Known as a “go to” pianist by many musicians, Lafayette Harris Jr. currently performs and records with legendary saxophonist Houston Person.
Lafayette has toured with some of the greatest musicians including one of the greatest music pioneers and drummers: the legendary Max Roach. That relationship resulted in almost 10 years of touring and collaborating, prompting Mr. Roach to dub Lafayette as a “phenomenal new voice on the music scene today.”
He also played with Jazz, Funk and hip hop collaboration pioneer: trumpeter Donald Byrd in “The New BlackByrds”.
Harris played on BET’s Jazz Central with Mr. Byrd and "The New BlackByrd’s" in a legendary: jazz meets hip hop set.
Lafayette has recorded and toured with multiple Grammy nominated vocal legend: Ms. Ernestine Anderson from 2003-2011 becoming her last full time pianist.
Earlier Lafayette had joined Lionel Hampton’s big band in 1989. Dizzy Gillespie was a very special guest that Lafayette got to work with during his tenure. After departing, he stayed connected by assisting Mr. Hampton on his “For The Love of Music” CD in 1995.
His newest and 9th record, You Can’t Lose With The Blues, was #1 for 2 weeks on the Jazzweek Jazz Chart starting in February 2020 and stayed in the top 10 for another 14 weeks.
Houston Person (born Florence, South Carolina, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer.
Although he’s a definitely a hard bop swinger he’s most known for being a soulful, melodic jazz tenor titan, in a class by himself.
Of the more than 75 albums as a bandleader, on Prestige, Westbound, Mercury, Savoy, and Muse, standouts are ones he’s recorded with Charles Brown, Ron Carter, Bill Charlap, Charles Earland, Lena Horne, Etta Jones, Lou Rawls, Richard "Groove" Holmes and even on Lafayette Harris’ “Hangin’ Wtih The Big Boys”.
Houston received the Eubie Blake Jazz Award in 1982 and continues to travel and perform now in his mid 80’s.