Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
In Memoriam: John Hammond Jr., 1942–2026
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
Vibraphonist Stefon Harris’ seventh album as leader, Urbanus (Concord), is set for an Aug. 25 release. It will be his debut for the label.
Keyboardist Marc Cary and saxophonist Casey Benjamin are part of Harris’ core group, and the disc also features his new arrangements for strings and woodwinds.
“One of the biggest indicators of our growth as a band is the level of contribution from all the members of the ensemble,” Harris said. “The music not only incorporates all of our writing but everyone’s cultural backgrounds as well.”
New compositions include the ballad “For You” and “Gone,” which features go-go polyrhythms. Harris’ group also covers Stevie Wonder’s “They Won’t Go (When I Go).”
For more info go to concordrecords.com
Hammond came to the blues through the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which he experienced firsthand in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
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