Sean is a versatile guitarist with a passion for both performance and creation. As a composer and arranger, he crafts original music for solo guitar and small ensembles, exploring a diverse range of styles and textures. He is also a sought-after accompanist, providing sensitive and nuanced support to singers, musicians, and theatrical productions.
“Sean is a great friend and an even better guitar player”
“There is probably nothing on the guitar that Sean Harkness can’t play with ease. He blew me away the first time I heard him, and has only gotten better since then. Plus, he’s a great guy!”
Promo video: http://vimeo.com/98289320
Sean Harkness left Burlington, VT for New York City in 1994 to immerse himself in their music scene. Known especially for duets and ensemble work with singers from Broadway, television, and screen, Harkness is now a first-call guitarist who compliments a dazzling client list of artists and productions worldwide. Sean performs extensively both as a solo artist and sideman worldwide, and in New York City’s finest jazz, rock, folk, cabaret, blues, R&B, and singer/songwriter venues.
Sean’s first guitar arrived on his eleventh birthday. Within six months, he had a weekly theater engagement in Bridgeport, CT. After high school bands and studies with Brian Keane and Sal Salvador [Stan Kenton Band], Harkness studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Then after a year of busking the streets of Europe, Harkness moved to Vermont where for five years he worked in the shop assisting master guitar builder Chip Wilson.
After hearing Sean perform, T.O. Mann invited him to study guitar technique. Mann helped Harkness develop a signature touch on the instrument that caught the ears of Windham Hill Records and other producers.
At home in New York City, Harkness recently garnered the Outstanding Instrumentalist of 2011 Backstage Bistro Award, 2014 Broadwayworld Cabaret Award for Best CD Release, six MAC Awards [Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets] for ensemble instrumentalist, his solo shows, a CD with duo partner, Canadian trumpeter Mike Herriot, and Major Duo/Group with Lina Koutrakos & Marcus Simeone. Sean represents Walden Guitars, DR Handmade Strings, Fishman Pickups, Graph Tech hardware, and George L.’s cables. Walden Guitars featured Harkness on the covers of their 2011 and 2012 catalogs, and Cabaret Scenes Magazine ran a cover/feature article about him in their 2012 Nov/Dec issue.
Contact:
h/o 1.201.239.1428
m 1.917.805.9230
sean@seanharkness.com
For programs and concert promotion:
100 words:
International guitar artist Sean Harkness is in high demand as a performer/composer on solo guitar, and accompanies an astonishing array of world class vocalists, musicians, and ensembles. Sean’s multiple awards include the coveted MAC, Bistro, and BroadwayWorld.com awards. Harkness represents Walden guitars and DR Strings, and has eight commercial releases as an artist, many on Windham Hill Records [BMG/RCA/Sony]. Sean has an active international touring schedule – most recently including Africa, the Caribbean, and Japan – of concerts, clubs, festivals, corporate events, and intimate private home salons or fundraisers. A musician’s musician of exceptional versatility, Sean is often requested to teach Guitar Master Classes and music workshops. www.seanharkness.com.
200 Words:
International guitar artist Sean Harkness is in high demand as a performer/composer on solo guitar, and accompanies an astonishing array of world class vocalists, musicians, and ensembles. “Harkness gives full expression to the mood of the moment.” -Stephen Holden, New York Times “Sean is a technical virtuoso who’s Joe Pass / Tommy Emmanuel fingerstyle approach is always in service to telling a story or creating a feeling within the song; he transcends many genres and can touch listeners of many backgrounds.” -Jazz Inside New York. Sean’s multiple awards include the coveted MAC, Bistro, and BroadwayWorld.com awards. Harkness represents Walden guitars, DR Strings, Fishman Pickups, and George L.’s cables. He has eight commercial releases as an artist, many on Windham Hill Records [BMG/RCA/Sony]. Walden Guitars featured Sean on their 2011 and 2012 product catalog covers, released a Signature 12-string guitar in Europe, Asia, and North America, and his B-1 Baritone Acoustic guitar. Sean has an active international touring schedule – most recently including Africa, the Caribbean, and Japan – of concerts, clubs, festivals, corporate events, and intimate private home salons or fundraisers. A musician’s musician of exceptional versatility, Sean is often requested to teach Guitar Master Classes and music workshops. www.seanharkness.com.
More details:
In addition to featuring Sean on the cover of their 2011 product catalog, Walden Guitars released both a Sean Harkness Signature 12-string guitar in Europe, Asia, and North America, and a brand new B-1 Baritone Acoustic guitar.
Along with numerous duets, compilations, TV, and film soundtracks, Mr. Harkness now has eight commercial artist releases:
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 5 great drummers -2009
H2 Flights: Volume One w/fab Canadian trumpeter Mike Herriott -2011
“A Wish” – with vocalist Karen Oberlin
“Duet” – with pianist Ian Herman
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.
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.
The Cabaret community has embraced Harkness in all its venues in New York, including special events at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.
Mr. Harkness also appears regularly in any of New York’s folk, rock, and singer/songwriter clubs such as the Cutting Room, Joe’s Pub, 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 in major congregations nationally.
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