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Harris returns to Hancher for Ellington concert

By John Kenyon

The last time jazz vibraphonist Stefon Harris was in Iowa City, he performed a concert at Hancher Auditorium with a standard quartet, but also spent time in the community working with writers in the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program (IWP) on improvisational collaboration and conducting workshops with UI jazz students.

That 2003 visit was indicative of his willingness to push himself beyond his comfort zone. Since then, he has released an ambitious suite, an R’n’B flavored album and a disc of songs from and inspired by Duke Ellington. Yes, it’s safe to say that Harris is creatively restless.

His latest foray stays with the music of Ellington, but still changes things up enough to keep the musician satisfied… for now. He will perform with the Turtle Island String Quartet as a featured guest on “The Divine Duke,” a concert of Duke Ellington's sacred music, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, again at Hancher.

“Every artist is always looking for a challenge, and in that challenge you find inspiration,” he said earlier this week. “That’s the only way we can grow – by challenging ourselves.”

For him, that means performing with different musicians and instrumental configurations. On Saturday, that will mean performing with four stringed instruments. He said the lack of a rhythm section – despite the quartet’s ability to recreate that aspect of the performance through various bowing techniques – makes a huge difference, one that casts his instrument as both rhythmic and melodic.

Jazz is an improvisational art, so despite the composed and arranged nature of Ellington’s work, Harris warned the quartet that what they heard in rehearsals might not be what they hear on stage.

“I told the guys, I’m a very spontaneous person so I’ll play the part, but there’s no telling what will happen when I get on stage,” he said.

The quartet – David Balakrishnan and Mads Tolling on violin, Jeremy Kittel on viola and Mark Summer on cello – approached Harris hoping to collaborate, and a discussion about the possibilities raised Ellington’s name. Harris had just released his latest album, African Tarantella… Dances With Duke, so it was “a perfect fit.”

The quartet is no stranger to jazz. It earned a Grammy nomination for its 2007 album, A Love Supreme: The Legacy of John Coltrane, which features its interpretations of the jazz saxophonist’s music.

Harris said the group’s work is important, because “they’re continuing to expand the possibilities of their ensemble. In the process they’re forming an American chamber music.”

The music of Ellington offers great melodies and harmonies, Harris said, adding that any praises you can come up with for music are applicable to Ellington’s compositions. But he said he also is inspired by pianist’s story.

“He would carry himself with such dignity and pride and elegance,” he said. “There was a direct connection between his personality and his music, and as a musician, the goal is to become extremely articulate to tell your story.”

Part of Harris’ own journey toward that goal is the tour with the string quartet, which opened last weekend in Laguna Beach, Calif. Harris said it was great to get on stage, and expects that as the tour progresses toward Iowa City, unexpected things might happen, including some new music if the desire to compose that overcame him during our interview bore fruit.

If it does, it’s fitting for that music to debut in Iowa City. Harris’ work with the IWP writers during his last visit resulted in some creative, challenging music that seemed like a reward from the artist to what he called a great audience and an incredibly beautiful facility.

“I met some really great people in the times I spent in Iowa City,” he said. “Intelligent, engaged political discussions, philosophy… I’d go for coffee and university professors would be there talking with students. I felt very much at home.”

Tickets are $32, $29 and $26; UI student $28.80 and $15; senior citizen $28.80, $26.10 and $23.40; youth $22.40, $20.30 and $18.20. Call (319) 335-1160 or (800) HANCHER, or visit www.hancher.uiowa.edu.