Mark Harrison Quintet: Radio/Press Reviews

Soul and passion - the only way to describe such beautiful music.

Well done contemporary style...not cookie cutter like others of this type.

It's been a pleasure featuring your music on my radio show. Your recording is balanced with tight arrangements and a sense of fun and enthusiasm throughout.

Love the boogie-woogie style of Green Bananas, and the contrasts elsewhere on the album. A sure hit with Jazz World listeners.

This is great music. The quintet is superb and I know how much my listeners love that big, fat, rolling sound. Thanks very much for the opportunity to play and review this superb album.

In answer to the question Are We There Yet? Yes we are and what a musical joy! This CD pops with musical action and rhythm. For those of you who have not boarded the music train please do so and Enjoy The Ride. I was put in my musical Comfort Zone from start to finish. Great music.

An absolutely brilliant album with most tracks that I shall be playing on my program. Keep up the great work!

Great to see such extemporisation and professional musicianship. All due credit to Mark’s writing and the tightness of the band interpreting those numbers. An excellent release.

Fantastic album. Great stuff for our radio station.

I thought the CD was terrific. The tracks were well thought out and the arrangements and production first class. I was very impressed with the interplay of the musicians and how they “sparked” off one another, lively playing, well timed solos, allied to excellent melodies. I can well imagine how good a live performance would be.

We wish to congratulate you on a great CD. The playing by you and your band is excellent.

What a great sound you have. Keep up the good work.

The old jazz in a modern sound. The music is fusion-like, but the jazz part is big. This makes it a good jazz album.

Pianist Mark Harrison composed all eleven songs for his latest Quintet album, "Are We There Yet". They're cool and contemporary, giving his audience a strong dose of jazz from many different angles.

The boogie-woogie that Harrison delivers on "Green Bananas" provides a comfortable feel for the session. Most of his selections add comfort in the form of a smooth jazz sensibility, a driving backbeat, and surround-sound keyboard wallpaper. "Enjoy The Ride" simmers gently with an uplifting quality that combines classical moods with contemporary sounds. Harrison's piano spells sweetness.

"Are We There Yet?" features a mesmerizing rhythm with a melody to match. With this selection, Chosak's electric guitar stirs the pot with an ambitious stroll, and Rossi's outspoken tenor provides the session's high point. "Comfort Zone" lets the band turn mellow for a langorous affair. "Live and Learn" explores the realm of smooth jazz through its gentle persuasion and its bright alto saxophone sheen.

"Fries With That" adds a New Age aura to the program that comes tinged with the soulful ambience of greasy organ and rollicking rhythms. Mark Harrison and his ensemble employ contemporary sounds with a smooth jazz flavor that some will find enticing.

Pianist Mark Harrison presented his contemporary jazz quintet at the Baked Potato in April. Harrison's high-energy, exciting band consists of Mark Chosak on guitar, Jacky Klimek on sax, bassist Steve Billman, drummer Matt Starr and of course, Harrison on electric keyboard. Not all musicians have the mind set to play this type of jazz, but these musicians make it come off very well.

"Live and Learn" was a high energy piece with Harrison in complete control at the electric keyboard, with Starr's steady drumming behind him. Klimek and Billman were given plenty of solo space. This one got funky with tight ensemble work and had a nice groove to it. Billman was really digging in on his bass. Tha band had good control of the dynamics and the crowd enjoyed it a lot. "Fries With That" was done at a lively tempo, but was lighter in mood. Klimek played the alto sax with a lot of energy and fire on her solo, as Billman and Starr established a solid, rhythmic pulse.

"So Far So Good" was a new chart, a 12/8 shuffle. It moved along nicely, still in the contemporary style. It had a pleasant theme, played by Klimek's alto sax with fine comping from Harrison. The tune had a good rhythmic feel, with a strong beat from Starr and a solid bass pattern from Billman. Chosak was in top form during his exciting solo. It was a real foot tapper and I enjoyed it a lot. "Comfort Zone" from their second CD, was more mellow in nature, much easier and lighter. It was very soothing and graceful.

"Are We There Yet?" was done at a brisk tempo, very intense. Starr's drumming was solid and swinging and the tune had a haunting effect. "Just Add Water", a new composition, was an uplifting piece that came off very well. I enjoyed the group's spirit and energy and their musicianship. The crowd was attentive and seemed to enjoy the performance.

Lunaria, on Sanat Monica Boulevard features jazz every night, performed by some of L.A.'s top players. When we stopped by, Mark Harrison, a bookish, affable guy who could pass for an accountant, set up his keyboards to jam with his quintet. The first note told us he's no accountant, though!

Harrison's all original program had the appreciative crowd popping fingers, tapping toes and swaying, as the old saying goes, to and fro. His inventive styles often feature John De Patie's guitar blending into the sax, while Jacky Klimek runs the scales on her horns with a soulful mellowness that belies her young years. When she plays, it's like a silk ribbon surrounding the notes.

We liked "Madera Drive", with it's catchy opening interplay between the drums and guitar; and in "Comfort Zone" Graham Hill showed how that fifth string on his bass adds a warm depth to the melody line. The eclectic arrangements have an edgy sound, with tempi that range from smooth to frenetic, dynamics from whispers to wailings, and moods that transport you to seldom visited musical realms.