Winard Harper Sextet: New CD

contents

jazz

Tuesday-Wednesday, August 29-30, Winard Harper Sextet (Winard Harper - drums, balafon, Ameen Saleem - bass, Josh Evans - trumpet, Sean Higgins - piano, Stacy Dillard - tenor saxophone, Alioune Faye - djembe, percussion) plays music from nis new Piadrum Records album Make It Happen at Jazz Standard, NYC. An outstanding drummer, bandleader, and percussionist, Winard Harper is known throughout the world for his resolute style, tremendous touch and deep knowledge of jazz history. Born to a musical family in Baltimore, Maryland, Winard grew up surrounded by not only jazz, but the popular music of the day.

When in his latter teenage years, he and brother Philip established the Harper Brothers Quintet, acclaim followed the band as they performed to adoring crowds across the globe. In the years that followed Winard dug in his heels and recorded a string of gritty albums that showed his ever expanding musical palette and perpetually hard driving style. With seven albums to his credit, Make It Happen marks a new plateau in this restless musician's career. Pairing an exceptional band with forward-thinking compositions, Winard Harper addresses the evolution of jazz on Make It Happen.

"Every year there is growth, Winard explains. "The players in my band are growing; I am growing and the concept of the band is growing. We expand on our ideas; we are evolving. With this record, you will find things that are on all of my records, but this is the first time we really utilized all the different elements — the African experience, the world music influences, the different percussion instruments — in the compositions."

Harper's bands have always been hothouses of improvisation, but Make It Happen is the most adventurous offering of his career yet. Special guests Wycliffe Gordon and Antonio Hart join long time members Ameen Saleem, Josh Evans, Lawrence Clark, T.W. Sample, Sean Higgins, Stacy Dillard and Alioune Faye. Make It Happen also features Harper's full percussion section: Abdou Mboup, Kevin Jones, and Jeremy Jones. In addition, Harper's resonant balafon playing adds a distinctive touch and tone to this unique ensemble, its power and precision barely contained in cohesive group fireworks.

"This music is all about heart, " Harper says. "You have to reach out and be able to pull things out of yourself and touch people. Your heart has to be right. That is different for everybody. I get there by connecting with the Creator through prayer, connecting with people, connecting with myself."

"At the same time, " he adds, "I understand how important this music is. And it is still hard work, it will keep you humble. God and family keeps me inspired and the debt that I owe. Abbey Lincoln told me there is a debt to be paid to all the greats, all of those people whose shoulders we stand upon."

write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page