It's an absolutely incredible thing for a musician to touch so many people with total energy, roar with passion and glide like a bird drifting through the air."
“The Rare Artist Who Still Knows How to Serve the Song Rather Than...the Showboating and Overplaying that Plague so Many Instrumentalists"
Harrison to Perform with THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS at The Beacon in New York, 2/2/08
Critics continue to weigh in on 'The Optimist', by rock/jazz saxophonist Stan Harrison. Soon to be seen in JAZZTIMES Magazine, Harrison has performed with and/or appeared on albums by some of music's most respected bands/singers (including David Bowie, Talking Heads, Radiohead, Duran Duran, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, They Might Be Giants, and many more...)
With the release of his new CD, Harrison finds himself in the spotlight instead of the shadows, and critics have praised his hybrid of jazz, classical, pop and World musics. His solo work “stands out," noted The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review -- “He has a hefty tone that sometimes barks in raspiness with a rhythm-and-blues soulfulness. The songs tend to have that nature, too..."
Nashville's Arts & Entertainment Monthly, City At Night Magazine, praised the CD as “A Winner" - “This is the rare artist who still knows how to serve the song rather than bending it into a pretzel through the showboating and overplaying that plague so many instrumentalists."
The ten original songs on 'The Optimist' showcase Harrison's sax, as well as the vocal talents of legendary artists, including Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire,) Phoebe Snow, Andy Vargas (Santana,) Najma Akhtar, and more. Harrison's long-time colleague Gerard McMann produced the upbeat CD.
On February 2nd, Harrison will join THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS at their concert at New York's The Beacon Theater.
City At Night Magazine
Nashville's Arts & Entertainment Monthly
JANUARY, 2008 ISSUE
by Cathey Stamps
“8 Tracks On the Download - 8 tracks worth putting on your iPod"
Nothing Less Than You, From 'The Optimist'
“Saxophonist Stan Harrison has a list of credits others can only dream about. He's played with Bowie, Talking Heads, Duran Duran, Stevie Ray Vaughn and countless others. Here he steps out on his own and the diversity of his playing history definitely follow him into his solo career. Smooth jazz, pop, classical and rock are all represented here. This is the rare artist who still knows how to serve the song rather than bending it into a pretzel through the showboating and overplaying that plague so many instrumentalists. Original arrangements and guests like Phoebe Snow and Phillip Bailey help make this a winner."
The Cincinnati Enquirer's CIN Weekly Entertainment Section described Harrison as a “legendary saxophone player," and commented: “As a successful studio and touring musician, Harrison could easily sit back and enjoy a career of adding to other people's musical creations. But what drives Harrison to play iconic parts in songs by the likes of David Bowie and Radiohead also drives him to write and record his own songs. The result is the new album, The Optimist, a collection of eclectic tunes - some instrumental, some with vocals - that display a...full musical range."
PhillyBurbs described him as a “Seasoned music veteran who can make the saxophone come alive. It's an absolutely incredible thing for a musician to touch so many people with total energy, roar with passion and glide like a bird drifting through the air."
For more information contact Seth Cohen PR.
