Randal Harrison: bio
With press comparisons as diverse as Nicoli Pagannini, Stephane Grapelli, Al DiMeola and Frank Zappa, jazz violinist Randal Harrison charms, challenges and inspires listeners of all ages. Harrison’s honors include an EMMY nomination for composition and the Madison Area Music Awards (MAMAs) for Jazz Artist of the Year, Classical Artist of the Year and Blues Artist of the Year. He has played the Great Hall in Chicago, IL, the Knitting Factory in New York, NY, the Great Northern Bluegrass Festival on the Mole Lake Reservation and B.B. King's Blues Club in Memphis, TN. In addition to his freelance work, Randal Harrison's discography includes four recordings as a member of blues-rockers Honor Among Thieves, two with jazz and classical guitarist Brad Reifsnyder and his most recent jazz release on String Fling Records, The Randal Harrison Trio.
randalharrison.com
Artist Representative: Specialty Artists/ info@specialtyartists.net / (608)279-4453
Randal Harrison: Bios
The Randal Harrison Trio 
Original Jazz, Appalachian Funk, Tango Nuevo
• Violin
• Bass
• Drums
Harrison’s gutsy, hard driving swing and inclusive approach to composition are the basis for the RH Trio. Said to be “intellectually stimulating ..., but most of all ... entertaining”1 , The Randal Harrison Trio’s repertoire of mostly original pieces draws from the great masters of the American Jazz tradition, Indian Classical music, Appalachian Funk, Gypsy and Klezmer traditions of Eastern Europe and Astor Piazolla’s Tango Nuevo of Argentina.
The core members of the rhythm section include a Blue Note recording artist and a winner of the International Society of Bassists’ Jazz Competition. Aptly described as “brilliant musicians”2, they “lead the swinging fiddler into new space”3 while performing Harrison's compositions of global jazz.
With passion, artistry and humor, Harrison grabs the audience and takes them for a ride. "Randal Harrison dives into his violin while performing"4 and "brings the tale to life"5 !
RH TRIO Core Members
Bassist Mark Urness received a Master of Music in double bass performance from the University of Cincinnati and is currently a faculty member at Lawrence University. His diverse performance experience includes five years as Principal Bassist for the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra and New York performances with Adam Nussbaum, Lew Soloff, Eric Rasmussen, and Curtis Fowlkes. Mark Urness compositions appear on several recordings including the Bob Washut Trio's Songbook, Triptych's Play Here. He has most recently recorded with Orquesta Alto Maiz, OddBar, and oft Ensemble. Mark Urness was awarded First Prize in the 2001 International Society of Bassists Jazz Competition.
Percussionist Geoffrey Brady is a native of Pontiac, Michigan. He studied percussion at Interlochen Arts Academy, New England Conservatory and University of Wisconsin with Sam Tundo, Vic Firth, James Latimer and others. He now resides in Madison, Wisconsin, where he performs regularly with such diverse ensembles as Yid Vicious, the Gomers and the Madison Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he regularly performs solo on vibraphone and theremin. Geoffrey Brady is currently hard at work on a one man show entitled "Me, Me, Look at ME!!: A One Man Show", which encompasses an array of Brady's talents, and includes music, dancing, sock-puppetry, the spoken word, and...remembering.
Dane Maxim Richeson bio
Dane Richeson is recognized as one of the most versatile virtuosi in percussion. Throughout the world he has been featured in such diverse roles as solo marimbist, percussionist for contemporary chamber music, world percussion specialist and jazz drummer. Performances have been with such diverse artists as Bobby McFerrin, Gunther Schuller, Joe Lovano, NDR Big Band, Lionel Hampton, Roscoe Mitchell, Medeski-Martin-Woods,, Jackie Allen, Kenny Wheeler and Uri Caine. He regularly performs with the chamber ensembles CUBE (Chicago) and The Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society (Madison, WI). He has performed at festivals such as Ravinia, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, and Beijing Music Festival. Mr. Richeson has performed on more than one hundred recordings including works on Blue Note Records, Origin Records, Klavier, Accurate, Mark, Naxos, A-Records, CRI, Albany, Innova, and A-440.
- Randal Harrison Expanded Bio
Randal Harrison Hoecherl comes from a family of violinists. In 1970, Randal and his sister Margo began violin studies with their father Harold Hoecherl. Soon after Harrison began eight years of study with his mentor Prof. Margery V. Aber, founder of the American Suzuki Institute (ASI). While attending ASI Harrison worked with a long list of top teachers including Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, Dr. Milton Goldberg and conductor Dr. Marvin Rabin. As an adult Randal studied with jazz bassist Dr. Richard Davis, jazz violinist Matt Glaser and under the baton of Maestro Christian Botia.
Randal Harrison has performed with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, bluegrass giants Vassar Clemments and John Hartford, jazz bassist Ben Tucker, and the legendary drummer Sam Lay of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Performances with the Composer’s Chamber Orchestra, “The Funky Drummer” Clyde Stubblefield, New York’s Big League Theatrical’s productions of Guys & Dolls and The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, avant-garde and jazz saxophonist Hannah Jon Taylor and the always entertaining Piper Road Spring Band, further highlight Harrison’s broad range of musicality.
Randal Harrison’s recorded work as composer, arranger, producer and violinist is featured in the Emmy nominated title music of Georgia Public Television's, The Coastal Naturalist. His compositions have been included in the documentary films The Sid Boyum Project, When The World Runs Fast, Back to the Land...Again, and Keeping the Lights On. Harrison is featured on a wide variety of Artist’s recordings including: Steve Austin’s Queen of the Radio (top 25 in Indie Bullet & Cashbox charts), Harmonious Wail’s Gypsy Swing (Naxos World label) and Capellaro & Rohn’s Wal*Martopia (original cast recording).
Randal Harrison has taught jazz history at Savannah College of Art and Design and recently served as president of the Suzuki Association of Wisconsin. He is a registered teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and travels throughout the United States as a clinician of jazz, improvisation and violin studies. Mr. Harrison is the director of ESTEAM (Embracing Suzuki Talent Education Across Madison) where he teaches and provides opportunities for students of need to further their musical studies. Harrison’s educational materials are performed by students throughout the United States.
randalharrison.com
Artist Representative: Specialty Artists/ info@specialtyartists.net / (608)279-4453
credits
1- Jonathan Winkle, Executive Director - Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts (Mar 24, 2008)
2- John Book - Music For America (Jun 25, 2007)
3- Tom Laskin - The Daily Page/MadTracks (May 2, 2007)
4- Times Tribune
5- Tom Laskin - Isthmus