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Last
year Stefon Harris made his recording premiere as a leader with A Cloud of
Red Dust, inarguably the strongest jazz debut performance of 1998 and
arguably the best in several years. Rather than duplicate his efforts on
his second outing, the vibraphonist-composer subtly moves in a new
direction on Black Action Figure.
"I never want to do the same thing twice," says the 26-year-old
Harris, who has already firmly established himself in the lineage of such
esteemed jazz vibraphonists as Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson and Bobby
Hutcherson. "This album represents a natural evolution."
While
the first album was marked by a pensive sensibility, the new CD is
characterized by a more high-spirited feel. "A Cloud of Red Dust was
the documenting of my journey searching for philosophical tenets to bring
peace to my life," Harris explains. " In conceiving Black Action
Figure, I was experiencing a lot more optimism and joy. I was a lot more
relaxed in my approach. Recording became all about capturing the moment.
For the most part, all the songs were first takes in the studio. There are
no corrections to the solos. That relaxed feeling made a big
difference."
Even though Harris admits that the title of the new CD is open to many
interpretations and is deliberately meant to be ambiguous in meaning, he
hopes listeners will appreciate the playfulness and humor of Black Action
Figure. "This record is meant to be fun and optimistic," he
says. "On the first CD I was very philosophical. On this record you
get the softer, funnier side of Stefon Harris."
On Black Action Figure, Harris enlists the support of simpatico band members, including pianist Jason Moran and drummer Eric Harland. Also on board is bassist Tarus Mateen and alto saxophonist Greg Osby. Trombonist Steve Turre is also featured, as is alto flutist Gary Thomas.
Harris has been widely recognized by both his peers and jazz critics. Earlier this year he appeared on albums by Cassandra Wilson (Traveling Miles) and Steve Coleman (The Sonic Language of Myth), and he was profiled by DownBeat in its June special issue on the jazz stars of the future. He was also voted Best New Talent by Jazziz Magazine and Best Jazz CD by Newsweek Magazine
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