Stefon Harris

[sheldonm]

I went to see Stefon Harris at the Jazz Showcase yesterday with ejp626. I had heard it received poor reveiws earlier in the week but my plans were made. I'm not familiar with much of Stefon's work but went in with an open mind. I though the show was fantastic! Stefon has a lot of energy and his playing was excellent. Not much electronic stuff; maybe a little from the alto player. I wasn't familiar with a lot of his tunes but he played "Summertime" and a track from the movie "Kate and Leopold" which was nice. He played a few tunes from this latest recording. I spoke to him for about two minutes before the show and he appears to be a very nice, soft-spoken guy. Maybe Eric can add something in addition.

I tried out a new digital camera that I may buy. I'll download some photographs in the next few days.

Mark

[ejp626]

They played a number of cuts off the album: Nothing Personal, Red Bone Netti Bone, Summertime and Until (this is a song by Sting that is on the Kate & Leopold soundtrack). They also played a medley that was part improvisation and part Monk (don't recall which one). They did not do Montara, which I would have liked to hear, especially as Hutcherson is coming to the Showcase in May.

It was a short set but vibrant. The piano player had just joined the group about a week ago, so he was fine but a bit restrained. If the group sticks together, I'd expect him to solo more. The rest of the rhythm section was good but really didn't solo. The soloing was pretty much restricted to Stefon and his alto player (probably why the set was short). It was kind of loud, but not LOUD as we had been warned. I definitely like Stefon's music and try to see him live when possible, though I do prefer the earlier albums more than Evolution. I will say that the Evolution material sounds better in person than on the album.

[Spontooneous]

I'm curious who the alto player was. A friend of mine has been filling in with this band.

[marcello]

I don't know that Spoon, but I'm a big Terreon (Tank) Gully fan!

[sheldonm]

I'm curious who the alto player was. A friend of mine has been filling in with this band.

...Corey Benjamin (sp)

[sheldonm]

I don't know that Spoon, but I'm a big Terreon (Tank) Gully fan!

...seems like a pretty good drummer but didn't really get the chance to solo during the show.

Mark

[Chuck Nessa]

...seems like a pretty good drummer but didn't really get the chance to solo during the show.

Might have been your lucky day.

[sheldonm]

...seems like a pretty good drummer but didn't really get the chance to solo during the show.

Might have been your lucky day.

[marcello]

...seems like a pretty good drummer but didn't really get the chance to solo during the show.

Might have been your lucky day.

Aw, Chuck... What's wrong with a drummer who plays TWO snares!?

[Chuck Nessa]

Aw, Chuck... What's wrong with a drummer who plays TWO snares!?

Does that mean one on top too?

[marcello]

Aw, Chuck... What's wrong with a drummer who plays TWO snares!?

Does that mean one on top too?

Ha!... No, side by side, as the song goes. One deeper than the other.

But really, he's fine.

[rachel]

I love Tank too. He's a regular with the Christian McBride Band, so I wonder how much he will be playing with Stefon. Then again, Christian will be touring with Pat Metheny and Antonio Sanchez in the Fall, so the CMB probably won't be touring extensively during that time.

I only saw Harris for a short set at the IAJE conference in NYC in Jan '04 -- loved what I heard. I also sat in on a few of his panel discussions. Quite eloquent.

Edited April 13, 2005 by rachel