Jazz saxophonist and clarinetist Wendell Harrison has long been known for taking his music into his own hands.  Co-founder of the legendary Tribe record label and collective in the 1970’s, Harrison went on to establish Rebirth Inc., a non profit jazz performance and education organization in the 80’s.  Recently, Wendell has collaborated with pianist and vocalist Amp Fiddler in performing concerts and special recording projects.  Also, numerous well-known jazz artists, including pianist Geri Allen, saxophonist James Carter, saxophonist Eddie Harris, vocalist Leon Thomas and trumpeter Woody Shaw, just to name a few, have performed with Wendell and participated in Rebirth’s programs.  He also created the WenHa, record label and publishing company which released many of his recordings, as well as that of his wife, pianist Pamela Wise.  Through his solo work and his Mama’s Licking Stick Clarinet Ensemble, Harrison has gained more widespread respect for the clarinet, this often neglected, yet versatile instrument.

Harrison was born on October 1, 1942 in Detroit and attended Northwestern High School.  His classmates included trumpeter Lonnie Hillyer, saxophonist Charles McPherson and percussionist Roy Brooks, all of whom sparked his interest in jazz music.  Like his classmates, Harrison began formal jazz studies with pianist Barry Harris.  He also attended the Detroit Conservatory of Music which is now known as the College for Creative Studies.  

While in Detroit he performed with Motown stars Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and the legendary Sammy Ward.  Shortly after in 1960 the young Harrison headed for New York.  He began performing for some of the world’s premier jazz artists: guitarist Grant Green, vocalist Eddie Jefferson and the great Sun Ra.  He teamed up with trumpet players Marcus Belgrave , Jimmy Owens and baritone/tuba/euphonium player Howard Johnson to perform and tour with saxophonist Hank Crawford.  Wendell can be heard on Hank’s earlier recordings: Double Cross, Dig These Blues, Mr. Blues, on Atlantic Records.  Wendell learned how to compose, write and arrange for multi ensemble during this time in his life.  

In 1970, the fast paced New York and the road began taking its’ toll on Wendell.  He moved to California for a short period.  While resting and practicing at the Syanon Center, he met vocalist Esther Phillips and saxophonist Art Pepper.  Under the direction of Greg Dykes they recorded an album (reissued  on CD ) entitled The Prince Of Peace which received world wide recognition.  This experience also enhanced his writing and arranging skills.  Harrison headed back to Detroit in 1971.  He began teaching music at a multi arts complex for youth, Metro Arts founded by Dr. Amelita Mandingo.  While teaching at Metro Arts, Wendell met  pianist and composer Harold McKinney and rejoined his friend Marcus Belgrave.  Wendell also met trombonist Phil Ranelin who had moved to Detroit from Indianapolis.  Together they formed the Tribe record label and collective.  Tribe used this vehicle to convey a growing black political consciousness.  The group also included drummer and composer Doug Hammond, pianist Ken Cox and trumpeter Charles Moore.  They performed together live and on each others recordings and releasing them on the Tribe record label.  Tribe also published a magazine, a quarterly  monthly publication dedicated to musical and  political revolutionaries and political issues.  The magazine was published by Harrison’s company,  The Harrison Association.  Tribe had pretty much disbanded in 1975, but Phil Ranelin and Wendell were instrumental and getting all of the Tribe recordings reissued to various internal labels.  This unique organization packed a strong musical punch on the international scene.  Techno music guru Carl Craig discovered in his global travels that Tribe still was gaining popularity on the underground techno music scene internationally which was unheard of considering they haven’t performed together as Tribe in over 30 years.  In 2007 Carl reproduced the Tribe group with Marcus, Wendell, Doug and Phil.  They released a single on the market entitled It’s A New Day on the C2 Planet E record label and is also touring globally.  The CD Tribe Rebirth is now available. Other Tribe reissues can be found on several websites  including DustyGroove.com.

Wendell and Harold McKinney founded Rebirth Inc. in 1978, another successful non profit organization whose mission is to educate the youth and the greater community about jazz through workshops and concert presentations throughout the Midwest and beyond.  The organization is based in Detroit and funded by several foundations and corporations.  In teaching and presenting many of Rebirth’s programs he found that students needed a method to help them learn jazz improvisation to perform like the masters.  So he authored the Be Boppers Method Books Volumes I & II which is an invaluable aid to you musicians wanting to build their imporivaistional skills.  The book also includes a play along audio file /CD and is distributed internationally by Jamey Aebersold.

Harrison’s campaign for the often neglected clarinet instrument has added a new spin on his list of accomplishments.  The unique Mama’s Licking Stick Clarinet Ensemble features each member of the clarinet family including Eflat soprano, Bflat, alto, bass and contra bass clarinets.  Chamber Music America, a prestigious granting organization based in New York has awarded Harrison several grants in support of his unique clarinet ensemble.  Some of the programs have included New  Works and Creation, Jazz Residency programs and the French American  Cultural Exchange projects.  There are several recordings available on Mama’s Licking Stick including Rush and Hustle, Live In  Concert (both which feature James Carter on bass clarinet) and Forever Duke release on the WenHa Record label.

Wendell continues to thrive as a musician, educator and entrepreneur creating new and innovative projects such as:  composing new music for various ensembles, touring on the techo music scene with Carl Craig, recording with young musicians.  Detroit continues to produce the best talent in the world and that is found to be true with the great jazz master Wendell Harrison.

Trunino Lowe is one of Detroit’s young promising musicians. Born & raised on Detroit’s Eastside. Trunino is a proud graduate of Detroit Public Schools where his love for music began. It wasn’t until he attended the Detroit School of Arts where he began to pursue his career as a professional musician. Trunino now serves as a bandleader, Sideman, Composer, and mentor. Mentored by Detroit Trumpeters Kris Johnson, Dwight Adams, Rayse Biggs, and John Douglas. He’s apart of the jazz lineage of Detroit and strongly believes in continuing the Legacy. Trunino has performed with some of the finest musicians the world has to offer. He’s played with the likes of Marion Hayden, Wendell Harrison, Marcus Elliot, Rodney Whitaker, Sean Dobbins, Ralphe Armstrong, Karriem Riggins, Russell Hall, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Terri Lynn Carrington, Emmet Cohen, Maurice Brown, & others. Performed on some very prestigious stages such as, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (NYC), Jazz Showcase (CHI), Detroit Jazz Festival, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge (DET). He’s Also performed internationally in France, Germany, and Denmark.

Sequoia Snyder is a pianist, producer, and composer born and raised in Washington D.C. Currently a senior Jazz Studies major at Michigan State University, she has performed with esteemed musicians such Rodney Whitaker, Etienne Charles, Diego Rivera, and Randy Napoleon. After winning a nationwide contest in December 2018, she performed with popular R&B band The Internet on their national tour stop in Detroit. Her musical endeavors in 2019 included being selected for the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Orchestra (directed by Brian Lynch), and the Kennedy Center’s Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency. She was also selected to participate in the JAS Aspen Snowmass Academy (directed by Christian McBride), and DeeDee Bridgewater’s pilot program for emerging women musicians, the Woodshed Network. Under her birth name, Sequoia Snyder, she released her self-produced debut EP, “Sempervirens.” Recently adopting the moniker “REDWOOD,” her ambitions remain the same: to inspire and spread love and positivity through her music.

Jonathon S. Muir-Cotton is a multi-award winning young, up and coming double bassist and bassist trained in both the jazz and classical traditions; playing many genres including jazz, funk, gospel, blues, R&B and neo-soul. Under the mentorship and tutelage of great Detroit bassists like Marion Hayden, Robert Hurst, Rick Robinson, Rodney Whitaker and Ralphe Armstrong, Jonathon is working towards making his own mark in the music world.

Jonathon has continued to garner great opportunities to perform in Detroit, the greater Detroit Metropolitan area, the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area, as well as many other venues across the country. Jonathon is a student at Michigan State University pursuing his Bachelors in Jazz Studies.

Muir-Cotton has performed with various renowned artists both locally and nationally, including Karriem Riggins, Kris Johnson, Dwight Adams, Curtis Taylor, Quiana Lynell, Vincent Chandler, Ali Jackson, Benny Rubin, Esperanza Spalding, Ian Finkelstein, and Kamau Kenyatta. He has his own talented and versatile extended band Expressions, and is an often sought out bassist for other artists, their bands, and for studio work. Jonathon continues to hone his craft, hopes to tour the world, and eventually become a music educator, teaching jazz at the collegiate level as well as be an inspiration and give back to the next generation of students and aspiring musicians.

Detroit’s own Louis M. Jones III is one of the local jazz scene’s premier drummers. Mentored by some of the city’s top musicians such as Wendell Harrison, Pamela Wise, and Marion Hayden and molded as a drummer by Sean Dobbins and Nate Winn, Louis has played with some of the biggest names in jazz including Wayne Shorter, Karriem Riggins, Dwight Adams, and Vincent Chandler in addition to his aforementioned mentors. He is also a member of Modern Element, a group that showcases the bumper crop of young jazz musicians in the city. He has balanced being a working musician with being a student at Wayne State University, and won the 2017 MPrize in the Junior Open Division.