Stefon Harris on Soul, Sound, and Harmony in Motion

Episode Summary:

Vibraphonist, composer, and educator Stefon Harris joins Backstage Bay Area before his November 29 double bill with trumpeter Theo Croker at SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium. Harris discusses the spiritual roots of his sound, the ideas behind his new album Sonic Creed Volume Two: Life Signs, and why he believes harmony can be felt as vividly as rhythm. He also shares how his Harmony Cloud app is transforming the way musicians hear and respond to chords in real time.

About Stefon Harris:

Stefon Harris is a four-time Grammy-nominated jazz vibraphonist, bandleader, and educator. As a longtime leader of the band Blackout and a former member of the SFJAZZ Collective, he has recorded for Blue Note and Concord, collaborated with artists ranging from Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter to Dianne Reeves and Common, and teaches at Rutgers University–Newark. Harris is also the co-founder of the Melodic Progression Institute and the creator of the Harmony Cloud ear-training app.

In This Episode:

- Stefon’s early experiences with music in the Black church and classical training
- The concept and story behind Sonic Creed Volume Two: Life Signs
- How the title track “Life Signs” grew out of creative limits and four-note cells
- Writing “I Know, Love” as a musical memorial and exploring the emotional weight of chords
- Why Harmony Cloud was designed as a “metronome for harmony” and how musicians are using it
- Reflections on his years with the SFJAZZ Collective and the lessons learned there
- What Bay Area jazz fans can expect from the UpSwing double bill with Theo Croker

Music Featured in This Episode:

- Stefon Harris & Blackout – “Life Signs”
- Stefon Harris & Blackout – “I Know, Love”

Show & Ticket Information:

Stefon Harris & Blackout / Theo Croker – UpSwing at SFJAZZ
Date: Saturday, November 29, 2025
Venue: Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center (San Francisco)
Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/upswing-stefon-harris-theo-croker/

Links & Resources:

Stefon Harris official site: https://www.stefonharris.com
Download and explore Harmony Cloud (iOS app): https://www.stefonharris.com/harmony-cloud
SFJAZZ: https://www.sfjazz.org

Support & Follow Backstage Bay Area:

Website, show archive, and concert reviews: https://www.backstagebayarea.com
Follow and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and share this episode with a fellow jazz fan.