Stefon Harris

Stefon Harris

Harris at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2007
Background information
Born March 23, 1973 (1973-03-23) (age 43)
Genres Jazz
Instruments Vibraphone
Marimba
Years active 1996–present
Labels Blue Note
Associated acts Classical Jazz Quartet
Website StefonHarris.com

Stefon Harris (born March 23, 1973) is an American jazz vibraphonist. In 1999, the Los Angeles Times called him "one of the most important young artists in jazz"[1] who is "at the forefront of new New York music" and "much in demand as a star sideman".[2] Harris has played with several jazz luminaries including Kenny Barron, Steve Turre, Kurt Elling, and Charlie Hunter, in addition to releasing several of his own critically well-regarded albums.

Harris is a resident of Newark, New Jersey.[3]

Education and early career

A 1991 graduate of Albany High School, Harris earned his bachelor's (in 1995) and master's (in 1997) from Manhattan School of Music in New York City.[4] He credited his teachers in High School, saying they recognized his "passion for music early on and offered lessons and the chance to bring home instruments to practice."[4] He has stated that "Music education and performance in ensembles, like the Empire State Youth Orchestra, exposed me to me to other cultures and genres."[4] He also was the captain of the high school wrestling team.[4] Of Manhattan School of Music he has said: "The School gave me the opportunity to explore the diversity of both classical and jazz music and find the direction I wanted to go artistically."

Performances

He plays the vibraphone, has composed music, and has released six CDs.[4]

He has performed throughout North America and Australia, from New York's Lincoln Center, to San Francisco, Chicago, East Lansing, Michigan, Troy, New York, Eilat, Israel, and Sydney, Australia.[4] In April 2009, he headlined at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Orange County, California.[5][6]

Collaboration

Harris collaborated with saxophonist David Sánchez and trumpeter Christian Scott in 2011 on the album Ninety Miles. They recorded the album in Havana, Cuba.[7]

Discography

As a leader

As a co-leader

As member of The Classical Jazz Quartet

As a sideman

References

  1. ↑ "Faces to Watch '99" in Los Angeles Times, January 3, 1999 pg. 10
  2. ↑ The Penguin Guide to Jazz by Richard Cook and Brian Morton, pg. 598
  3. ↑ Wise, Brian. "Eclectic Sounds of New Jersey, Echoing From Coast to Coast", The New York Times, February 8, 2004. Accessed November 22, 2007.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Alumni achievement Stefon Harris ’91 – Hitting all the right notes: Stefon Harris is living his dream," Capital Education -- Spring 2008 (City School District of Albany's quarterly newsletter), p. 4, found at Albany Schools official website. Accessed July 10, 2008.
  5. ↑ OCRegister. Accessed July 10, 2008.
  6. ↑ Orange County Performing Arts Center official website. Accessed July 10, 2008.
  7. ↑ Patterson, Ian (August 29, 2011). "Stefon Harris / David Sanchez / Christian Scott Ninety Miles". All About Jazz. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  8. ↑ allmusic ((( Classical Jazz Quartet > Discography > Main Albums )))
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