 Barry Harris: A One Man Musical Force
As the self-proclaimed, “world’s oldest teacher of jazz” his graduates collectively form a virtual who's who of the jazz world.
Dr. Harris embodies the whole picture – musician, composer, arranger,
living piece of history, communicator and educator. Long regarded as the foremost interpreter of Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell, Barry’s widely celebrated career – spanning more than fifty years – began at age 4 with piano lessons from his mother, a church organist. Barry claims to have always known that he was destined to be a musician.
As a young pianist under the wing of Bud Powell, Barry first internalized the work of his mentor and then set on a course to map out- and in doing so, further expand upon bebop's harmonic language. Dr. Harris has played and recorded with many of the other giants of the music including Cannonball Adderley, Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Coleman Hawkins, Max Roach and Sonny Stitt. “Passing it on” has always played a central role in Barry's life. As the self-proclaimed world's oldest teacher of jazz, his graduates collectively form a virtual who's who of the jazz world including Paul Chambers, Sir Roland Hanna, Joe Henderson, Lonnie Hillyer, Yusef Lateef, and Charles McPherson. In the early 1980’s Barry opened the Jazz Cultural Theatre in New York City. It's aim, with the assistance of masters such as Vernel Fournier, Tommy Turrentine and Slide Hampton was to provide people of all ages and backgrounds with an opportunity to study an instrument and learn about the music. Today, thousands of musicians around the world pride themselves on being influenced by Barry Harris’ teachings. Barry is in constant demand, generously devoting much of his time to giving musician's clinics in every corner of the globe. Aptly referred to as “the keeper of the flame,” Barry’s work in fact also points the way to the future in jazz and jazz education. Dr. Harris is a 2006 recipient of the Grammy Foundation “Lifetime Achievement Award
Art of Jazz is proud to honour Dr. Barry Harris at the inaugural Art of Jazz Celebration. Joining Barry onstage on May 18th at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts will be Hank Jones, Jimmy Slyde, Charles McPherson, Earl May and Leroy Williams. This is an historic performance, not to be missed. This concert will be recorded by CBC for future broadcast. |
