FEELING THE VIBES, HARRIS TURNS TO JAZZ.Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer Some say you need a lifetime of experience to play jazz with any authority. Acclaimed vibraphonist Stefon Harris Stefon Harris is an American jazz vibraphonist, considered "one of the most important young artists in jazz"[1] and is "at the forefront of new New York music" and "much in demand as a star sideman". has been at it just four years. Not that anyone's noticed. Harris, 26, has established himself as one of the most closely watched young artists in jazz. Along with cameos on albums by Cassandra Williams and Steve Coleman Steve Coleman, born September 20 1956, is an American saxophone player, spontaneous composer, composer and band leader. , he's worked with such big names as Wynton Marsalis Wynton Learson Marsalis (b. October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter and composer. He is among the most prominent jazz musicians of the modern era and is also a well-known instrumentalist in classical music. He is also the Musical Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. and Joe Henderson This article is about the jazz saxophonist. For other uses, see: Joe Henderson (disambiguation) Joe Henderson (April 24, 1937 - June 30, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. and topped numerous jazz polls. Harris was studying classical percussion at the Eastman School of Music Eastman School of Music: see Rochester, Univ. of. in Rochester, N.Y., with an eye toward joining the New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active symphony orchestra in the United States, organized during 1842. Based in New York City, the Philharmonic performs most of its concerts at Avery Fisher Hall and has long been considered one of the best orchestras in the world. when someone played him a copy of Charlie Parker's thrilling blues, ``Now's the Time.'' Bird changed everything. ``That's all it took,'' Harris remembers. ``It really sparked my interest. I wanted to know what the thought process was. It sounded very liberating.'' Harris then began a series of apprenticeships, performing with drummer Max Roach Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach (January 10, 1924 – August 16, 2007) was a bebop/hard bop percussionist, drummer, and composer. He worked with many of the greatest jazz musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins , Henderson and various salsa and Afro-Caribbean outfits. Marsalis hired him for the Lincoln Center Lincoln Center New York’s modern theater complex. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 1586] See : Theater Jazz Orchestra. ``It's all music,'' Harris says. ``It's the intensity you approach it with. In classical, it's the phrasing and not as much groove and rhythm. In jazz, it's very important to swing, but that doesn't mean you don't need good phrasing.'' This evening, Harris opens a four-night stand at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City accompanied by Billy Childs (piano), Taurus Mateen (bass) and Nasheed Waits (drums). Harris' just-released ``Black Action Figure'' (Blue Note) comes a year after ``A Cloud of Red Dust,'' which was considered by many critics one of the strongest jazz debuts in years. ``I'm grateful people love that first record,'' says Harris, who is in the process of moving from Manhattan to New Jersey. ``But I don't really pay much attention to critics.'' The vibist, who cites Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson and Lionel Hampton as primary influences on his playing, laughs when asked about the funky military rhythm of the new album's title track: ``If G.I. Joe was black, that would be his theme song.'' THE FACTS Who: Stefon Harris. Where: Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City. When: 8 and 9:30 tonight through Saturday. Tickets: $18 and $20. Information: (310) 271-9039. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Vibraphonist Stefon Harris, who has only been playing jazz for four years, leads a quartet at Culver City's Jazz Bakery beginning tonight. |
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