Craig S. Harris

Craig S. Harris (born September 10, 1953) is a Jazz trombonist and composer who has been a major figure in the jazz avant-garde movement since his stint with Sun Ra in 1976. Subsequently, Harris has worked with such notable jazz artists as Abdullah Ibrahim, David Murray, Lester Bowie, Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers, Muhal Richard Abrams and Charlie Haden. Harris has also recorded since 1983 as leader for labels like India Navigation, Soul Note and JMT. For the latter he recorded with two different groups: the Tailgaters Tails was a quintet with clarinetist Don Byron, trumpeter Edward E. J. Allen, Anthony Cox on bass and Pheeroan akLaff on drums. His large ensemble project Cold Sweat was a tribute to the music of James Brown.

Harris was born in Hempstead, New York. He is a graduate of the music program of State University of New York College at Old Westbury, and was profoundly influenced by its founder and director Makanda Ken McIntyre. Harris's move to New York City in 1978 quickly established him in the forefront of young trombonists, including Ray Anderson, George Lewis and Joseph Bowie.

He first played alongside another of his teachers at SUNY, baritone saxophonist Pat Patrick, in Sun Ra's Arkestra for two years. Harris than embarked on a world tour with South African pianist/composer Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand) in 1981. While on tour in Australia Harris discovered the Indigenous Australian wind instrument, the didgeridoo, which he added to the collection of instruments he plays.

As leader

 * Aboriginal Affairs (India Navigation, 1983)
 * Black Bone (Soul Note, 1984)
 * Tributes (OTC, 1985)
 * Tailgaters Tales: Shelter (JMT, 1986)
 * Tailgaters Tales: Blackout in the Square Root of Soul (JMT, 1987)
 * Cold Sweat: Cold Sweat Plays J.B. (JMT, 1989)
 * Cold Sweat: 4-Play (JMT, 1990)
 * F-Stops (Soul Note, 1993)
 * Istanbul (Double Moon, 2003)
 * Souls Within the Veil (Aquastra Music, 2005)

As sideman
With Muhal Richard Abrams With Ray Anderson, George Lewis and Gary Valente With Ayibobo With Billy Bang With Lester Bowie With Don Byron With Carla Cook With Lena Horne With Dollar Brand With Joseph Jarman & Don Moye With David Murray With The Roots With Sekou Sundiata With Sun Ra With Henry Threadgill With the World Saxophone Quartet With The Young Lions
 * Blues Forever (Black Saint, 1981)
 * Rejoicing with the Light (Black Saint, 1983)
 * Song for All (Black Saint, 1995)
 * Slideride (Hat Hut, 1994)
 * Freestyle (DIW, 1994)
 * Hip Hop Be Bop (ITM, 1993)
 * I Only Have Eyes for You (ECM, 1985)
 * Bug Music (1996)
 * Dem Bones (Maxjazz, 2001)
 * Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music (Qwest, 1981)
 * African Marketplace (1979)
 * Dollar Brand Live at Montreux (1980)
 * Earth Passage - Density (Black Saint, 1981)
 * Murray's Steps (Black Saint, 1982)
 * Live at Sweet Basil Volume 1 (Black Saint, 1984)
 * Live at Sweet Basil Volume 2 (Black Saint, 1984)
 * Hope Scope	(Black Saint, 1987)
 * New Life (Black Saint, 1988)
 * David Murray Big Band (Columbia/DIW, 1991)
 * Picasso (DIW, 1992)
 * South of the Border (DIW, 1995)
 * Dark Star: The Music of the Grateful Dead (Astor Place, 1996)
 * Fo Deuk Revue (Justin Time, 1996)
 * Octet Plays Trane (Justin Time, 2000)
 * Yonn-Dé (Justin Time, 2002)
 * Now Is Another Time (Justin Time, 2003)
 * The Roots Come Alive (MCA/Universal, 1999)
 * Blue Oneness of Dreams (1997)
 * Long Story Short (2000)
 * Live at Montreux (1976)
 * Unity (1977)
 * Strange Celestial Road (1980)
 * When Was That? (About Time, 1982)
 * Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket (About Time, 1983)
 * Experience (Justin Time, 2003)
 * Political Blues (Justin Time, 2006)
 * A Concert of New Music Played by Seventeen Exceptional Young Musicians - The Kool Jazz Festival June 30, 1982 (Elektra Musician, 1982)