May 29, 2024 1:03 PM
Stefon Harris Dives Into the Future
Seated on steeply inclined risers and packed in like sardines, a community of concertgoers gazes down expectantly, if…
“I had total confidence and trust that they were brilliant musicians and would come up with something amazing, which they did,” Harris said of his Blackout band members after their AI-enriched performance at Harlem’s Victoria Theater on Feb. 18.
May 29, 2024 1:03 PM
Seated on steeply inclined risers and packed in like sardines, a community of concertgoers gazes down expectantly, if…
Russell Gunn was commissioned by the Apollo Theater to compose the music for The Blues And Its People.
Feb 7, 2023 1:53 PM
The Apollo Theater in Harlem continues its 2022–’23 season theme of The Next Movement with The Blues And Its People…
Danny Jonokuchi and his large ensemble, The Revisionists, submitted the winning video entry for the inaugural edition of Count Basie’s Great American Swing Contest.
Dec 15, 2020 2:23 PM
Musicians who are selected to judge a jazz competition often face an extremely difficult, painstaking task. But,…
Anat Cohen is set to stream a Jazz House Kids presentation on Wednesday.
Dec 18, 2020 1:07 PM
As performers look to replace income from lost gigs and regain a sense of community amid the coronavirus pandemic, a…
James Francies arranged a version of Rufus’ “Ain’t Nobody” for his debut album, which was met with approval from the song’s original singer, Chaka Khan.
Apr 13, 2020 1:26 PM
Jazz pianism today stands at an apex.
There have been other moments in the music’s history when innovation rushed…
Joel Ross performs May 25 at the Atlanta Jazz Festival.
May 31, 2019 11:53 AM
In the sticky, oppressive heat of a spring Atlanta day, Stefon Harris pounds out a chordal interval on his marimba in…
Sunny Sumter, DC Jazz Festival executive director, speaks Wednesday at The Pillsbury Law Firm Conference Center in Washington D.C., detailing the event’s programing.
Apr 18, 2019 2:27 PM
The DC Jazz Festival announced key elements of its 15th anniversary edition at The Pillsbury Law Firm Conference Center…
On June 29, the Impulse! label issued previously unreleased studio recordings by John Coltrane (left), Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison and McCoy Tyner under the title Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album.
Jan 4, 2019 12:27 PM
During 2018, DownBeat published hundreds of articles and album reviews. What’s below, though, are some features and…
Laurin Talese performs at the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition on Nov. 18 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark.
Nov 21, 2018 11:40 AM
Laurin Talese has spent countless hours as a vocal teacher emphasizing the importance of breath control to students.…
Stefon Harris’ latest album, Sonic Creed, includes a number of original compositions, as well as “Now,” a track written by vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson.
Oct 23, 2018 9:46 AM
Quick of mind and compact of body, Stefon Harris moved easily from the vibraphone to the computer to the electric…
Sonic Creed (Motéma) is vibraphonist Stefon Harris’ third album with his troupe Blackout.
Jul 19, 2018 12:10 PM
Vibraphonist, educator and DownBeat Critics Poll winner Stefon Harris has recorded a new album, Sonic Creed (Motéma),…
Zakir Hussain (center, with tabla) performs with members of the Kronos Quartet members David Harrington (left), John Sherba, Hank Dutt and Sunny Yang at SFJAZZ in San Francisco on Jan. 18.
Jan 24, 2017 2:58 PM
Producing and presenting a multi-act show with limited rehearsal time and a broad repertoire can be a tricky…
In addition to assembling a new band, Stefon Harris has developed an app called Harmony Cloud, which helps users play by ear.
Apr 21, 2016 3:12 PM
Even though Stefon Harris hasn’t released an album since 2011’s Ninety Miles (Concord), on which he shared top…
Chick Corea (left) performs with Stefon Harris during a tribute concert to the 2016 NEA Jazz Masters at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on April 4
Apr 21, 2016 2:50 PM
Besides producing and streaming a star-studded tribute concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on April 4…
Rudresh Mahanthappa (left) with Stefon Harris at the Symphony Center in Chicago on Feb. 26
Mar 22, 2016 2:50 PM
Chicago Symphony Center’s Jazz Series presented an ambitious double billing Feb. 26 with alto saxophonist Rudresh…
