The young, increasingly popular vibes player, marimba player and composer Stefon Harris has been attracting a lot of attention. At first he dreamed of a career as a member of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, but he changed his mind after listening to Charlie Parker. He made his jazz debut five years ago when Blue Note released his album A Cloud of Red Dust. Since then things have been happening fast for the musician. His collaborative effort with the equally talented Jacky Terrasson on the record Kindred also demonstrated the measure in which Harris is a promise for the future with his impassioned free forms of expressions on vibes. On his recent CD The Grand Unification Theory he studies themes from physics and philosophy with an almost childlike curiosity, incorporating them in his music. He also displays his broad musical taste with varied, intelligently constructed pieces. An attractive amalgam of Latin, classical and African rhythms. With his new group Blackout, who are yet to release a CD, Harris is leaving the acoustic jazz behind him and experimenting with amplified instruments.
