EMBERS
Kevin Harris: Piano
Terri Lyne Carrington: Drums
(Beyond Gravity; Jim Crow & The Medicine Man)
Max Ridley: Acoustic Bass
Caroline Davis: Alto Sax
Jason Palmer: Trumpet
Tyson Jackson: Drums
The aim of this project is to illuminate the EMBERS that quietly burn within the evolving history of our societies — embers of courage, progress, respect, and also of prejudice, inequity, and resistance to change.
These original compositions are an invitation to reflect equally on the remarkable achievements and the unhealed wounds that continue to shape our global societies.
They intend to inspire, provoke, and spark curiosity.
Through this music, Harris wishes to celebrate the strides we have made toward a more just society, while also holding up a vigilant light to areas where progress still falters.
"Music," Harris believes "is more than the intersection of genres and traditions. Music transcends boundaries, pushing us to imagine new realms of hope, courage, and endless creative potential.
We must never lose sight of our own persevering spark. Our capacity for meaningful change is boundless."
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Excerpts from Steve Elman’s review of EMBERS
“Comparing his writing to that of Charles Mingus in the early ’60s and Herbie Hancock in the late ’60s is not faint praise. He stands on the shoulders of these masters, adds a singular personal voice, and has recruited strongly individualistic players to give his music definitive interpretation.”
. . .
“Harris trying out short-form ideas recalls the intuitive play of Keith Jarrett’s early trio with Charlie Haden and Paul Motian — again, this is not faint praise.”
. . .
“When Harris becomes a soloist, he does not try to dazzle with technique. Instead, he fills the role with the same creativity he brings to his writing. He has plenty of speed, but he uses it carefully, for maximum effect.”
Full review available here