Conversations with Ennis Harris

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ennis Harris.

Hi Ennis, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers. 
I was born and raised in the Central Valley in Exeter, CA. My mother had moved there from the Philippines in the mid-70s, and my father, originally from Bakersfield, moved to Visalia, CA (just next door to Exeter) sometime in the 80s. 

I grew up to the sounds of my mother and her family singing in church. My grandfather was a multi-instrumentalist, and so naturally my family was highly encouraging of myself and my cousins learning a musical instrument from an early age. 

Meanwhile, I was introduced to the arrangements of Maurice White, Charles Stepney, Thom Bell, and more through car rides with my father listening to the music of Earth, Wind, and Fire, The O’Jays, and Shai. 

Eventually, I encountered Dexter Gordon’s track “Cheesecake,” and from that point forward, all that mattered (or would ever matter to my 16-year-old brain) was to play jazz saxophone. My parents nearly died from shock. 

While still in the Central Valley, I was fortunate to encounter supportive educators in Nora Allstedt, Kirk Clague, Tracy Harris, and Michael Tackett, among others. 

In 2018, I moved out to Los Angeles to attend UCLA and finish my B.A. as a part of their Global Jazz Studies program. Here I was able to cultivate lasting friendships and musical mentorships with Collin McCrary, Justo Almario, Hitomi Oba, and James Newton. As I like to put it, at UCLA, I fell in love with the world around me (pursuant to the “Global” part of the degree’s name, I suppose). I now have a deep appreciation for musical communities from cultures all over the world. 

2020 marked a pivotal moment in my development. Until that point, all I still really had figured out was that I wanted to keep playing jazz saxophone. Upon enrolling at USC’s Thornton School of Music for their Master’s program, I had the opportunity to study composition with Vince Mendoza. Through working with Vince, I discovered a love for musical storytelling. And in particular, a love for telling my own stories through composition. Today, I’m continuing at USC as a teaching assistant and doctoral candidate. 

These days, I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to perform with various artists like the Red Bull Symphonic Orchestra with Metro Boomin’, Pete Escovedo, Sammy Miller and The Congregation, Jon Hatamiya, and more. As a composer, I’ve premiered commissioned works through theBABAorchestra, as well as The Los Angeles Jazz Society. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all, but is anyone’s? I experienced a lot of initial resistance from my family at my decision to be a professional musician. (To my mother’s dismay, I had no intention of becoming a nurse). Although I’d like to think I’ve since then swayed their opinions, there was a lot of strife in the beginning. At a certain point, I simply had to decide that I would do whatever it took to go after what I wanted. 

Aside from that, I’ve had my share of life’s blows. Fortunately, I’m still standing today! 

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve had the fortune to be able to have a career in music alongside school. I’m regularly able to arrange and compose for various artists, as well as perform as an instrumentalist around LA. 

In 2022, I was awarded the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers’ Award. In 2023, I was selected as the recipient of the ISJAC Emerging Black Composer Award. 

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I can be reached from my website at https://www.ennisharris.com. 

There, you can keep up with my performances or contact me for any collaborations. Aside from that, I play regularly around town, and I’d love to see some new faces! 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ennisharris.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e.s.harris/

Image Credits
Lauren Desberg