David Harris
David Harris
David Harris has distinguished himself as a trombonist, pianist, and composer/arranger in a multitude of musical styles. Born in University City, MO., a graduate of New England Conservatory and a freelance-artist in the Boston area since 1980, Mr. Harris associates with a wide variety of musicians performing jazz, pop, and international folk music. An associate-professor at both New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music, Mr. Harris has twice won theMassachusetts Cultural Council Fellowship for music composition. David is longtime trombonist and composer/arranger for the avant gaarde big band Jazz Composers’ Alliance, with whom he performs and records. Mr. Harris was a founding member of the avant Jewish music ensemble Naftule’s Dream, with three albums on Tzadik. David was the founding trombonist for the Klezmer Conservatory Band, as well as trombonist/arranger for the traditional klezmer music ensemble Shirim, noted for their “Klezmer Nutcracker” and klezmer version of Peter and the Wolf- “Pinkus and the Pig”, both of which he co-arranged. David has been featured in soundtracks for TV, commercials, Woody Allen’s “Deconstructing Harry”, a klezmer soundtrack for the movie “Stranger Among Us”, and the soundtrack for “Opposite of Sex.” Mr. Harris has performed around the world, including the Berlin Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, the Philadelphia Pops, the Smithsonian Institute, and jazz clubs such as the Blue Note, Knitting Factory and Tonic.
David is featured on over 40 recordings, including albums with Les Miserables Brass Band, an outstanding group that has toured the world performing traditional brass music of South America, the Balkans, the Caribbean, Africa, and American sources that include Motown and Jimi Hendrix. In addition, LMBB has close ties with David Byrne, and has performed with him numerous times including performances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. The Miserables’ projects include composing the soundtrack for a new version of Pinnochio, with narration by Danny Aiello, and commissioning new American marches. Mr. Harris composes and arranges for LMBB, as well as being a featured soloist on their three recordings.
David resides in Arlington, Ma. performing and composing, teaching trombone, piano, and computer music, and lives with his equally eclectic wife, violinist Mimi Rabson and their 2 children, Julia and Sam.
