Stefon Harris
Stefon Harris ( born March 23, 1973 in Albany, New York) is an American jazz vibraphonist.
Life and work
Harris started six years playing the piano and then expanded his interest to many other instruments. He attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Performance in Classical Music and a Master of Arts in Jazz. Since 1996 he performs on albums by Steve Coleman, Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Jason Moran, Steve Turré, Cassandra Wilson among others He is also a member of the SFJAZZ Collective.
1998 his debut A Cloud of Red Dust was released, at which he was supported by musicians such as Mulgrew Miller, Steve and Greg Osby Turré. The latter then took over the production of their second album Black Action Figure and designed the following project New Directions in which Osby young Blue Note musician Harris, Jason Moran and Mark Shim (which came into existence after this album only as a guest musician ) proteges.
Appeared in 2001 with Kindred, a joint work of Harris and Jacky Terrasson, 2003 The Grand Unification Theory, a concept album that was recorded with a twelve -piece ensemble. Was published in 2004 album Evolution of styles such as fusion or Afro-Cuban elements marked and could muster with saxophonist Casey Benjamin and keyboardist Marc Cary two crossover experienced musician, he worked on the published in 2006, African Tarantella board for several major works of Duke Ellington. Followed in 2009 by a second album, Evolution, Urbanus, with his trade under the name of Blackout backing band ( with saxophonist Casey Benjamin, pianist Marc Cary and drummer Terreon Gully, with the exception of the bassist ( Ben Williams instead of Darryl Hall ) the occupation remained constant). It is the first album Harris ', which did not appear on Blue Note, but at Concord.
On his albums Harris maintains a lyrical style that continues to be constant through the different theme designed albums. His albums Black Action Figure, The Grand Unification Theory Kindred and received Grammy nominations for the " Best Jazz Album " and " Best Jazz Instrumental Solo".