"Good vibes" resonated from the Pabst Theater Saturday night as the Stefon Harris Quartet performed in the second concert of the Hal Leonard Jazz Series.
Harris, who plays the vibraphone, performed with pianist Xavier Davis, bass player Tarius Mateen and drummer Terreon Gully in a concert of primarily original compositions done in a free-flowing style.
The 28-year-old Harris, billed as "one of the most important young artists in jazz" by the L.A. Times, called the concert a "celebration of creativity." The four musicians played off each other in almost a jam session format, often performing several songs before Harris would stop to tell the audience the titles.
{INSERT_RELATED}At times, they did not pause between songs, instead flowing from one composition to another with some fascinating transition sounds tying them together.
"You have to trust each other to play this music," Harris said. "We've learned to do that."
The group was at its best when it played "A Cloud of Red Dust," an original composition by Harris, which was voted the "Best Debut Recording" at the 1999 New York Jazz Awards.
That award is just one of many won by Harris. He earned a Grammy nomination for his 1999 release, "Black Action Figure." He was voted the "Best Mallet Player" by the Jazz Journalist Association in 2000 and 2001.
Harris has performed with some of the great contemporary jazz artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, Joe Henderson, Charlie Hunter and Buster Williams.
He stood out when playing innovative versions of "Summertime" and "There Is No Greater Love." Many of the group's pieces featured Latin, Classical and African influences. Gully started the second set with a drum solo that sounded like it was straight out of Africa. One by one, the other musicians joined in to create an impressive sound.
Harris dedicated his last piece to legendary vibraphonist Milt Jackson, who, according to Harris, "made this pile of metal and wood sing like a human voice." Harris then managed to create a very similar sound. At times, he made the vibraphone sing in soft melody, and at other times he had it rhythmically chanting to the audience.
The quartet's free wheeling style didn't fit everybody's taste. One women near this reviewer said, "They need to have sets, some structure." Another man could be heard during the intermission saying, "I can't tell where they are going."
In his greeting to the audience, Harris said one of the things he knew about Milwaukee was Ray Allen, the Bucks' All Star guard. The group's music was a little like watching Ray play, something I do regularly as a sports columnist for OnMilwaukee.com and various other media.
For those wanting more structure, it could seem undisciplined and directionless at times. But, at other times, it touched on brilliance.
For those who could get into the free flowing sounds, the Harris Quartet provided a great night of entertainment.
The next concern in the Hal Leonard Series will be held Sat., April 13. Dr. Billy Taylor, originally scheduled on that date, has cancelled due to illness. The Hank Jones Quartet, led by the International Jazz Hall of Fame pianist who played with Coleman Hawkins and Billy Eckstine, will replace Taylor.
