Photo is from my recent performance with the Conrad Johnson Orchestra at Emmit's Place in Houston, TX on October 5th, 2025.

Posted by Andre Harness

10/17/2025

Hello readers!

I've been making steady progress in my practice sessions and maintaining my structured routine. Recently, I had been diving deep into the blues, specifically Charlie Parker's solos on "K.C. Blues" and "Cool Blues." Working through these transcriptions gave me some fantastic vocabulary and I wrote an own etude titled "R.M. Blues" (as in "Release Me," reflecting my struggle to finish the piece!). If you're curious, you can find it on my Resources page.

Writing etudes has always been challenging for me, and that's precisely why I keep pushing myself to do it. The challenge I had with writing these is that I realized when I compose in a vacuum it doesn't work. Instead, improvising, recording myself, and then refining those ideas into something more polished feels much more genuine and inspired.

The past few weeks, I've focused on the jazz standard "Four," transcribing three very distinct solos. I'm gearing up to create another etude based on this work, even though I've been hesitant. But growth is often about stepping into discomfort, so here I go!

I'm grateful I spent extra time playing alto while studying Bird’s solos because soon after, I had an amazing opportunity to play lead alto with the Conrad Johnson Orchestra. It was an incredible experience, and you can find some performance clips on my Facebook page.

Additionally, I had the privilege of performing on soprano saxophone with the Galveston Symphony Orchestra recently. Reconnecting with my classical roots was both inspiring and rejuvenating. Classical opportunities are rare, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next one.

In other important news, I wasn't selected for the John Stites Jazz Award. Though it was disappointing, applying for this award was still a powerful experience. It sparked fresh ideas, reconnected me with mentors, and pushed me beyond my comfort zone. After hearing the news, one mentor reminded me: "I'm sorry you weren't chosen. Happens to all of us." It's easy to forget that everyone's journey involves setbacks and missed shots. What matters most is picking yourself up, learning from the experience, and taking another thoughtful step forward.

I'm happy to share that I'm in the process of lining up lessons with some fantastic mentors. I'm excited about the direction this mentorship will take me and look forward to sharing more updates soon!

Thanks, as always, for reading and supporting my musical journey.

Till next time, Andre