Harry Skoler, who put this joint together, plays clarinet and eases you into the Lester Young tune so sweetly that you wonder why the instrument isn’t more popular.
I appreciate your gratitude, but you should thank yourself. Your fine work demands exposure, and it's my privilege to provide it.
Throughout this strikingly evocative project, the clarinet virtuoso — a Mingus obsessive since his teens — offers efflorescent improvisations through arrangements of nine Mingus compositions by Ambrose Akinmusire, Fabian Almazan and Darcy James Argue, with a to-die-for rhythm section of Kenny Barron, Christian McBride and Johnathan Blake, joined on various tracks by trumpet titan Nicholas Payton, vocalist Jazzmeia Horn and a string quartet.
Such a treat to share with our listeners.
The album is powerful and I wouldn't be surprised if we see it among the Grammy nominees, or maybe it will bring the Golden Gramophone itself to its creators.
Great release! Glad to share it with my listening audiences as we celebrate the Centennial.
…the richness of his tone, somewhere between romance and melancholia, draws you into the music.
If this disc doesn't get a Grammy nomination, then I don't know who, and for what!
This album is a thing of beauty and one can only thank Harry Skoler for digging Mingus enough to drop this.
If clarinet might seem like a questionable instrument to lead a Mingus tribute, Skoler casts aside any doubt in the opening moments of "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat."
Everything sounds great, the music swings and the ensemble has real command of the charts, of shifting moods and especially fine modulations of dynamics.
…Skoler lays back, letting his clarinet seduce with purring trills that stretch the limits of human hearing.
Harry Skoler is a clarinetist who employs this difficult instrument with a gentle and loving touch … Skoler's sound is elegantly supple …
Skoler speaks confidently with a poignantly transparent and vibrant sound.
This is such a lovely album. It's an honor to play it.
Thank you for the great music!
The clarinetist's original "Underdog" wraps things up with a free moving piece that leans into the duality of its inspiration, both turbulent and gentle at the same time.
The most important thing for jazz musicians is if they can be recognized after a few notes. Skoler is clearly recognizable!
The arrangements make excellent use of instrumental color and put Mingus’ themes into the context of extended, complex harmonies…this is good music well played, it feels good as it goes down…Skoler’s own “Underdog”…convincing, with flashes of complex, unresolved emotions and ideas—Mingus.
Harry Skoler plays with a melancholy but hopeful tone that adds a poignancy … His clarinet sound has a deep, rich quality…
He plays with a muscular tone that gets to the heart of the piece … like Mingus, the album offers new discoveries with each listen.
No need to be so humble, the album is freaking great.
Living in Sound: The Music of Charles Mingus, was a warmly incantatory concerto-like setting for clarinetist virtuoso Skoler and orchestra…
Argue … takes “Duke Ellington’s Sound of Love” into interesting territory with an arrangement that straddles the lush and spare, one that Skoler navigates beautifully in his lead, with tones of respect for the composer Mingus most admired.
News
FRANCIS DAVIS JAZZ POLL TOP 500!
Jan 20, 2023Living In Sound: The Music of Charles Mingus is #87 on the 2022 Francis Davis Jazz Poll
JazzWeek 2022 TOP 100!
Dec 16, 2022Living In Sound: The Music of Charles Mingus at #72 on JazzWeek Top 100 Jazz Radio Release for 2022
THE TOP 10!
June 24, 2022Living In Sound: The Music of Charles Mingus #9 in the Top Ten on JazzWeek June 27, 2022
"Living In Sound: The Music of Charles Mingus" is now available!
April 22, 2022You can now purchase Living In Sound: The Music of Charles Mingus on Bandcamp or listen on all major streaming services.
Music

Living In Sound: The Music of Charles Mingus
Track Listing
- Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
- Peggy's Blue Skylight
- Duke Ellington's Sound of Life
- Remember Rockefeller at Attica
- Newcomer
- Moves
- Sue's Changes
- Invisible Lady
- Underdog
Musicians
- Harry Skoler — Clarinet
- Kenny Barron - Piano
- Christian McBride - Bass
- Johnathan Blake - Drums
- Jazzmeia Horn - Vocals
- Nicholas Payton - Trumpet
- Megan Gould - Violin
- Tomoko Omura - Voilin
- Karen Waltuch - Viola
- Noah Hoffeld - Cello

Two Ones (2009)
Track Listing
- Leaves of Autumn
- Two as One
- Alpine Sunset
- Joyful Sorrow
- Giorgio's Theme
- Piazzolla
- Silent Serenity
- Dad's Clarinet*
- Song for Jessy*
- Life's Dreams
- Two Onederful*
- Jenna's Voice*
- Joyful Sorrow
- Don't Say Words*
- Hope
Musicians
- Harry Skoler — Clarinet
- Ed Saindon — Vibraphone and Piano
- Matt Marvuglio — Flute
- Barry Smith — Bass
- Bob Tamagni — Drums
Original jazz compositions featuring intimate portraits expressed through quinted and duo settings. The quintet's unique sound highlights the blend of clarinet, flute, and vibes/piano.

A Work of Heart (2000)
Track Listing
- How Am I To Know
- Coisa Feita
- Don't Ever Go Away
- Portrait Of Daniel
- Estate
- Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
- Your Story
- Sophisticated Yenta
- Soliloquy
- Goodbye Mr. Evans
Musicians
- Harry Skoler — Clarinet
- Donn Trenner — Piano
- Garrison Fewell — Guitar
- Joe Lano — Guitar (tracks 2 & 8)
- Rich Margolis — Vibraphone (tracks 5 & 6 )
- Roger Kimball — Bass
- Brace Phillips — Bass (tracks 2 & 8)
- Tim Gilmore — Drums
- John Abraham — Drums (tracks 2 & 8)
- Becky Ramsey — Violin
- DeAnn Burger — Violin
- Carol Jackson — Violin
- Ericka Syroid — Violin
- Carelene San Fillipo — Violin
- Frank Cropper — Violin
- Mary Trimble — Viola
- Barbara Gurley — Cello
- Beth Lano — French Horn
Charting in JAZZIZ Magazine's Top Ten "radioACTIVE" Jazz Chart for national radio airplay, this heartfelt, lush recording is a collection of diversified standard and original compositions that features jazz clarinet with six tracks augmented with Strings.

Reflections on the Art of Swing (1996)
Track listing
- Topsy
- Don't Be That Way
- Undecided
- Benny
- After You've Gone
- Rose Room
- Handful of Keys
- A Smooth One
- Jersey Bounce
- What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry
- Flying Home
- Just You, Just Me
- Reflections on the Art of Swing
Musicians
- Harry Skoler — Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
- Ed Saindon — Vibraphone
- Roger Kimball — Bass
- Tim Gilmore — Drums
Reflections on the Art of Swing captures the timelessness of the songs associated with Benny Goodman, played in a unique quartet setting of Clarinet, Vibes, Bass and Drums that reflects a chamber - music approach with a fresh, distinctive, "voice".

Conversations in the Language of Jazz (1995)
Track listing
- If I Had You
- Stompin' at the Savoy
- Memories of You
- The Shining Sea
- Somewhere
- Sweet Lorraine
- The Sweetest Sounds
- Soon
- I Wish I'd Met You
- Treasures
- El Cajon
- Happiness Is
- Recado Bossa Nova
- Moonglow
- Conversations in the Language of Jazz
Musicians
- Harry Skoler — Clarinet, Tenor and Alto Saxophone, Flute, Piano
- Ed Saindon — Vibraphone, Piano
- Roger Kimball — Bass
- Tim Gilmore — Drums
Harry Skoler performs songs from the swing era, showcasing the music of Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and their contemporaries. The instrumentation's unique sound features clarinet and vibraphone in a quartet setting.
The quartet's distinct arrangements are exacting and delicate. With an emphasis on a lyrical and fluid approach, the ensemble's style can best be described as 'chamber-like'.
Media
About
Jazz clarinetist Harry Skoler is Professor of Woodwinds at Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee, and a Master of Music degree from New England Conservatory, where he studied with legendary jazz great Jimmy Giuffre. His recordings include Conversations in the Language of Jazz, Reflections on the Art of Swing - A Tribute to Benny Goodman, A Work of Heart on Brownstone Recordings, and Two Ones on Soliloquy Records. His latest recording is Living In Sound: The Music of Charles Mingus on Sunnyside Records. He has authored articles on jazz education, including a "Pro-Workshop" article in DownBeat magazine, and has been included with a biography and philosophy of artistry in Gianluca Campagnolo's Volume 10 Method Book for Clarinet, which features bios and tips from many prominent clarinetists. Harry contributed to a clarinet method book by Vandoren and published by Carl Fischer entitled The Vandoren Etude & Exercise Book for Clarinet - The Secrets of Ten Master Clarinetists and a jazz saxophone method book by Vandoren and published by Carl Fischer entitled the vandojazz ETUDE AND EXERCISE BOOK FOR SAXOPHONE - THE SECRETS OF TEN MASTER SAXOPHONISTS. He has garnered numerous national and international reviews, including reviews in JazzTimes, DownBeat, and Jazziz among others. Cover features include Strictly Jazz, Jazz Quarterly, Northeast Performer, and Jazz Now magazines, and bio/reviews in AMG's All Music Guide to Jazz. He has been included in articles in JazzTimes, Jazziz and DownBeat Magazines. He has been charted for national radio airplay on JazzWeek and Gavin Magazine, and charted at #8 on Jazziz magazine's Top 40 "Radioactive" chart. Performances include national jazz clubs and festivals, including the Blue Note in NYC, Regattabar and Scullers in Boston, International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest in Baton Rouge, Cape May Jazz Festival and tours in Costa Rica, Japan, Mexico and Norway. Harry as a clinician has conducted master classes nationally and internationally, including Costa Rica, Japan, Mexico and Australia. He has participated as a judge for Vandoren’s Emerging Artist Competition, and has been a member of Berklee College of Music’s “Audition & Interview” team, auditioning applicants to the college, traveling nationally and internationally since 2007. Harry has been featured on many national radio interviews and on the nationally televised BET program “Jazz Discovery”. In addition to touring with his group, Harry has given concerts/clinics for young people with the educational ensemble "Adventures With Jazz". Endorsements include Buffet Crampon and Vandoren. He lives in Bradford, MA with his wife Joanne.
Endorsements
Events
ARTIST REPRESENTATION
Michael C Cherigo Talent
3039 N. Calvert St. #B2
Baltimore MD 21218
(410) 889-7530
mcherigotalent@webtv.net