Program Books/Savannah Harris

Savannah Harris

drums

Savannah Harris (drums) is a New York City-based drummer, composer, and producer. Raised in Oakland by musician parents, she gravitated towards the drums at age two. Steeped in a jazz tradition, Harris’ more recent work reflects her versatility. She has recorded with indie and experimental artists Helado Negro, Kate Davis, Justin Allen, and Standing on the Corner. Her jazz recordings include releases from Peter Evans, María Grand, and Or Bareket, and she has also performed with Jason Moran, Ambrose Akinmusire, Kenny Barron, Terence Blanchard, Billy Childs, Christian Scott, José James, and Georgia Anne Muldrow. Currently, she has been working extensively with Nick Hakim and Roy Nathan­son, Aaron Parks, Melanie Charles, Or Bareket, Peter Evans, and Joel Ross. In 2019, Harris was awarded the Harlem Stage Emerging Artist Award, and received her master’s in jazz performance from Manhattan School of Music. She was featured twice in the January 2021 issue of Modern Drum­mer as both a featured artist and a contributing writer. In October 2021, she debuted her solo piece “With Inner Sound, Truth” commissioned by Issue Project Room as a tribute to composer Ruth Anderson. Harris was also featured in Sixteen Journal’s “JAZZ” edition, with portraits shot by photographer James Brodribb.