When Stefon Harris’ Blackout played the Kennedy Center in D.C. earlier this year, DownBeat’s John Murph heard “an exploratory, tightly focused set that placed high stakes on rhythmic agility, communica­tive alertness and spontaneous invention…Each member admirably held their own next to Harris, whose virtuosic and imaginative improvisations can certainly prove unnerving for lesser talents.” Sonic Creed (Motema Music, 2018) is the first new release from Stefon Harris’ Blackout since 2009’s GRAMMY–nominated Urbanus, and it’s a powerful and ambitious statement from the top–rated vibraphonist in the 2018 DownBeat Readers Poll. Family, community, legacy: “These core assets of the Black community are the messages of Sonic Creed, and we honor our legacy by exploring the music of masters such as Bobby Hutcherson, Abbey Lincoln, Wayne Shorter and Horace Silver. Their music is timeless and is the literal aural expression of those community assets.” (Stefon Harris) Stefon Harris – vibraphone, marimba Casey Benjamin – alto saxophone, vocoder Marc Cary – piano, keyboard Ben Williams – bass Terreon Gully – drums