“That word elegant is one that could be used repeatedly about this music. Harkins, bassist Brendan Clarke and drummer Andrew Dickeson have arrived at a restrained, timeless, manicured approach to making jazz, in which no note is out of place. The corollary is that there are few surprises, but the grooves are always buoyant and the soloing vibrant.” - John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald
“John Harkins, a master of bop piano, is an American from Chicago, who has lived in Sydney since 1994. This excellent album is dedicated to his son Riley Patrick. The quartet includes two US-based musicians: the African American drummer Carl Allen, and the Australian alto saxophonist Andrew Speight, who guests on three of eight tracks.” - Eric Myers, The Australian
“The US born ex-pat showcases his well-versed talents for jazz with a mix of originals and standards that form a timeless, effortless and scintillating body of work to add to his seasoned career. ‘Cognition’ see’s Harkins back in his element.” - Melanie Christodoulou, EastsideFM
“The Life of Riley is the seventh album from pianist/composer John Harkins. He’s a hard-swinging post-bop pianist, possessing great time and an exciting drive, effortlessly taking the listener on his musical journey that he is creating.” - Barry O’Sullivan, Limelight Magazine
“John Harkins, pianist and leader of this contemporary outfit, with its far from slavish echo of that period, reminded me recently (I had not seen him for some time) that I had once declared him to beone of the few who would venture a Thelonious Monk tune without trying to imitate Monk’s highly individualistic style. You could perhaps say that he had temporarily moved the eccentric Monk into the mainstream, proving succinctly that his creations worked there too.” - John Clare, Earshift Music
“American-born and raised, John Harkins, who moved to Sydney in 1994, is one of the most sought after jazz pianists in Australia today. He performs regularly with musicians such as Don Burrows, James Morrison, Dale Barlow and others.” - The Australian Jazz Agency