Stefon Harris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stefon Harris
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Harris at the North Sea Jazz Festival 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Stefon DeLeon Harris |
| Born | March 23, 1973 Albany, New York, U.S. |
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| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Blue Note |
| Associated acts | Classical Jazz Quartet |
Stefon Harris, born on March 23, 1973, is a famous American jazz musician. He plays the vibraphone, which is like a xylophone but with metal bars and a special sound. He also plays the marimba. Harris is known for his amazing talent and for bringing new ideas to jazz music.
Contents
About Stefon Harris
Early Life and Musical Journey
Stefon Harris grew up in Albany, New York. When he was younger, he thought about playing classical music with the New York Philharmonic orchestra. But then he discovered the exciting music of jazz legend Charlie Parker. This changed his path and made him want to play jazz.
In the 1990s, Stefon started his career. He played as a "session musician" with other artists like Charlie Hunter and Steve Turre. This means he was hired to play on their recordings.
First Albums and Awards
Stefon Harris signed with Blue Note, a famous jazz record company. His first album, A Cloud of Red Dust, came out in 1998. His second album, Black Action Figure, was even nominated for a Grammy Award! This is a huge honor in music.
In 2001, he worked with pianist Jacky Terrasson. They recorded an album together called Kindred. Stefon's album The Grand Unification Theory (2003) won a special award called the Martin E. Segal Award from Jazz at Lincoln Center. This shows how much his music was appreciated.
Collaborations and Recent Work
Stefon Harris often works with other talented musicians. In 2011, he teamed up with saxophonist David Sánchez and trumpeter Christian Scott. They recorded an album called Ninety Miles in Havana, Cuba. This project showed how different musical styles can come together.
Stefon Harris continues to make new music and perform around the world. He is a professor at the Manhattan School of Music, teaching young musicians. He also serves as the artistic director of jazz arts at the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall.
Stefon Harris's Music Albums
Albums as a Leader
These are some of the albums where Stefon Harris was the main artist:
- A Cloud of Red Dust (Blue Note, 1998)
- Black Action Figure (Blue Note, 1999)
- The Grand Unification Theory (Blue Note, 2003)
- Evolution (Blue Note, 2004)
- African Tarantella: Dances With Duke (Blue Note, 2006)
- Urbanus (Concord, 2009)
- Sonic Creed (Motema, 2018)
Albums with Other Artists
Stefon Harris has also made albums as a co-leader or as part of a group:
- Kindred (Blue Note, 2001) with Jacky Terrasson
- Ninety Miles (Concord Picante, 2011) with David Sánchez and Christian Scott
- He was also a member of The Classical Jazz Quartet and The SFJazz Collective, where they explored different styles of jazz and classical music.
See also
In Spanish: Stefon Harris para niños
