Paul David Harbour
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Paul David Harbour (born May 24, 1965) is an American bass guitar and guitar player, pianist and composer. He is recognised for his work with David T. Chastain, Michael Harris and
Tony MacAlpine Tony MacAlpine (born August 29, 1960) is an American musician and composer. In a career spanning four decades, he has released twelve studio albums. MacAlpine is best known as an instrumental rock and heavy metal solo guitarist, although he has ...
. He has played in the bands "Leather", "Chastain" and "King Diamond". He teaches bass guitar, guitar and piano.


Education

Harbour began piano lessons at age five with the encouragement of his German paternal grandmother. Harbour's father had studied music and opera in
Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million ...
's Peabody College of Education,
Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
. At 16, Harbour was impressed by
Edward Van Halen Edward Lodewijk Van Halen ( , ; January 26, 1955 – October 6, 2020) was an American musician and songwriter. He was the guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Van Halen, which he co-founded along ...
's performances and began
bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...
lessons. Harbour's prior lessons in classical and jazz piano assisted his guitar studies. Harbour studied
funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
,
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
and
Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...
bass lines. His desire to play the bass guitar came not only from his father but also from the music of
Chris Squire Christopher Russell Edward Squire (4March 1948 – 27June 2015) was an English musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist and backing vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes (band), Yes. He was the longest-serving original memb ...
from "Yes" and
Geddy Lee Geddy Lee (born Gary Lee Weinrib; July 29, 1953) is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush. Lee joined the band in September 1968, at the re ...
from "Rush".


Early career

At 17, Harbour played his first gig. He joined musicians who performed a repertoire of
Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...
,
College rock College rock was the alternative rock music played on student-run university and college campus radio stations located in the United States and Canada in the 1980s. The stations' playlists were often created by students who avoided the mainstream ...
and covers. One of these musicians was Harbour's high school friend, Kevin White, who played the guitar. Together, they recorded some music. Harbour founded an instrumental trio called "Uncle Festre". Harbour obtained work as a studio session bassist for local musicians from
Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
.


Career


Manta Ray

In the late 1980s, Harbour joined the Dallas, Texas band "Manta Ray". The group was founded by Lance Harvill (who went on to the "Arms if the Sun" project) and included John Luke Hebert on drums and Mike Morgan a guitarist who became Lance's mentor. In 1990, "Manta Ray" recorded a demo album at the "Dallas Sound Lab" in classic hard 'n' heavy style.


Member of Chastain

In 1989, David T. Chastain, a guitarist invited Harbour to record bass parts on his instrumental solo album, ''Within The Heat''. Harbour then joined Chastain's eponymous band, Chastain. In 1989, Harbour participated in the album, ''Shock Waves'', a solo album by "Chastain's" vocalist,
Leather Leone Catherine Anne Leone, known professionally as Leather Leone, is an American metal vocalist, best known for fronting the groups Rude Girl and Chastain in the 1980s. She released one solo album, ''Shock Waves'', in 1989, before taking a twenty-y ...
. In 1990, Harbour contributed to "Chastain's" album of classic heavy metal songs called ''
For Those Who Dare ''For Those Who Dare'' is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Chastain, released in 1990 through Leviathan Records. New members David Harbour and John Luke Hebert were part of the band that played in Leather Leone solo album ...
''. Harbour collaborated with David Chastain until the mid-1990s. Together, they recorded another two solo instrumental albums: ''Elegant Seduction'' (1991) and ''Next Planet Please'' (1994). These albums show a gradual departure from heavy metal music towards
prog rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Initi ...
and
fusion Fusion, or synthesis, is the process of combining two or more distinct entities into a new whole. Fusion may also refer to: Science and technology Physics *Nuclear fusion, multiple atomic nuclei combining to form one or more different atomic nucl ...
. While Harbour was a member, "Chastain" took three world tours.


Collaboration with Michael Harris

In June 1991, Chastain and Harris (who had played on the ''Leather'' album) collaborated to tour in the US and Mexico, record and release a concert album. Harbour recorded the rhythm section on Chastain's side and Greg Martin played drums on Harris' side. The resulting album, ''Live! Wild And Truly Diminished!!'', was released in 1992. It contained concert versions of Harris' and Chastain's previous solo works and the concert improvisations of each. Harbour contributed to the album a solo bass guitar improvisation called ''B.O.F.''. During the early 1990s, Harbour developed his pianistic skills and prepared his first solo album, with the working title, '' Lost For Words''.


Member of King Diamond

"Chastain's" former drummer, John Luke Hebert, invited Harbour to play with his band
King Diamond Kim Bendix Petersen (born 14 June 1956), better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Danish rock musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his powerful and wide-ranging countertenor singing voice, in particular his far-reaching falsetto s ...
in 1999, as the bass guitar position was vacant. After a personal conversation with the band members, Harbour joined the group without further question. In 2000, he contributed bass guitar accompaniment to the band's album ''
House Of God ''The House of God'' is a satirical novel by Samuel Shem (a pseudonym used by psychiatrist Stephen Bergman), published in 1978. The novel follows a group of medical interns at a fictionalized version of Beth Israel Hospital over the course o ...
'' recorded at the "Nomad Recording Studio". "King Diamond" took a self-titled tour after which Harbour left the band.


''Ideology''

In 2003, Harbour's solo album, ''
Ideology An ideology is a set of beliefs or philosophies attributed to a person or group of persons, especially those held for reasons that are not purely epistemic, in which "practical elements are as prominent as theoretical ones." Formerly applied pri ...
'', was released on CD. Harbour composed music for the album, played piano and keyboard parts and bass guitar and took creative control, incorporating a number of different styles such as
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
, jazz, prog rock,
impressionism Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open Composition (visual arts), composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating ...
and
new age New Age is a range of spiritual or religious practices and beliefs which rapidly grew in Western society during the early 1970s. Its highly eclectic and unsystematic structure makes a precise definition difficult. Although many scholars conside ...
. Influences evident in the album's music include George Winston,
Tori Amos Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos; August 22, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She is a classically trained musician with a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Having already begun composing instrumental pieces on piano, Amos won a full ...
,
Peter Gabriel Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and activist. He rose to fame as the original lead singer of the progressive rock band Genesis. After leaving Genesis in 1975, he launched ...
,
Kate Bush Catherine Bush (born 30 July 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, record producer and dancer. In 1978, at the age of 19, she topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks with her debut single "Wuthering Heights (song), Wuthering Heights", ...
,
Sting Sting may refer to: * Stinger or sting, a structure of an animal to inject venom, or the injury produced by a stinger * Irritating hairs or prickles of a stinging plant, or the plant itself Fictional characters and entities * Sting (Middle-eart ...
, and bands such as "
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philo ...
" and "Rush". Throughout the CD, the bass guitar contributes an independent melodic line in counterpoint to the piano, rather than just a simple rhythm accompaniment.


''Gods of Balance''

After the release of the ''Ideology'' CD, Harbour commenced work on ''Gods of Balance'' in collaboration with bass guitarist,
Michael Manring Michael Manring (born June 27, 1960) is an American bass guitarist from the San Francisco Bay Area. Biography Michael Manring was born in Annapolis, Maryland,Tom Mulhern, ''Bass Heroes: Styles, Stories & Secrets of 30 Great Bass Players : from ...
. Despite Harbour needing time to promote ''Ideology'' (for example with a supporting tour), the new work commenced (as Manring was available). Harbour recorded bass guitar parts for Manring's new composition, ''Phobos and Deimos'' at "Castle Zeek Studio" in
Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the county seat, seat and largest city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and Williamson County, Texas, Williamson co ...
. Beyond this, the ''Gods of Balance'' album was postponed for four years. During this time, Harbour explored musicianship and musical expression with the guitar, piano and fretless instruments.


Later work

During the 2000s, Harbour worked as a studio session bass guitar and piano player with various musicians including, the rock bands "Doppler Effect", "T ", the black metal band Absu, the darkwave/ambient project "Proscriptor", shred bass metal musician Ben Kuzay, and dark ambient band, Equimanthorn. In Dallas, in 2006, Harbour joined a local band, "49th Vibration". With an old friend, guitarist Troy Thibodeaux (ex-"Damaged Faith") and drummer April Samuels, Harbour played several club concerts and recorded a demo consisting of four songs in folk-pop-rock genre. Harbour has also played solo bass guitar and piano compositions in
house concert A house concert or home concert is a musical concert or performance art that is presented in someone's home or apartment, or a nearby small private space such as a barn, apartment rec room, lawn, or backyard."VIDEO: House concert in Royal Oak," '' ...
s. : ''The Gingerman'' (bass solo, 2005) : ''Broken'' (piano solo, 2008) : ''Obelisk/Liberation'' (piano solo, 2008) : ''A Song That Doesn't Exist'' (Trip Wamsley, 2008) In 2009, Harbour wrote ''Is it just me?''. In 2010, he collaborated with Harris,
Marco Minnemann Marco Minnemann (born 24 December 1970) is a German drummer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. Career Marco Minnemann has released over a dozen solo albums as drummer, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist, and performed on over 100 studio alb ...
drummer, Adam Nitti,
Bunny Brunel Bernard "Bunny" Brunel is a French-American bass guitarist who has played with Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter. He is a founding member of the jazz fusion band CAB and is involved in musical instrument design and film and tel ...
and James Martin to record the album ''Tranz-Fused''. David left "49th Vibration" in 2011.


Lava Lamp

In December 2011, David Harbour shared with April Samuels ("49th Vibration") his new musical vision. From that moment David and April began rehearsing as a duo "Lava Lamp". David playing piano primarily, but at times acoustic guitar, and April playing a percussion/drum set, often working off one another through improvisational pieces.


Discography

* David T. Chastain ''Within the Heat'', 1989 (bass) * Leather ''
Shock Waves In physics, a shock wave (also spelled shockwave), or shock, is a type of propagating disturbance that moves faster than the local speed of sound in the medium. Like an ordinary wave, a shock wave carries energy and can propagate through a med ...
'', 1989 (bass) * Chastain ''
For Those Who Dare ''For Those Who Dare'' is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Chastain, released in 1990 through Leviathan Records. New members David Harbour and John Luke Hebert were part of the band that played in Leather Leone solo album ...
'', 1990 (bass) * David T. Chastain ''Elegant Seduction'', 1991 (bass) * David T. Chastain & Michael Harris ''Live! Wild And Truly Diminished!'', 1992 (bass, composer) * David T. Chastain ''Next Planet Please'', 1994 (bass) * David T. Chastain ''Movements Thru Time'' (compilation), 1992 (bass) * Michael Harris ''Ego Decimation Profile'', 1996 (bass in ''Vicious Uppercut'', ''Status-Fear'', ''Julius Seizure'', ''Freudian Trip'', ''Terminus Epic'') * King Diamond ''
House Of God ''The House of God'' is a satirical novel by Samuel Shem (a pseudonym used by psychiatrist Stephen Bergman), published in 1978. The novel follows a group of medical interns at a fictionalized version of Beth Israel Hospital over the course o ...
'', 2000 (bass) * David Harbour ''
Ideology An ideology is a set of beliefs or philosophies attributed to a person or group of persons, especially those held for reasons that are not purely epistemic, in which "practical elements are as prominent as theoretical ones." Formerly applied pri ...
'', 2003 (bass, keyboards, composer) * David T. Chastain ''Heavy Excursions'' (compilation), 2009 (bass) * Michael Harris ''Tranz-Fused'', 2010 (bass in ''Wizard of Odd'', ''Professor Grunklesplat's Math Assignment'') * Manta Ray ''Visions Of Towering Alchemy'' (reissue), 2013 (bass)


Other works

* Manta Ray ''Until Tomorrow'' (demo tape), 1990 (bass) * DVinity ''Symbols Become Rituals'', 1994 (bass, composer) * Doppler Effect ''Duplicitous Vortex'', 2001 (bass) * Absu '' Tara'', 2001 (keyboards and piano) * Proscriptor ''Thoth Music(k)'' (vinyl EP), 2004 (bass in ''The 4 Horsemen'', ''Epod No Sknup Etihw'') * Equimanthorn ''Second Sephira Cella'', 2004 (aka Vordhk Dzokhk, fretless bass) * 49th Vibration ''Demo Tape'', 2007 (bass in ''Lisas Song'', ''The Same One'', ''Is This It'', ''Victim'') * Ben Kuzay ''Perpetual Reign'', 2009 (bass and keyboards in ''Homage to Hated Heroes'') * Absu '' Absu'', 2009 (keyboards in ''B. Our Earth of Black'' (Part II of ''…Of the Dead Who Never Rest in Their Tombs Are the Attendance of Familiar Spirits…'')


Training materials

* ''Learn How To Learn'', 1993 (video tutorial for bass players)


Influences

Van Halen Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. Credited with "restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene", Van Halen was known for its energetic live shows and for the virtuosity of its lead gu ...
, Rush,
Geddy Lee Geddy Lee (born Gary Lee Weinrib; July 29, 1953) is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush. Lee joined the band in September 1968, at the re ...
,
Chris Squire Christopher Russell Edward Squire (4March 1948 – 27June 2015) was an English musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist and backing vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes (band), Yes. He was the longest-serving original memb ...
,
Billy Sheehan William Sheehan (born March 19, 1953) is an American musician. He is best known for playing the bass guitar with acts such as Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Niacin, and The Winery Dogs. He is also known for his "lead bass" playing ...
,
Stuart Hamm Stuart Hamm (born February 8, 1960) is an American bass guitar player, known for his session and live work with numerous artists as well as for his unconventional playing style and solo recordings. Career Born in New Orleans, Hamm spent his chil ...
,
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philo ...
,
Peter Gabriel Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and activist. He rose to fame as the original lead singer of the progressive rock band Genesis. After leaving Genesis in 1975, he launched ...
, George Winston,
Tori Amos Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos; August 22, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She is a classically trained musician with a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Having already begun composing instrumental pieces on piano, Amos won a full ...
,
Kate Bush Catherine Bush (born 30 July 1958) is an English singer, songwriter, record producer and dancer. In 1978, at the age of 19, she topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks with her debut single "Wuthering Heights (song), Wuthering Heights", ...
,
Sting Sting may refer to: * Stinger or sting, a structure of an animal to inject venom, or the injury produced by a stinger * Irritating hairs or prickles of a stinging plant, or the plant itself Fictional characters and entities * Sting (Middle-eart ...


External links

*
Official MySpace page

Musicians activity

Interview with David Harbour
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harbour, Paul David 21st-century American pianists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians American male composers 20th-century American composers 1965 births Living people Guitarists from Louisiana Musicians from New Orleans Chastain (band) members 20th-century American bass guitarists 20th-century American pianists American male pianists American male bass guitarists