Harrison Jazz Ensemble
- Clearwater, FL
- Jazz Band
- 41 Verified Bookings
Gianmario M. said “Roger is awesome to work with, super communicative, timely and professional. He was able to provide all details upfront, worked with me to finalize all…”
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Lafayette is available to play solo piano as well as with other musicians at any function or venue.
He can travel worldwide for additional cost.
Lafayette has been an important pianist in NYC for some time. He is popular enough to share the stage with jazz artists like Houston Person, Ernestine Anderson, and Chaka Kahn.
He hosted his own open mic session for 10 years at The Lenox Lounge in Harlem. Lately, he's been playing regularly at Smalls Jazz.
In years past he has played with and arranged for the great Max Roach one of the inventors of modern jazz.
He has also played for and conducted in the hit Broadway musicals; Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk and The Color Purple.
This weekend's performance of Lafayette's New Jazz Trio at Shapeshifter Lab was really unique. The original compositions were simultaneously engaging and relaxing; when the trio added their voices to the mix the vibrations were truly moving. Count on Lafayette to try new and uncharted ideas, like when he invites a calligrapher to make art on stage to accompany the music. There isn't much to see, until it all appears at once - prepare to be surprised and enlivened.
Response from Lafayette Harris Jr.:
Thank you very much. Just to be clear the unit is actually a calabrorative effort between Lafayette, flautist Mayu Saeki and euphonium player Yasuna Katsuki. All the arrangements are the three of our efforts. The calligrapher was thru the connection with Yasuno Katsuki. We thank Deborah so much for her comments.
The previous review that was attributed to Bailey's Cafe was not approved by us nor was it written and posted by anyone associated with us. We have no reason to denounce Mr. Harris as a musician and a professional. Due to an unfortunate incident, we were not able to hear him perform the other night as scheduled but this has nothing to do with his abilities and talents as a musician nor his character.
I met Lafayette Harris Jr. at our children's school, PS321. He was attending an arts event and upon talking to him - I knew as a PTA enthusiast - I had struck GOLD. He is so talented, such a nuanced musician. Together we put together a fund raising concert that netted our school a significant boost in our PTA budget to run our arts and music afterschool programs. Beyond being an incredible musician he also brought to the concert we produced together, a heavy group of other talented musicians. Every part of the evening we planned, a concert this past spring 2013, was fantastic. He was warm, communicative, enduring, problem solving and giving.
For the past 31 years, I have had the honor of sharing the stage with some of the greatest musicians in the world. In 2011, I moved to NYC and met Lafayette Harris who has been running the famed Sunday night open mic at The Historic Lenox Lounge for years. His skill level on the piano and audience repoire are excellent. I hired Lafayette as my musical director for an event on 10/10/12 at the Waldorf Astoria. He hired 2 of he worlds top musicians to complete the trio and together we were magnificent. I highly recommend him for any event playing any style of music on piano or keys.
Response from Lafayette Harris Jr.:
Sheryl it's a pleasure to have worked with you! You are something else!
Price Range: $200 and up for solo piano. 500 and up for groups.
Gig Length: 45 - 360 minutes
Unions: AFM
If you are in the audience at my event you will get Musical satisfaction! You will hear Professional and creative interpretation of standard jazz repertoire. If we are there to give music for a performance you will be thoroughly entertained! If it's background music it will be pleasant yet interesting enough so that someone could just sit and listen instead of chatting up the room!
LAFAYETTE HARRIS JR. BIO
Known as a “go to” pianist by many musicians and band leaders, Lafayette Harris, Jr. currently performs and records with Houston Person and has toured with late great music pioneer Max Roach, and has recorded and toured with four time Grammy nominee - the late, Ms. Ernestine Anderson.
He has released 8 CD’s, including Trio Talk with Winard Harper and Dwayne Dolphin, Bend To The Light, featuring Lonnie Plaxico and Willie Jones III. Then again in 2016 he released Hangin’ With The Big Boys with special guest, Houston Person.
He had his debut CD on Muse Records in 1993 with the aptly titled Lafayette Is Here. A second Muse recording Happy Together followed 3 years later.
Lafayette is featured on the Oct 2014 release by Mr. Person: “The Melody Lingers On”.
His original composition: “You Can’t Lose With The Blues” was one of the most played tunes. “The Melody Lingers On” went to #2 on Jazzweek. In 2017 Mr. Person again featured Lafayette on his newest CD: “Rain Or Shine”
The NYC clubs he has worked including The Blue Note, Sweet Basil, and Fat Tuesday’s and more recently The Fat Cat, Mezzrow’s and Smalls.
A venue with a piano is preferred. If stage and lights and PA is needed we can provide that and include it in the budget. Also, instruments like keyboards and guitars and such will be included in the price.
Trio Talk track list. (All standards save the first one. A blues that I wrote for a Japanese TV commercial.)
Blues On The Edge
Girl Talk
Bolivia
Jitterbug Waltz
I've Never Been In Love Before
Lover
Moose The Mooch
Autumn Nocturne
Tadd's Delight
Sophisticated Lady
Con Alma
Pent-Up House
Herbie Hancock, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hataway, Ray Charles, Thelonious Monk, Stevie Wonder
Piano, outlet for keyboard and amp
Gianmario M. said “Roger is awesome to work with, super communicative, timely and professional. He was able to provide all details upfront, worked with me to finalize all…”
Philip P. said “It is hard to give enough credit and kudos to Gillian as she exceeded our expectations in every way. She arrived on time, elegantly dressed and an accomplished…”
Nikhil H. said “It was an absolute pleasure working with Anna for my proposal! She was able to learn the special requests that I had and played them beautifully for my…”
Tess M. said “We hired Dan for a 1920s-themed murder mystery party. He was amazing! A great pianist and consummate professional — definitely made sure the evening was…”