#391 Stefon Harris- Vibraphonist, Educator, Developer and More!
Stefon Harris’ passionate artistry and astonishing virtuosity have propelled him to the forefront of the jazz scene. In 2020 on National Public Radio (NPR), Harris’ feature highlighted his contributions as a musician but also as an educator and thought leader who teaches empathy from the bandstand. Harris has also been featured as one of the leading and emerging artists for Apollo’s New Works Master Artist residency. In 2019, Hot House and Jazz Mobile awarded Harris best vibes as part of the best and brightest for the New York Readers Jazz awards.
Stefon has earned four GRAMMY Award® nominations, and has been named Best Mallet player eight times by the Jazz Journalist Association. He was also chosen Best Vibes in the 2018 and 2017 Downbeat Magazine Critic’s Poll, the 2016 Jazz Times Expanded Critics Poll, the 2014 Jazz Times Critics Poll and the 2013 Downbeat Critics Poll. NPR’s All Things Considered praised Mr. Harris’ audacious CD Urbanus , which also earned a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album, as one of “The Year’s Best New Jazz” recordings. As a member of the SFJAZZ Collective, their 2014 CD, Wonder: The Songs of Stevie Wonder , won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album.
Mr. Harris received his Bachelor of Music degree in classical music and Master of Music degree in jazz performance at Manhattan School of Music where he formerly served as the Associate Dean and Director of Jazz Arts. He has taught at universities throughout the world in person and virtually via his Distance Learning Studio, has led curriculum development at the Brubeck Institute, and serves as Artistic Director of Jazz Education at New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Mr. Harris is a Professor at Rutgers University-Newark and served on the jazz faculty of New York University for the past decade. “The Art of Listening,” part of a series of documentaries focusing on Harris’s community work in arts education in Kalamazoo, won 3 Gold Camera awards and 3 Michigan EMMY Award® nominations. More recently he was the subject of a documentary, The Sound of New York, viewable on QwestTV and produced and directed by Italian filmmaker Gloria Rebecchi. MORE
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Akbar Moghaddam! Akbar is an innovator and master craftsman with a relentless passion for percussion. Working for the most celebrated brands in the industry, the man simply known as Akbar, has built a highly respected reputation for designing instruments that put the needs of the player first.
Having worked in concert with legendary artists such as Giovani Hidalgo, Alex Acuna, Karl Perazzo, Jesus Diaz, Orestes Vilato, Walfredo Reyes Sr. and a host of other notable luminaries, Akbar’s talents have been immortalized on countess recordings and played on the most prestigious stages throughout the world. The blueprint for Akbar’s own Brand, Sol Percussion has been decades in the making. MORE
Happy Birthday Jamey Haddad! Jamey was born July 2, 1952 in Cleveland, Ohio is an American percussionist who works primarily in the fields of jazz and world music and specializes in hand drums.
Haddad is of Lebanese ancestry. From the age of four, he began playing Lebanese percussion instruments, such as the goblet drum. He later studied music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He lived in New York City for over 20 years. In 2002, he and his family moved to Shaker Heights, Ohio. He teaches at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. He is also artistic director of the Friday's at 7 series at Cleveland's Severance Hall. This series features the Cleveland Orchestra and a secondary performance of folk artists from around the world. MORE
Happy Birthday Jeff Stern. Known for performing “with precision and an impressive attention to timbral detail” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), percussionist Jeff Stern has developed a voice to listen for in today’s contemporary music scene. He has performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, and has collaborated with and championed the work of a number of the world’s preeminent composers. Recent premieres include Alejandro Viñao’s Stress and Flow with The Percussion Collective, James Wood’s Secret Dialogues for solo marimba, and John Luther Adams’ Sila at Lincoln Center’s Out of Doors Festival. As a proponent for the music of our time, Stern also actively commissions works by composers of his generation, such as Thomas Kotcheff, Emma O’Halloran, Robert Honstein, and Juri Seo. MORE
Happy Birthday to Daniel Prim! Daniel Prim is a Venezuelan percussionist and drummer specializing in jazz, Latin, and Afro-Venezuelan music. Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, he started his music studies at 12 years old at Jose Reina Music School. Years later, he attended the Simon Bolivar Conservatory Music, part of the National Youth and Children's Orchestras of Venezuela, “El Sistema”, created by maestro Jose Antonio Abreu. He has been part of seminars and workshops taught by world-renowned musicians including Nicolás Folmer, Stafford Hunter, Edward Simon, James Zollar, and Rolando Briceño. Read MORE
Gig Alerts
The Jazz Foundation of America has released their event calendar for July and August with shows taking place mostly in NYC and New Orleans. Friend of the show Steven Kroon will be performing as well as a host of others.
Where to watch all the 4th of July celebrations and fireworks on TV! The events include CNN’s ‘The Fourth in America’ special, PBS’s ‘A Capitol Fourth’ special featuring friends of the show Wally Reyes and Ray Yslas, and NBC’s ‘Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular’ with the band Chicago.
Bristol, Rhode Island will host its annual Fourth of July Celebration. The oldest 4th of July celebration in the country.
Boston will host its annual Boston Pops 4th of July fireworkworks-spectacular with special guests The Mavericks & Kelli O’Hara, beloved favorites from the Boston Pops, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, and the Mugar Family Fireworks over the Charles River.
Drum Corps International kicked off their summer tour last week. Schedule and tickets are available on their website.
Educational Spotlight
Here’s an introductory video about the Harmony Cloud app developed by Stefon Harris. A great tool for your students or to train your ear.
The ticket price of Pasic are going up on Wednesday July 3rd.
Iconic Recording
Stefon Harris picked this week’s iconic recording which is Shirley Horn - “Here's To Life” (Verve Records 1992) Here's to Life is a 1992 studio album by Shirley Horn, arranged by Johnny Mandel (also the composer of three of the songs on the album), The title track "Here's to Life" became Horn's signature song. The music was written by Artie Butler and the poignant lyrics were written by Phyllis Molinary. The lyric is known, world-wide, as one of her finest works and the song is considered a "modern day jazz standard."
Music News
Recording Academy CEO & Will.i.am discuss AI and the future of music at Grammy Museum Fireside Chat.
United States vs. Live Nation Starts Rolling — With a jury trial potentially starting in march 2026 ARTICLE
If you’re planning to travel to Europe for work new fees are coming soon. Check out this video for more information on how to get your paperwork in order and what to expect from the changes.
Major record labels have sued two artificial intelligence companies for allegedly stealing copyrighted sound recordings to generate music. See the video below for more information on the labels and artists effected.
Stefon Harris Interview
Music leading into the episode is “The Devil In The Details” by Stefon Harris and Mike Moreno from Sonic Creed Volume II: Life Signs, Released 06-14-2024
In this episode Stefon talks about teaching at Manhattan School of music (past), now teaching at Rutgers University
Stefon talks about how he managed the pandemic with gratitude.
Developing and working with his Harmony Cloud App.
His newest album, "Sonic Creed II - Life Signs" on Motema Music.
Stefon talks about the creative process behind creating this new album.
Stefon loves playing ballads above all else.
Damon brings up the Marimba Lumina.
Stefon talks about the personnel on Sonic Creed and Blackout. He also teases a forthcoming album.
Rest in Peace to Casey Benjamin. Casey died March 30 in Maryland. He was 45.-ARTICLE
Damon instigates the Latin Vibraphone concert at PASIC.
Stefon talks about his approach on the mallet instruments.
Stefon uses his own signature series Mallets by Malletech. They are inspired by Milt Jackson’s Albright mallets.
Stefon is an artistic advisor for the NJPAC.
Stefon talks about balance and how he’s worked out his schedule of late.
Damon brings up using A.I. and Stefon talks about how he’s used it and anticipates using it in the future. He talks about AIVA as a tool.
Stefon talks about companion and love.
Stefon talks about being an artist and being a side person.
Stefon chooses the iconic recording for the week.
Shout-out to Richard Albagli.
Stefon uses Malletech Mallets and Vibraphones & Marimbas exclusively. Check out the Harmony Cloud app.
You can keep up with Stefon on his Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Music leading out of the episode is “You and I” · Stefon Harris · Stevie Wonder from Sonic Creed Volume II: Life Signs, Released 06-14-2024
