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| Kemp Harris Releases Edenton  As a musician and composer, Kemp has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, Gil Scott-Heron, and Koko Taylor. He has written and performed original compositions in the United States and Europe for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and WGBH public television. Kemp currently maintains a songwriting residency at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts in Boston in conjunction with Berklee College of Music, assisting talented young artists with composition and performance." title="Kemp Harris Releases Edenton">Kemp Harris is a composer, musician, author, actor and teacher. Born in North Carolina, Kemp taught himself piano and was writing songs at age 14.As a musician and composer, Kemp has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, Gil Scott-Heron, and Koko Taylor. He has written and performed original compositions in the United States and Europe for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and WGBH public television. Kemp currently maintains a songwriting residency at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts in Boston in conjunction with Berklee College of Music, assisting talented young artists with composition and performance. Kemp's previous release, "Sometimes in Bad Weather", draws upon his diverse background and creative influences. The album is a thoughtful tapestry exploring the intersection of American roots music, jazz, and African folk influences; it features the acclaimed "If Loneliness was Black", a piece Kemp composed and performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Harris' depth of experience echoes powerfully throughout his new CD release entitled "Edenton, " scheduled for release on March 13th. The album is a journey to Harris' roots in Edenton, North Carolina, the town where he was born. It features the legendary Holmes Brothers on backing vocals. With the support of the Holmes Brothers, Harris shows his willingness to fuse diverse elements in the search for a more modern and timely blues, with intelligent lyrics that are both socially aware and intensely soulful. A diverse group of covers augments the original material. Kemp really reaches back on the gospel classic, "Didn't It Rain." This cappella track features his mother and aunt (each of them in their late-seventies) singing a version the trio has been performing together since Kemp's childhood. The album was recorded at Hi-n-Dry Studios in Cambridge, MA, the former studio of Mark Sandman and the band Morphine. In support of the release, Kemp and his band will be performing throughout the Northeast, kicking off the tour at Joe's Pub in New York City on Friday, March 30th. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |