The Andre Harness Quartet performing for a lawn party at the Beaumont Chamber's House on 4/16/26!
David Troha (drums), Jake Farmer (bass), Caleb Fontenot (piano)

Silver and Glass

Posted by Andre Harness

5/12/2026

Hello everyone, and welcome back.

April flew by. It has reinforced that this year is shaping up to be one of the most active musical seasons I’ve had.

On the creative side, I’ve been continuing work on my Horace Silver transcription and arrangement project. I recently added two charts to the resources page, To Beat or Not to Beat and Strollin’, so feel free to check those out. The goal is still to bring this music to the stage soon, but a few small setbacks have slowed things down. The vision is still very much alive, and I’m looking forward to getting this program off the ground.

One of the highlights this month was performing Philip Glass’ The Photographer with the Galveston Symphony Orchestra on soprano saxophone. It’s a demanding piece with very little room to breathe, but between me and the flute player, we held it down. It was a rewarding challenge, especially giving me the opportunity to play the soprano.

I’m also excited to share that GSO has invited me back for their upcoming Juneteenth program, where we’ll be performing Mary Lou Williams’ Zodiac Suite. I’ll be on tenor and baritone for that performance, and I’ll even have the chance to improvise on the “Cancer” movement. Any opportunity to bring jazz language into an orchestral setting is something I welcome.

I’m still working on convincing them to let me take on a full saxophone concerto at some point. I’ll get there. (wink).

I also had the honor of serving as a judge for the Lamar Jazz Festival for the second year in a row. Being trusted to have the tenure and knowledge to evaluate and work with student ensembles in the region is something am proud of. There is a lot of real talent coming up through these programs, and it’s always inspiring to be in those rooms. I’ll admit, seeing my name printed on certificates in an official capacity was a small but meaningful moment.

Performance-wise, it was a full month. The Andre Harness Quartet stayed active, and the Conrad Johnson Orchestra presented a great program at the Ensemble Theatre featuring the music of Horace Alexander Young and Sam Jackson. That was a special show with some deeply rooted, forward-thinking music.

Outside of music, I had the chance to spend time with family in Corpus Christi, followed by something really special, taking my mom on her first cruise to Mexico. It definitely feels like the summer has kicked off in full swing. Working on my tan in the sun, time with family, and a chance to step away, even briefly, from the pace of everything else.

Right after getting back, I jumped into a performance with the Remember When Orchestra at 7 Oaks. Those gigs are always a joy. Britt Godwin has a real gift for connecting with an audience and making even a large room feel personal. If you haven’t experienced that group live, I highly recommend it!

This month also brought a difficult and unexpected loss.

My aunt, Gina Jo Foster, passed away suddenly in early April. I didn’t have the chance to spend a lot of time with her over the years, but she was the kind of person who made an impression immediately. A true free spirit. Creative, bold, and completely herself.

She lived with a sense of joy and expression that was unmistakable, a creative and loving spirit. More than anything, she loved deeply and openly. Even in the few interactions I had with her, that warmth was evident.

In moments like this, I find myself holding onto things that bring some sense of peace. There’s a quote from The Lord of the Rings, Taryn’s favorite movie series, that she loves dearly:

“Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it. White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.”

Because of travel and performance commitments, I wasn’t able to be with my family in Louisville for her celebration of life. But I was with them in spirit, and I continue to keep her children, grandchildren, and loved ones in my thoughts.

Her presence will be missed, but the way she lived, with joy, creativity, and connection, leaves something behind that lasts.

Looking ahead, there’s a lot coming up.

The Golden Triangle Big Band has a joint concert with the Lumberton High School Jazz Band next week, where we are featuring music by modern women composers. That’s a program I’m really proud of and glad to finally perform! We’re also preparing for a July concert that will highlight local Southeast Texas composers .We are calling that Sounds of Home!

I’ll also be back at Doc’s Montrose in Houston later this month with Rickey Davis, along with more performances with the Conrad Johnson Orchestra. You can find all the details on the events page.

And on a personal note, Taryn and I will be heading to hear The Planets performed by the Houston Symphony this weekend. I’m looking forward to being on the other side of the stage for a night and just taking in the music. Taryn loves going to the symphony. Or any theatre for that matter.

It’s been a full month, and I’m settling back into the routine, transcribing daily, working through keys, learning new tunes, and keeping the forward motion steady.

Thanks for continuing to follow along with this journey. I’ve always intended for this space to include more educational materials as well, so I’m planning to share more insights into jazz, improvisation, and the process behind the music in future posts. Fingers crossed on me delivering in the next blog post!

Until next time.

Andre H

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