From: Baltimore, Maryland

My inspiration: Scott Joplin and Bud Powell

Education: BM Piano, Oberlin Conservatory (1985); MM, Rutger’s University (1990)

I play and teach: Piano

My other artistic/musical endeavors: Regularly performs with Houston Person and Archie Shepp

Personal Teaching Statement: I believe that everyone can make progress as a musician. It all depends on how much they want to do it and of course their natural ability.

Biography: Known as a “go to” pianist by many musicians, Lafayette Harris Jr. currently performs and records with legendary saxophonist Houston Person where he has recorded on three of Mr. Person’s CDs.

Lafayette has toured with some of the greatest musicians of all time including the legendary Max Roach; jazz, funk pioneer, trumpeter Donald Byrd; trombone plunger master Al Grey; John Gordon’s Trombones Unlimited that featured: Slide Hampton, Al grey and Curtis Fuller, amongst others; and the Duke Ellington Legacy Orchestra. He has recorded and toured with four-time Grammy nominee – the late, great, Ernestine Anderson.

Lafayette is currently a regular member of Archie Shepp’s band. He also records and performs with his own bands that include Lonnie Plaxico, Jazzmeia Horn, Willie Jones III, Peter Washington and Lewis Nash. Lafayette has been the musical director for dance tap organization, Taplogy, since 2013 where he orchestrates and conducts the diverse musical ensemble.

Lafayette actually started playing music for money while still a 16-year-old teenager in his hometown of Baltimore with local drummer Willie Kee, who together with other teenagers formed a regularly gigging band – Life Unlimited. Lafayette worked with Life Unlimited even after leaving Baltimore for college at Denison and Oberlin. By the time he graduated from Oberlin Conservatory in 1985, Life Unlimited had disbanded and the R&B scene for bands in Baltimore was over.

One day later that summer, after a few weeks of lazy resting, “my father comes over to me as I’m laying on his sofa, puts his hand on my shoulder and says, ‘So what’s next for you son?’” Without hesitation Lafayette gave his plan: “Well, daddy, this summer I plan to work here in Baltimore as much as I can as a musician and then in September, I’m moving to New York to pursue my career as a musician.” He went on to move to New York and found many inspirations for his musical development including legendary pianist and instructor Barry Harris, Kenny Barron and Walter Bishop, Jr. As he pursued his own self education, he drew on Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Herbie Hancock and Scott Joplin for inspiration.

Since then, Lafayette has released nine CDs including his newest, “You Can’t Lose With The Blues,” which was #1 for two weeks on the Jazzweek Jazz Chart in February 2020, and remained on the top ten for 14 weeks.