Kevin Harris at Piano

Kevin Harris

Image courtesy of the artist

Kevin Harris

Associate Professor
Affiliated Departments
Berklee Online
Piano
Personal Websites
Kevin Harris's website

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A distinctive trait of internationally recognized jazz pianist Kevin Harris is his desire to constantly grow, evolve, improve, and advance. His interest in interweaving traditional and contemporary music styles, visual arts, electronic media, science, and language is what distinguishes his music and what renders unique experiences from his performances, which are meant to activate the audience’s senses and personal curiosity.

"Participation,” Harris says, "is what keeps our souls alive.” Both live and recorded performances reflect Harris’s determination to capture his audience through explorative interactions that Terri Lyne Carrington describes as "an exciting commitment to quality." 

Harris’s music education has its foundation in the degrees he has received, but equally important were his early experiences with Black gospel and Afro-Caribbean styles of music. He possesses the unique ability to compose complex, uplifting, tempestuous, and deeply stimulating repertoire.

One of the captivating elements of his ensembles, from duet to orchestra setting, is the level of comfort and understanding they have with one another. Harris is known for diving into soulfully expressive conversations and playful exchanges of ideas with his musicians, while always providing the space to improvise in the moment.

Jazz pianist and composer Fred Hersch said Harris “plays and writes with flair and real soul."

Career Highlights
  • Performances at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C; Blue Note Jazz Clubs in New York, Shanghai, Beijing, and Milan; and other renowned venues and festivals in the USA, South Korea, Italy, Denmark, Poland, Peru, Cuba, Panama, and South Africa.
  • As a leader, released six albums: The Butterfly Chronicles, Freedom Doxology, Chapters, Museum, Vol. 1, Bird Interpretations, and Contraluz.
  • Notable collaborations with Terri Lyne Carrington, Dayna Stephens, Ralph Peterson, Ameen Saleem, Greg Hutchinson, Greg Osby, Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Curtis Lundy, Caroline Davis, Bill Pierce, Francisco Mela, Avishai Cohen, Delfeayo Marsalis, Duane Eubanks, Richie Barshay, Ben Street, Jason Palmer, Rudy Royston, Frank Lacey, and Eric McPherson.
  • Arranged music for Terri Lyne Carrington, Esperanza Spaulding B.M. '05 , and Diane Reeves. 
  • As a composer, innovative projects include Roots, Water, and Sunlight: A Contemporary Octet Expedition through the Expressions of James Baldwin, where he put music to the renowned and significant thoughts shared by James Baldwin, and Pulse, a compelling through-composed chamber work combining improvised and fully notated music for oboe, violins, cello, acoustic bass, and piano. Also, in collaboration with trumpeter Jason Palmer, he composed and released Upward Mothers, to bring awareness about mothers who have lost children to senseless acts of violence.
Awards
  • Luminary with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
  • Finalist in the International Songwriter Competition 
Education
  • The New England Conservatory of Music
    Massachusetts
    Master of Music (MM)
    Piano Performance
  • Morehead State University
    Kentucky
    Bachelor of Music (BM)
    Music Education
In Their Own Words

"When I meet a student for the first time, I try not to prescribe a particular teaching philosophy or what I think they should learn, but instead I do my best to understand who they are, where they're coming from, what their musical background is, and where they want to go."

"My own musical roots were watered in Lexington, Kentucky. There, the black gospel experience was my first and most important music education, forming firm roots that I would later confidently plant into the important traditions of swing and Afro-Caribbean–based music in performances with Greg Osby, Francisco Mela, Eddie Gomez, Avishai Cohen, Jason Palmer, Jerry Bergonzi, Ameen Saleem, Gregory Hutchinson, and Terri Lyne Carrington, to name a few."

"I realize that each student at Berklee also brings a very special history of their own, and I have the opportunity to mold, water, and inspire that talent so that their roots may grow strong. We educators at Berklee have the privilege to pass on the same joy and knowledge to our students that were passed on to us."

"As a professional pianist, composer, and educator, I seek to better myself, my community, and my students. My local, national, and international experiences have helped to expand my artistic awareness not only as a teacher, but as a human being. I have the privilege to have been inspired by a lot of people and wonderful opportunities. Keeping this in mind, I have the honor to share this inspiration and experience with my students."

Additional Related Links
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's Luminary Profile on Kevin Harris

Excerpts from “Roots, Water, and Sunlight”