Stefon Harris and Blackout

Evolution

Blue Note

      When I heard that Stefon Harris was going electric on his next album, I anticipated some high voltage, in-your-face sounds. Not so. The 30-year-old vibes titan's newest release on Blue Note, Evolution, lacks high shock value but is nonetheless surged with juice. In some respects, this eleven-track CD sounds more in the Smooth Jazz genre with it's mixture of R&B, hip-hop, World Music, and funky jazz flavors. 

With a band named Blackout, one could easily assume that the music they play would be loud, thunderous and hard on the ears. Pleasantly, this album is saturated with a classy array of pretty melodic grooves. In fact, Harris is somewhat of an iconoclast when it comes to musical presumptions. His music is innovative and creative enough to keep his fans stimulated yet surprised. The three-time Grammy nominee called his new band Blackout because they are about "blacking out the narrow views surrounding and constricting the definition of jazz." Harris succeeds in making his point in Evolution.

Members of Blackout are Casey Benjamin, alto sax; Darryl Hall, acoustic bass; Terreon Gully, drums; Marc Cary, Fender Rhodes and keyboards. Also joining Harris and crew on this new journey of sound are Anne Drummond, flute and alto flute; Xavier Davis, piano and Fender Rhodes; and Pedro Martinez, percussion.

Harris contributes four originals to the mix, including the album's title track, a vibrantly surreal-sounding piece. Also represented are sultry and graceful interpretations of Gershwin's Summertime and Sting's Until.

For Him, For Her, an original from Blackout's stellar bassist, gently splashes the listener with tranquil and refreshing waves as from a mystic shore. Drummond, who appeared on Harris' Grand Unification Theory album, adds a gentle flavor to the piece on flute that nicely compliments Harris' graceful marimba.

It will be interesting to see what evolutionary steps Harris takes toward the making of his sixth album as a leader.

Kudos go once again to Nitin Vadukul for another trippy CD cover.

Track selections:  Nothing Personal; For Him, For Her; Until; Red-Bone, Netti-Bone; A Touch Of Grace; Summertime; Blackout; The Lost Ones; King Tut's Strut; Message To Mankind; Montara.

Recorded November 20, 21, 2003, at The Hit Factory, New York, NY.

- Stephen Fratallone/Jazz Connection Magazine

Rating:  ****

*****