Les Harris, Jr., jazz drum set
Les Harris Jr. is a 1983
graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Les is currently a
music faculty member at the University of New Hampshire, the University
of Southern Maine, Phillips Exeter Academy and the Amesbury Public
Schools, teaching drums and ensembles. Les is the son of retired
Berklee College of Music professor and jazz drummer Les Harris Sr. Les
Harris Sr. studied drums with George Lawrence Stone and was the house
drummer at George Wein's Storyville Club in Boston during the late 50's
as a member of the Boots Mussulli Quartet featuring Toshiko Akiyoshi on
piano and Gene Cherico on bass. He taught at Berklee from 1967-1995.
Les Harris Jr. began playing the drums at a young age under the
tutelage of his father. He was sitting in with jazz greats Herb
Pomeroy, Bob Wilber, Dave McKennna, John LaPorta, and Teddy Wilson by
the time he was 14 and began playing professionally at the age of 15,
working weekends with pianist/vocalist Annie Bosteels and her trio.
While attending Berklee, Les studied with Joe Hunt and Robert Kaufman
and upon graduation, he studied extensively with legendary drummer and
educator Alan Dawson. From 1983-1995, Les was the drummer with the jazz
vocal group, "The Ritz", appearing on seven recordings,(five on the
Denon label, two on Pausa). As a member of The Ritz, Les performed at
The Sea Jazz Festival in Finland, The Blue Note Jazz Clubs in Tokyo,
Fukuoka, Jakarta and NYC, The New Morning Club in Paris, George Wein's
"Newport Jazz Festival in Japan" as well as engagements in Singapore,
Italy, Germany, Morrocco, Vienna, and throughout the United States and
Canada.
Les has toured with the Artie Shaw Orchestra,(under the direction of
Dick Johnson), and with tenor saxophone great Scott Hamilton, including
performances with Scott at The Subway Club in Cologne and the Montreal
Jazz Festival. In the early 90's, Les worked with Diana Krall and her
trio in Boston and in 2001 he toured with "Moxie" featuring Cheryl
Bentyne, of The Manhattan Transfer.
Les was a longtime member of Seacoast Jazz great Tommy Gallant's Trio
and has had the opportunity to play with some of the best known artists
in jazz, including Clark Terry, Milt Jackson, Phil Woods, Art Farmer,
Annie Ross, Teddy Wilson, Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, Ray Brown, Marian
McPartland, Jimmy Heath, Ken Peplowski, Al Grey, Marshall Royal, Buddy
DeFranco, Bud Shank, Harry Allen, James Moody,Rufus Reid, Benny Green,
Charlie Mariano, Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan and Geoff Keezer.
Les performs as a freelance musician with many of New England's top
jazz artists. He is a regular member of the Paul Broadnax Quintet and
The New Guitar Summit with Gerry Beaudoin, Duke Robillard and Jay
Geils. Some of his latest recordings include: "SHIVERS" w/ Jay Geils,
Duke Robillard, Gerry Beaudoin and Randy Bachman on the Stony Plain
label. "THE KINGS OF STRINGS" on the Arbors Record label with Aaron
Weinstein, Gerry Beaudoin and Jay Geils, "FRIENDS" and "LIVE AT INDIAN
HILL MUSIC" with the Paul Broadnax Quintet, "STERLING!" with the Jim
Howe Trio featuring Herb Pomeroy on the Invisible Music Label.
"COVERING ALL MY BASSES" with the Jim Howe Trio featuring Harry Allen,
"A BALANCE OF LIGHT" and "HOLDING THE CENTER" with the Mark Kleinhaut
Trio featuring Bobby Watson on the Invisible Music Label. "TRUMPET 101"
with Trent Austin, "TRUE COLORS" with Wendee Glick, Eddie Higgins and
Ken Peplowski.
Visit
the comprehensive web site
of Les Harris, Jr. at http://www.lesharrisjr.com and http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=3176
Contact:
Les Harris,
Jr.
University of
Southern Maine Schoolof Music
37 College Avenue
Gorham, ME 04038
207-780-5265
lesharrisjr@comcast.net