Customer Reviews

African Tarantella

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Even though the vibraphone and marimba are established "jazz" instruments there have been relatively few high profile players associated with them. The short list would include Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, Gary Burton, Roy Ayers, Steve Nelson, and Bobby Hutcherson.
With six Blue Note albums as a leader to his credit, Albany native Stefon Harris is one of a handful of young vibe players exploring the potential of the instrument while building upon its often underappreciated legacy.
With his most recent release, "African Tarantella....Dances with Duke" Harris re-envisions movements from two suites composed by Duke Ellington. Also included is a disc-closing trio of original compositions from his recently commissioned work entitled "The Gardner Meditations."
With his own compositions in place first, Harris embarked upon selecting the material that would round out the disc. "I picked the Ellington compositions I thought would best align with my overall concept," he notes. "In arranging the Ellington pieces I tried not to stray to far from his intentions; I wanted to make sure that I was juxtaposing my compositional sound with that of Duke's."
Opting for a chamber jazz ensemble, the group is rounded out with piano, bass, drums, clarinet, trombone, flute, viola, and cello, instead of a more traditional big band in an Ellington mold. Thus, much of the stamp that Harris places on selections from Duke's "The New Orleans Suite" and "The Queen's Suite" is to be heard through his use of the group's instrumentation.
Ellington's music is a seemingly effortless amalgam of styles which range from jazz to classical into which he also frequently incorporated touches of blues, gospel, and world music. Tempered with a singularity of vision and style, his canon of more than 3000 compositions staked a claim all its own, no small feat during a time which the great American songbook was being crafted.
"The New Orleans Suite" was recorded by Duke in 1970 and is considered to be one of his late-period masterpieces. Taken as a whole, "Thanks for the Beautiful Land on the Delta," "Portrait of Wellman Braud" and "Bourbon Street Jingling Jollies" could be seen as a microcosm of the Ellington oeuvre. Providing ample inspiration, "Portrait" is emboldened by trombonist Steve Turre's bluesy smears, while "Bourbon Street" features a plaintive theme whose airy gait elegantly glides over a backdrop of flute and strings.
More impressive still is the way that Harris' original tunes, which are broad in scope yet succinctly sculpted, hold their own as they follow the works of a true master. The gentle "Memoirs of a Frozen Summer" is cloaked in a film-noir mystique. "African Tarantella" lopes along on a wave of mellifluous swing while "Dancing Enigma" traverses a variety of colors and moods.
A short un-credited bonus ninth track lurks ninety-seconds after the disc "ends."

Stefon Harris's _African Tarantella_ is a good, solid release by the vibist. It's not as accessible as _Evolution_ or as virtuosic as Grand Unification Theory, but it is one of the best interpretations of Duke Ellington's work in recent years. A must-buy for his fans, and a safe buy for all others.

I've been a fan of Stefon Harris since seeing him on a "Saturday Night Live" broadcast as a guest soloist of the show's house band. This latest album is a smoothly melodic collection of beautiful selections. It's on the CD player a lot, and it has inspired enthusiastic comments from guests. This is jazz at its best.

wow!! you thought the new orleans suite by the duke himself was impossible to refocus? many did, not harris, who makes a masterpiece of each of the three movements reprised and of 2 of the queen's suite. a single petal of a rose, with cello and bass is otherwordly, and the three movements pf the harris penned suite are hot and cold but up to it. A masterpiece. the instrumentations and orchestrations are done with such command and taste makes me wonder what will come next each second. One complain is the horrible cover art work and stupid word play tarantella-tarantula. Just pay no atention to it and enjoy,,

I urge each of you to pick a copy of the new Stefon Harris album "African Tarantella: Dances with Duke" on Blue Note Records.

This album is amazing and it has very nice reworking of some of Duke Ellington's compositions on it. I think, especially after hearing this outstanding album, that jazz has a bright future ahead of it thanks to Stefon Harris.

The lineup for this album are the following musicians:

Stefon Harris - vibraphone, marimba
Xavier Davis - piano
Derrick Hodge - bass
Terreon Gully - drums
Steve Turre - trombone
Anne Drummond - flute
Greg Tady - clarinet
Junah Chung - viola
Louise Dubin - cello

Track listing:

From The New Orleans Suite by Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn
1. Thanks for the Beautiful Land on the Delta
2. Portrait of Wellman Braud
3. Bourbon Street Jingling Jollies

From The Queen's Suite by Duke Ellington
4. Sunset and the Mocking Bird
5. Single Pedal of a Rose

From The Gardner Meditations by Stefon Harris
6. Memoirs of a Frozen Summer
7. African Tarantella
8. Dancing Enigma

The recording of this album is also something to talk about. The production is very well done. The engineering is fantastic, but all of these things are expected on a prestigous jazz label like Blue Note.

Stefon Harris has really crafted a beautiful album full of fascinating rhythms, textures, and most of all compositions. All of the musicians have done a remarkable job with this album. Some highlights for me are "Portrait of Wellman Braud," "Single Pedal Of A Rose," and the title track, but in all honesty all of the tunes are inspiring and interesting.

Don't hesitate for a second and pick this album up. I also recommend Stefon's other albums, most notably "The Grand Unification Theory" and "Evolution." All of which are great.

To the reviewer who don't like the name "African Tarantella." What's in a name? Look at the names of Rashaan Roland Kirk's, Charles Mingus' or Thelonius Monk's compositions. Give me a break! If you think the name "Trinkle, Tinkle" is a clever name you're greatly mistaken. You don't have an argument anyway. It's the MUSIC that is being reviewed not the title of the album. To the other reviewer who would have liked to hear the full versions of these Duke Ellington suites instead of selections, get a grip. I would've liked to hear him do a whole album of nothing but Duke Ellington's music, but what he should've or could've done doesn't hold any validation in the writing of a review. If you have a problem with the music itself or the production of the album, then you have a reason to write a review, but if the only arguments you guys can come up with are what he could've or shouldn't have done, then you're fighting a loosing battle.

"African Tarantella" is easily the best jazz album to come out of 2006.

BUY THIS ALBUM! YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!

Prior to buying this album, I was fortunate enought to hear Stefon Harris and his nonette play the music live. It was one of the best live jazz performances that I have heard lately, and the album is as good or better!

Several things stand out. First is Harris' obvious virtuosity. I have seen Milt Jackson live and Harris doesn't take a back seat. He plays the vibes and marimba simultaneously, and at amazing tempi. He isn't just a virtuoso though, but a very creative arranger and improviser.

The instrumentation is very interesting: viola and cello, trombone, flute, clarinet, drums, bass and piano. This gives the album a wonderful tonal pallette. The musicians are wonderful too; Terreon Gully on drums may be the best drummer that I have heard live, and I've been lucky enough to hear Buddy Rich, Jeff Hamilton and some of the other top drummers in jazz. Also outstanding is pianist Xavier Davis and trombonist Steve Turre.

My favorite tracks are adaptations of Duke Ellington creations: three numbers from the New Orleans Suite and two from the Queen's Suite. I am less enamoured of Harris' compositions.

Harris is terrific as an improviser, arranger and performer. He, along with some other young jazz titans, give me comfort that jazz is still alive and vital for years to come.

This artist was new to me and I heard track seven on a jazz station. I knew I would purchase the cd from that one track I heard. Stefon really connects melodious with the vibes. I did not regret purchasing this cd at all. Get comfortable, relax, and enjoy! Thank U Stefon and for the homage you pay to Duke Ellington. Hotep!

harris's playing is inspired, which makes this one reason to listen to this recording. another reason are the selections from works of duke ellington, particularly the pieces from the new orleans suite.

here's my ongoing complaint. this cd features selections from 3 different suites, 2 of them by ellington, one by stefon harris. why selections, why not an interpretation of an entire suite? i listened to the new orleans suite, i own ellington's suite, and i wanted to hear more of what harris might had done with the piece. and never having heard the other ellington suite i was eager to hear more, as well as seek out ellington's original, which i can do, whereas my desire to hear more of what harris might had done...i don't particularly like samplers any more than i like readers' digest condensed books. sometimes i want all or nothing at all. in this case, however, something is better than nothing