Stefon Harris | |
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Stefon Harris at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2007. Photo by Siebe van Ineveld |
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Background information | |
Born | March 23, 1973 |
Genres | Jazz |
Instruments | vibraphone marimba |
Years active | 1996–present |
Labels | Blue Note |
Associated acts | Classical Jazz Quartet |
Website | http://www.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]
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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 with recognizing 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."
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 will headline at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Orange County, California.[5][6]
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]