Stefon Harris

Stefon Harris
Harris at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2007
Background information
Born	March 23, 1973 (1973-03-23) (age 43)
Genres	Jazz
Instruments	Vibraphone Marimba
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Blue Note
Associated acts	Classical Jazz Quartet
Website	StefonHarris.com

Stefon Harris (born March 23, 1973) is an American jazz vibraphonist. In 1999, the Los Angeles Times called him "one of the most important young artists in jazz" who is "at the forefront of new New York music" and "much in demand as a star sideman". Harris has played with several jazz luminaries including Kenny Barron, Steve Turre, Kurt Elling, and Charlie Hunter, in addition to releasing several of his own critically well-regarded albums.

Harris is a resident of Newark, New Jersey.

A 1991 graduate of Albany High School, Harris earned his bachelor's (in 1995) and master's (in 1997) from Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He credited his teachers in High School, saying they recognized his "passion for music early on and offered lessons and the chance to bring home instruments to practice." He has stated that "Music education and performance in ensembles, like the Empire State Youth Orchestra, exposed me to me to other cultures and genres." He also was the captain of the high school wrestling team. Of Manhattan School of Music he has said: "The School gave me the opportunity to explore the diversity of both classical and jazz music and find the direction I wanted to go artistically."

He plays the vibraphone, has composed music, and has released six CDs.

He has performed throughout North America and Australia, from New York's Lincoln Center, to San Francisco, Chicago, East Lansing, Michigan, Troy, New York, Eilat, Israel, and Sydney, Australia. In April 2009, he headlined at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Orange County, California.