Brandon K. Harper

Jazz Pianist

Upcoming perfomances:

About Me

Chicago’s Brandon Harper, a 2024 Ravinia Steans Music Institute fellow under jazz greats Rufus Reid, Billy Childs and Steve Wilson, is among the nation's best young jazz pianists just a few years after embracing the instrument. In 2024 he led the Brandon Harper and Friends trio at the Chicago Jazz Festival, played a four-day stand at Chicago's legendary Jazz Showcase with alto saxophonist Greg Ward’s combo, twice played with drummer Clif Wallace’s Big Band at Andy’s Jazz Club, and played at both Andy's and at Jazz Showcase with drummer Isaiah Spencer’s combo. Prior to those accomplishments he was selected one of the 2024 YoungArts winners for jazz piano. Brandon, who began Jazz Studies at Northwestern University in 2023 under Derrick Gardner, showcased exceptional talent in high school, but initially as a percussionist. He was selected in 9th grade as drummer for Merit School of Music’s honors jazz combo. In 10th grade he earned Illinois Music Educators Association all-state honors for classical percussion. But by fall of 9th grade, having started teaching himself on a small keyboard at home, Brandon began serving notice that he would soon pursue a new musical path. "(He) hopped on piano and played rehearsal," Lincoln Park High School’s choir director wrote days later. "Not only could he decipher the harmonic progressions by ear, but he had memorized all of the little intricacies of what basically amounts to two hours of straight music. I don't know of any professionals, let alone high school students, who could do that." Brandon also made an indelible mark with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, first as a classical percussionist, then as a jazz drummer and finally, as a jazz pianist. As a Ravinia Jazz Scholar he played drums as a high school sophomore and piano as a junior. He is an alumni of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s renowned Summer Jazz Academy and of the NAfME (National Association for Music Education) All-National Honors Ensemble for Jazz.
Clif Wallace's Big Band Andy's Jazz Club • Chicago 


Videos

Original Compositions Ravinia Steans Music Institute Jazz Program
Greg Ward Quintet65 Windmills
The Isaiah Spencer Quartet
Marques Carroll Trumpet Summit
Greg Ward QuintetHungry Brain Tune

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