vibraphonist Stefon Harris + Blackout quintet

—a Band on Fire!

The best way to describe any effort by Stefon Harris is – Jazz for the here and now... a celebration of musical freedom. The Jazz Bakery has been fortunate enough to host Stefon several times. He never fails to surprise and delight as he works the space between vibes and marimba with a dancer's athletic grace. He is as thrilling to watch as to hear!

“With Stefon’s newest Motéma release... ‘Sonic Creed,’ he has produced a high-gloss, dizzyingly virtuosic blend of post-bop funk established within an addictive groove.” Timeout.com

Now Harris has created yet another joyous noise with an ingenious lineup of established artists: Grammy Award-winning saxophonist, Casey Benjamin (original member of the Robert Glasper Experiment), whose defining alto saxophone sound is evident in his melodic ingenuity and spiky mastery of his instrument. Marc Cary who stands apart as one of New York’s best jazz pianists and brings his own lyricism, warmth and warp-speed chops to the mix. Add in Rock-solid force-to-be-reckoned-with bassist, Burniss Travis, and a special shout-out to drummer, Terreon Gully so damn musical and slick that he manages to anticipate and compliment Harris’ every move. ...and there you have it: the ingredients of a band on fire!

As for Stefon... he is simply one of the most important artists in jazz. JazzTimes