Craig S. Harris (born September 10, 1953) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

trombonist, who started working with

Sun Ra Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific ou ...

in 1976. He also has worked with

Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahim (born Adolph Johannes Brand on 9 October 1934), previously known as Dollar Brand, is a South African pianist and composer. His music reflects many of the musical influences of his childhood in the multicultural port areas of Cap ...

, David Murray,

Lester Bowie Lester Bowie (October 11, 1941 – November 8, 1999) was an American jazz trumpet player and composer. He was a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and co-founded the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Biography Born in th ...

Cecil Taylor Cecil Percival Taylor (March 25, 1929April 5, 2018) was an American pianist and poet. Taylor was classically trained and was one of the pioneers of free jazz. His music is characterized by an energetic, physical approach, resulting in comple ...

, Sam Rivers,

Muhal Richard Abrams Muhal Richard Abrams (born Richard Lewis Abrams; September 19, 1930 – October 29, 2017) was an American educator, administrator, composer, arranger, clarinetist, cellist, and jazz pianist in the free jazz medium. He recorded and toured the Uni ...

, and

Charlie Haden Charles Edward Haden (August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014) was an American jazz double bass player, bandleader, composer and educator whose career spanned more than fifty years. Haden helped to revolutionize the harmonic concept of bass playin ...

. As leader, Harris has recorded since 1983 for

India Navigation India Navigation was an American record company and independent record label that specialized in avant-garde jazz in the 1970s and 1980s. It was founded by Bob Cummins, a corporate lawyer who helped jazz musicians with legal matters. Its catalogu ...

Soul Note Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz. History Black S ...

and JMT. For the latter, he recorded with two groups. The Tailgater's Tales was a quintet with clarinetist

Don Byron Donald Byron (born November 8, 1958) is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist. He primarily plays clarinet but has also played bass clarinet and saxophone in a variety of genres that includes free jazz and klezmer. Biography His moth ...

, trumpeter Eddie Allen, Anthony Cox on double bass, and Pheeroan akLaff on drums. Harris's large ensemble Cold Sweat was a tribute to the music of

James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, and record producer. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century music, he is referred to by Honorific nick ...

Background

Harris is a graduate of the music program of

State University of New York at Old Westbury The State University of New York at Old Westbury (SUNY at Old Westbury) is a public university in Old Westbury, New York, with portions in the neighboring town of Jericho, New York. It enrolls just over 5,000 students. History The State Unive ...

(SUNY at Old Westbury), and was influenced by its founder and director

Makanda Ken McIntyre Makanda Ken McIntyre (born Kenneth Arthur McIntyre; also known as Ken McIntyre) (September 7, 1931 – June 13, 2001) was an American jazz musician, composer and educator. In addition to his primary instrument, the alto saxophone, he played flu ...

. Harris's move to New York City in 1978 established him with trombonists Ray Anderson,

Joseph Bowie Joseph Bowie (born October 17, 1953) is an American jazz trombonist and vocalist. The brother of trumpeter Lester Bowie, Joseph is known for leading the jazz-punk group Defunkt and for membership in the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. Career Bo ...

, and

George E. Lewis George Emanuel Lewis (born July 14, 1952) is an American composer, performer, and scholar of experimental music. He has been a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians ( AACM) since 1971, when he joined the organization ...

. Harris first played alongside another of his teachers at SUNY, baritone saxophonist Pat Patrick, in

The Sun Ra Arkestra The Sun Ra Arkestra is an American jazz group formed in the mid-1950s and led by keyboardist/composer Sun Ra until his death in 1993. The group is considered a pioneer of afrofuturism. Since 1995 the Arkestra has been led by saxophonist Marsh ...

for two years. Harris than embarked on a world tour with South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand) in 1979. While on tour in Australia, Harris discovered the indigenous Australian wind instrument the

didgeridoo The didgeridoo (;()), also spelt didjeridu, among other variants, is a wind instrument, played with vibrating lips to produce a continuous Drone (music), drone while using a special breathing technique called circular breathing. The didgerido ...

, which he added to the collection of instruments he plays. Harris subsequently performed with major progressive musicians including David Murray, the

Beaver Harris William Godvin "Beaver" Harris (April 20, 1936 – December 22, 1991) was an American jazz drummer who worked extensively with Archie Shepp. Early life Harris was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Coming from an athletic family, he played baseba ...

Don Pullen Don Gabriel Pullen (December 25, 1941 – April 22, 1995) was an American jazz pianist and organist. Pullen developed a strikingly individual style throughout his career. He composed pieces ranging from blues to bebop and modern jazz. The great ...

Rivers A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of its course if it ru ...

, and many others, and he also played in

Lena Horne Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010) was an American singer, actress, dancer and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned more than seventy years and covered film, television and theatre. Horne joined the chorus of the C ...

's Broadway orchestra for a year. Leading his own ensembles, Harris has performed internationally and recorded several albums.

Discography

As leader

* ''Aboriginal Affairs'' (India Navigation, 1983) * '' Black Bone'' (Soul Note, 1984) * ''Tributes'' (OTC, 1985) * ''

Shelter A shelter is an architectural structure or natural formation (or a combination of the two) providing protection from the local environment. A shelter can serve as a home or be provided by a residential institution. It can be understood as both ...

'' (JMT, 1987) * ''

Blackout in the Square Root of Soul ''Blackout in the Square Root of Soul'' is an album by trombonist Craig Harris and Tailgater's Tales which was recorded in 1987 and released on the JMT label.Shimada, T.JMT label discography accessed October 3, 2014 Reception The AllMusic revie ...

'' (JMT, 1988) * '' Cold Sweat Plays J. B.'' (JMT, 1989) * ''

4 Play ''4Play'' is a 2024 Kenyan crime film, crime drama (film), drama series produced by CJ3 Production for Showmax, and the show stars Daniel Peter Weke, Maina wa Kungu, Bilal Wanjau, Elsaphan Njau, Patricia Kihoro, Habida Maloney, and Tracy Macha ...

'' (JMT, 1990) * '' F-Stops'' (Soul Note, 1994) * ''Istanbul'' (Doublemoon, 1998) * ''Souls Within the Veil'' (Aquastra Music, 2005)

As sideman

With

* ''

Blues Forever ''Blues Forever'' is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams, released by the Italian label Black Saint in 1982 and featuring performances of seven Abrams compositions by an eleven-member big band. Critical reception The AllMusic review by Ron Wynn ...

'' (Black Saint, 1982) * ''

Rejoicing with the Light ''Rejoicing with the Light'' is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams. It was released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1983 and features performances of five of Abrams' compositions by a fourteen-member orchestra. Reception The AllMusic review by ...

'' (Black Saint, 1983) * ''

Song for All ''Song for All'' is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams which was released on the Italian Black Saint/Soul Note, Black Saint label in 1997 and features performances of eight of Abrams' compositions by Abrams, Eddie Allen (jazz musician), Eddie Alle ...

'' (Black Saint, 1997) With David Murray * '' Murray's Steps'' (Black Saint, 1983) * ''

Live at Sweet Basil Volume 1 ''Live at Sweet Basil Volume 1'' is an album by David Murray (saxophonist), David Murray, released on the Italian Black Saint/Soul Note, Black Saint label in 1984 and the first to feature his Big Band.Live at Sweet Basil Volume 2'' (Black Saint, 1985) * '' New Life'' (Black Saint, 1987) * '' David Murray Big Band'' (DIW, 1991) * '' Hope Scope'' (Black Saint, 1991) * ''

Picasso Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, Ceramic art, ceramicist, and Scenic ...

'' (DIW, 1993) * '' South of the Border'' (DIW, 1995) * '' Dark Star: The Music of the Grateful Dead'' (Astor Place, 1996) * ''

Fo Deuk Revue ''Fo Deuk Revue'' is an album by David Murray released on the Canadian Justin Time label. Recorded in 1996 and released in 1997, the album features performances by Murray with Darryl Burgee, Ousseynou Diop, Assane Diop, Craig Harris, Robert I ...

'' (Enja, 1997) * '' Octet Plays Trane'' (Justin Time, 2000) * ''

Yonn-Dé ''Yonn-Dé'' is an album by David Murray released on the Canadian Justin Time label. Recorded in 2001 and released in 2003 the album features performances by Murray and the Gwo-Ka Masters.Now Is Another Time'' (Justin Time, 2003) * ''

Perfection Perfection is a state, variously, of completeness, flawlessness, or supreme excellence. The terminology, term is used to designate a range of diverse, if often kindred, concepts. These have historically been addressed in a number of discre ...

'' with

Geri Allen Geri Antoinette Allen (June 12, 1957 – June 27, 2017) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and educator. She taught at the University of Michigan and the University of Pittsburgh. Early life and education Allen was born in Pontiac, Michigan ...

and

Terri Lyne Carrington Terri Lyne Carrington (born August 4, 1965) is an American jazz drummer, composer, producer, and educator. She has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Clark Terry, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joe Sample, Al Jarreau, Yellowjackets (band), ...

(Motema, 2016) * ''Blues for Memo'' (Motema, 2018) With

* '' Live at Montreux'' (Saturn Research, 1976) * ''

Cosmos The cosmos (, ; ) is an alternative name for the universe or its nature or order. Usage of the word ''cosmos'' implies viewing the universe as a complex and orderly system or entity. The cosmos is studied in cosmologya broad discipline covering ...

'' (Cobra, 1976) * ''

Unity Unity is the state of being as one (either literally or figuratively). It may also refer to: Buildings * Unity Building, Oregon, Illinois, US; a historic building * Unity Building (Chicago), Illinois, US; a skyscraper * Unity Buildings, Liverpoo ...

'' (Horo, 1978) * ''Sleeping Beauty'' (El Saturn, 1979) * '' Strange Celestial Road'' (Rounder, 1980) * ''A Quiet Place in the Universe'' (Leo, 1994) With others *

Ahmed Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah (born Leroy Bland; May 10, 1946) is an American jazz trumpeter who was a prominent member of Sun Ra's band. Biography He began playing the trumpet at age 13 in his native New York City. One of the first groups he performed with wa ...

, ''

Traveling the Spaceways ''Traveling the Spaceways'' is an album by trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah. A tribute to his former employer, Sun Ra, it was recorded on February 27, 2004, at Clinton Studios in New York City, and was released later that year by Planet Arts Records. On ...

'' (Planet Arts, 2004) * Ayibobo, ''Freestyle'' (DIW, 1993) *

Billy Bang Billy Bang (September 20, 1947 – April 11, 2011), born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer. Biography Bang's family moved to New York City's Bronx neighborhood while he was still an infant, and as a ...

, ''Hip Hop Be Bop'' (ITM, 1993) *

, ''

I Only Have Eyes for You "I Only Have Eyes for You" is a song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin. The song was written for the 1934 film ''Dames (film), Dames'', in which it was performed by Dick Powell. Several other successful recordings of the song were m ...

'' (ECM, 1985) *

Dollar Brand Abdullah Ibrahim (born Adolph Johannes Brand on 9 October 1934), previously known as Dollar Brand, is a South African pianist and composer. His music reflects many of the musical influences of his childhood in the multicultural port areas of Cap ...

, ''African Marketplace'' (Elektra, 1980) * Dollar Brand, ''At Montreux'' (Enja, 1980) *

, ''

Bug Music Bug Music was an influential independent music publisher in Los Angeles, California. The company was founded in 1975 by Dan Bourgoise to represent the catalogue of musician Del Shannon. Their clients included Johnny Cash and Rosanne Cash, Los L ...

'' (Nonesuch, 1996) *

Carla Cook Carla Cook is an American jazz vocalist. Biography Cook was drawn to a life of music at an early age. As a student at Cass Technical High School she played string bass in the school orchestra, studied piano and voice on weekends, and sang ...

, ''Dem Bones'' (Maxjazz, 2001) *

Paulinho da Costa Paulinho da Costa (, born Paulo Roberto da Costa on May 31, 1948) is a Brazilian percussionist. Beginning his career as a samba musician in Brazil, he moved to the United States in the early 1970s and worked with Brazilian bandleader Sérgio Me ...

, ''

Sunrise Sunrise (or sunup) is the moment when the upper rim of the Sun appears on the horizon in the morning, at the start of the Sun path. The term can also refer to the entire process of the solar disk crossing the horizon. Terminology Although the S ...

'' (Victor, 1984) * Joseph Daley, ''The Seven Deadly Sins'' (Jaro, 2010) *

, '' Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music'' (Qwest, 1981) *

Joseph Jarman Joseph Jarman (September 14, 1937 – January 9, 2019) was an American jazz musician, composer, poet, and Shinshu Buddhist priest. He was one of the first members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and a member of the ...

, '' Earth Passage - Density'' (Black Saint, 1981) *

The Roots The Roots are an American Hip-hop, hip hop band formed in 1987 by singer Black Thought, Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and drummer Questlove, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's ''T ...

, ''

The Roots Come Alive ''The Roots Come Alive'' is a live album from the group The Roots. It was recorded in Zürich, Switzerland; New York City; and other places and released November 2, 1999. An enhanced double-CD edition containing six extra tracks, music videos ...

'' (MCA, 1999) *

Sekou Sundiata Sekou Sundiata (August 22, 1948 – July 18, 2007) was an African-American poet and performer, as well as a teacher at The New School in New York City. His students include musicians Ani DiFranco and Mike Doughty. His plays include ''The Circle ...

, ''LongStoryShort'' (Righteous Babe, 2000) * Warren Smith, ''Dragon Dave Meets Prince Black Knight from the Darkside of the Moon'' (Porter, 2011) *

Henry Threadgill Henry Threadgill (born February 15, 1944) is an American composer, saxophonist and flautist. He came to prominence in the 1970s leading ensembles rooted in jazz but with unusual instrumentation and often incorporating other genres of music. He h ...

, '' When Was That?'' (About Time, 1982) * Henry Threadgill, ''

Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket ''Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket'' is an album by Henry Threadgill released on the About Time label in 1983. The album features six of Threadgill's compositions performed by Threadgill with Craig Harris, Olu Dara, Fred Hopkins, Diedre Murr ...

'' (About Time, 1983) *

World Saxophone Quartet The World Saxophone Quartet was an American jazz ensemble founded in 1977, incorporating elements of free jazz, R&B, funk and South African jazz into their music. The original members were Julius Hemphill (alto and soprano saxophone, flute), ...

, ''

Experience Experience refers to Consciousness, conscious events in general, more specifically to perceptions, or to the practical knowledge and familiarity that is produced by these processes. Understood as a conscious event in the widest sense, experience i ...

'' (Justin Time, 2004) * World Saxophone Quartet, ''

Political Blues ''Political Blues'' is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released by the Canadian Justin Time label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Jaleel Shaw, Oliver Lake and David Murray, with guests Craig Harris on ...

'' (Justin Time, 2006)

References

External links

Craig Harrris website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Craig S. 1953 births Living people 21st-century American male musicians 21st-century American trombonists American jazz composers American jazz trombonists American male jazz composers American male trombonists Avant-garde jazz musicians Black Saint/Soul Note artists Free jazz trombonists India Navigation artists Jazz musicians from New York (state) JMT Records artists People from Hempstead (village), New York State University of New York at Old Westbury alumni