New Bio

At home in New York City, guitarist Sean Harkness recently garnered the Outstanding Instrumentalist of 2011 Backstage Bistro Award, and a MAC Award [Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets] for his New York solo shows.

In addition to featuring Sean on the cover of their 2011 product catalog, Walden Guitars is releasing a Sean Harkness Signature 12-string guitar in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Along with numerous compilations, TV, and film soundtracks, Mr. Harkness now has five commercial releases as an artist:

• Aloft [Windham Hill] -1999
• Trio Of One [independent release] -2001
• Urakaji solo guitar [Rinken Records, Japan, USA] -2004
• Harkness Knight w/saxman Eric Knight and great drummers -2009
• and brand new: H2 Flights: Volume One w/fab Canadian trumpeter Mike Herriott on Canadian Brass‘ label ODEG -2011

Each year Sean performs in concert halls around the country with other Windham Hill artists such as Liz Story, Will Ackerman, Barbara Higbie, Jim Brickman, Tuck & Patti, David Arkenstone, and Samite.

Mr. Harkness is a first-call guitarist who compliments an exhaustive client list of artists, instrumentalists, Broadway productions, and corporations nationally and internationally.  He is the go-to guitarist for duets and ensemble work with singers from Broadway and television such as Alison Fraser,  Susan Egan and Carole Demas.  Sean can be seen at Iridium Jazz Club on Broadway in Times Square with Terese Genecco and her Little Big Band on the last Tuesday of every month.

Sean has appeared as an artist and sideman extensively in New York’s finest jazz venues including the Blue Note, Smoke, Small’s, the Jazz Standard, Birdland, Iridium, Feinstein’s, Edison Ballroom, Mile’s Café, the Metropolitan Room, St. Nick’s, and Top Of The Rock at Rockefeller Center.

Mr. Harkness also appears regularly in any of New York’s folk and rock singer/songwriter clubs such as the Bitter End, Mercury Lounge, Rockwood Music Hall, the Living Room, Bowery Poetry Club, P&G, and Shrine.

Sean was the guitarist in Contemporary Jewish icon Debbie Friedman’s band until her untimely passing in 2011.  He continues to perform regularly with Craig Taubman and Josh Nelson in major congregations nationally.

Mr. Harkness also provides a House Concert Series for personalized, private, in-home, concert-like performances.  The up-close intimacy brings a unique impact to each event.

*   *   *

Sean Harkness’ first guitar arrived on his eleventh birthday.  Within six months, he had a weekly theater engagement in Bridgeport, CT.  High School bands, studies with Stan Kenton Band’s guitarist Sal Salvador, Berklee College of Music, ‘busking’ in Europe, Vermont’s Green Mountains, 5 years assisting master guitar builder Chip Wilson, extensive world travel, and NYC’s vast music scene have all contributed to forming the seasoned professional Sean is today.