Skoler, Harry
Red Brick Hill
Things of beauty can come from the release of ones traumas . Harry Skoler experienced the loss of a friend as a teenager, a passing that deeply impacted the clarinetist/composer and left an indelible mark on his person. On his new recording, Red Brick Hill, Skoler revisits the past and delivers the story instrumentally with an incredible array of musicians in an effort to cleanse his soul , keep his friends legacy alive, and to, hopefully, help others with such burdens through the gift of music. In August 2022, Skoler and his son went to New York City to record the album at Sear Sound . Prior to the session, Skoler told the story to which his son replied that Skoler should tell the ensemble that he and Smith had assembled, which included vibraphonist Joel Ross, bassist Dezron Douglas, and drummer Johnathan Blake, the story. The musicians listened to the story with empathy and promised to tell the tale through their playing. The recording evidences the ensembles empathy, as the music highlights the ensembles connection throughout.