His 5th CD for Blue Note Records
Release Date: April 20, 2004
BLACKOUT is: Stefon Harris - vibraphone & marimba
Casey Benjamin - alto saxophone
Marc Cary - Fender Rhodes & keyboards
Darryl Hall - bass
Terreon Gully - drums
The Washington Post
January 12, 2004
Stefon Harris
Like Terence Blanchard and Roy Hargrove, peers who made their mark playing mainstream jazz, vibraphonist Stefon Harris recently formed a new band to explore a different set of tunes, textures and moods. Dubbed Blackout, the quintet offered a sneak peek at its upcoming debut CD at the Kennedy Center's KC Jazz Club on Saturday night.
Harris, who composed most of the tunes heard during the opening set, spent the performance fluidly switch-hitting on vibes and marimba, showering complex arrangements with ringing and racing tones, then turning on a dime to create a quiet, shimmering interlude. It was clear from the outset that he and his band mates are pursuing a contemporary jazz sound on their own terms. The group relies on some electronics, notably Marc Cary's electric keyboards and synthesizer, and yet shuns the monotonous beats associated with smooth jazz.
In fact, more often than not Blackout evoked a muscular update of fusion jazz. Drummer Terreon Gully vigorously sustained swing, funk and Afro-Caribbean grooves. Alto saxophonist Casey Benjamin infused melodies and improvisations with a bright, driven tone. Cary alternated vintage Fender Rhodes keyboard atmospherics with percussive passages played on piano, while Darryl Hall sometimes made his upright acoustic bass sound as if it were plugged in and pulsating. Along with Duke Pearson's “Minor League," Harris's compositions, including “Blackout" and “The Lost Ones," served the band well and were frequently enlivened by an inspired level of interplay.
~ Mike Joyce
Copyright 2004 The Washington Post
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