Wendell Harrison

A fine clarinetist and tenor saxophonist, Wendell Harrison has been an important force in Detroit during the past several decades. He began on clarinet when he was seven, started playing tenor in high school, and studied with Barry Harris. In 1960, he moved to New York, playing with Jack McDuff, Elvin Jones, Sonny Stitt, Grant Green, and Sun Ra, in addition to being in Hank Crawford's band for over four years. In 1970, Harrison moved back to Detroit, started doing session work, and became a jazz educator. He has formed several labels (Tribe, Rebirth, and WenHa), recording frequently and utilizing such sidemen as Leon Thomas, Marcus Belgrave, Kirk Lightsey, Charles Tolliver, and (with his Clarinet Ensemble) James Carter. He has several standouts in his catalog. Among them are An Evening with the Devil (1975), Reawakening (1985), Forever Duke (1991), Eighth House: Riding with Pluto (2002). In the fall of 2012, Luv N' Haight-reissued the highly regarded 1981 album Organic Dream.