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Emanuel Harrold

For over 15 years, Emanuel Harrold has collaborated and toured with Gregory Porter as drummer and one of the founding members of the band. With almost 200 concert dates a year from 2012 Harrold is one of the most seen and hard jazz drummers out today. His drum contribution is on Gregory Porter’s ‘Be Good’, ‘Liquid Spirit’ and various contributions to albums such as “All Rise”, “Still Rising”, Live in London, Live in Berlin to name a few. The blood Brother of the fantastic trumpeter Keyon Harrold. Emanuel has constantly strived for musical connection and excellence.

Born into a family with over 3 generations of musical heritage, his initiation began in the church where his father was pastor, but also at family gatherings and reunions.

As the desire to sing and play instruments grew, it was only natural that his grandfather's Memorial Lancers Drum and Bugle Corp should act as a musical springboard, and that Emanuel, once in high school, should try his hand at the local gospel scene in St. Louis, Off Broadway musicals with the Black Repertory Theater, and traditional jazz.

A self-taught musician, Emanuel Harrold didn't really pursue the art of drumming until years later, but he did attend the prestigious New School in New York, from which he graduated with a BFA degree specializing in Jazz and Contemporary music.

His musical path and curiosity have led him to take part in a number of projects, many of which have won Grammy Awards or been crowned with success, selling millions of records and digital streams. Harrold has also worked as musician & actor in New York City historical reenactment of classic jazz movie ‘The Connection’ a play Brough to screen By Freddie Redd &Jackie McLean along side Rene McLean , Jackie McLean’s son. Among the eclectic artists with whom he has performed, collaborated or recorded are: Ambrose Akinmusire, Damon Albarn, Jonathan Baptiste, De La Soul, Roy Hargrove, Keyon Harrold, John Hicks, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Kidz in The Hall, Ronnie Mathews, John Hicks, Robert Glasper, Laura Mvula, Wynton Marsalis, Ronnie Mathews, James Spaulding, Shedrick Mitchell, Gregory Porter of course, Stevie Wonder, Ben L'Oncle Soul, Revive The Live Big Band and many other extraordinary musicians.

Equally driven by more personal projects, he not only puts his experience at the service of younger generations as a Mentor (Montreux Jazz Residency 2024) educator, but also gets involved in creation by collaboration, composing and producing. His latest album, “We Da People”, released in 2022 on Gear Box Records UK, is a case in point. ‘I Think’ ft Gregory Porter is an original composition with a deep element of soul and jazz accompanied with strings. As the title suggests, this album celebrates the humanism, love and community that Harrold holds so dear, and features contributions from many notable artists, including Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Gregory Porter, Saunders Sermons II (Tedeschi Trucks Band), Jermaine Holmes (D'Angelo), Shareef Keyes and Chrystal & Charles Ransom II.

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@musiccrowns ,‘We Da People’ mesmerizes with smooth soulful melodies whilst Emanuel Harrold’s verses are simply powerful

@christiandance.eu ,

'Shine Light,' Emanuel Harrold's new single, is a powerful and moving prayer for guidance and clarity. Written at a time when the artist's view of happiness was no longer as clear as it once was. In the words of Emanuel: 'In that thought, I ask God to shine light on me. Not for fame or popularity, but in the notion of showing me the way with clarity I should go. The actual direction I should walk into, in a practical sense.'