New Orleans-born saxophone icon Donald Harrison brings the Big Easy to the North Fork for his second annual Quantum Leap Music Festival.
Donald Harrison comes by his title of Big Chief naturally. Like his father, Donald Harrison Sr., the 65-year-old alto sax master serves as Big Chief of the Congo Nation tribe. He’s also chief architect of the Quantum Leap Music Festival on the North Fork of Long Island, New York, from August 14 to 17.
At Long Island’s oldest winery, Borghese Vineyard, the NEA Jazz Master will appear in multiple settings: with both his self-titled Nouveau Swing Experience and Soul Summit acts; as part of the festival’s all-star jam band (with Wil Blades, Will Bernard, Raymond Weber, Nori Naraoka and others); and in full regalia with his Congo Square Nation Afro-New Orleans Group.
Also appearing over the festival’s four nights are the incomparable Dirty Dozen Brass Band, legendary guitarist Leo Nocentelli of The Meters, funk-fusion pioneers The Headhunters (with Harrison guesting), the Preservation Hall Legacy Band led by trumpeter and vocalist Gregg Stafford, the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, vocalist-accordionist C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, and vocalist Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers.
Rounding out the lineup are Grammy Award-winning pianist Zaccai Curtis, blues guitarist and vocalist Vasti Jackson, spirited keyboardist Kyle Roussel, Grammy-winning vocalist Erica Falls, acclaimed Broadway singer Syndee Winters and interactive DJ Antwigadee.
Family tradition will not only be honored during the Big Chief’s Congo Square Nation set on August 15, but also paid forward via special guest Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah. The trumpeter, composer, producer and brass multi-instrumentalist formerly known as Christian Scott is also Harrison’s nephew.
For further information, visit nola2nofo.com.
Photo by Carter Wade Photography
