If you listen to the way I speak, I have a lot of rhythm, use a lot of accents. When I’m playing my instrument, that concept comes through very clearly. – Stefon Harris
I love Amsterdam. The city is vibrant and alive. It’s fresh and so open. It’s definitely one of my favorite places. – Stefon Harris
I grew in the inner city, listening to Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, James Brown, The Commodores – lots of soul music. – Stefon Harris
I taught myself to read music at a very young age, so when I started to take lessons in school, the teachers used to give me other instruments to keep me busy, because I was more advanced than the other kids. – Stefon Harris
Miles Davis is a major influence of mine in terms of the way that I am as a bandleader. – Stefon Harris
Ultimately, what we do as musicians, I think of us as a type of emotional engineer. We essential take these sound waves, this sound, and we organize it into emotion, and that’s how we connect with our audiences. – Stefon Harris
I listen to a lot of singers, because I find phrasing to be one of the most essential elements of playing. – Stefon Harris
What happens when an art form becomes ambiguous, I think, is that the standards are lowered. You can say anything is jazz. So I think it’s important to reflect on what made jazz so special. – Stefon Harris
Being at home with my family always inspires me. I find it hard to be inspired when I’m on the move. I’m not creative when I’m jet-lagged and sleeping in strange hotels. – Stefon Harris
I’m a spa person. Massages keep me relaxed, so I always try to make time for them when I tour. – Stefon Harris
One of the things I’m adamant about as a bandleader is not micromanaging. I’m an advocate for the concept of allowing everyone to be fully vested in what they’re doing, so everyone contributes whatever they’re inspired to contribute. – Stefon Harris
