Following the success of his Harlem Stage commissioned work Nocturnal Nubian Ball for Conscientious Ballers and Cultural Shot Callers in 2021, trombonist, composer and sonic shaman Craig Harris presents TONGUES OF FIRE (in a harlem state of mind), a concert of music, poetry and movement. Harris explores the evolution of the Harlem community from the mid-seventies to the present day, gathering an all-star intergenerational cast spanning three generations of Harlem-based artists.
Harris’ musical journey began when touring with the inimitable Sun Ra, leading him on a path that affirmed his place in performance with and among the ranks of creative music’s most progressive thought-leaders. A prolific composer and bandleader of various-sized ensembles, he has amassed an extensive discography of his own influential work in addition to contributing to the projects of his esteemed colleagues. Steeped in the tradition of using his musical voice to comment on social injustice and humanity, and an active member of the Harlem community in which he lives, Harris is a 2022 nominee for the NAACP Image Awards as co-composer of the score for the Oscar-winning film Judas and the Black Messiah. He released his newest recording, Managing the Mask, in 2022.
