By Eldridge “Big Cat” Tolefree

Star saxophonist and jazz musician Jeanette Bertha Harris was born in Fresno to parents Floyd and Annette Harris. She demonstrated a real interest in music before her fifth birthday and began playing the guitar in church. At age 6, she began taking piano lessons, and at age 9, as a fourth grader, she started playing the saxophone. While most of the other children were busy playing video games, Jeanette would be hard at work in her room practicing notes on her saxophone.

    Her interest and commitment to playing music was supported by both her parents, including her older brother Michael. Her amazing father plays the tuba and her brother is a percussionist. Back in 1994 she partnered with the two to form The Harris Family Ragtime Band. The band performed all over California, making appearances everywhere from homeless shelters to big Dixieland festivals.
    Jeanette was introduced to Latin jazz while attending Roosevelt High School, where she played lead alto in the school’s Latin jazz band. A little later she played piano in the Fresno City College Latin Jazz Band.
    While attending Bullard High School, she was the featured saxophonist at one of the school’s appearances at the Monterey Jazz Festival. After graduating, Jeanette received several scholarships that enabled her to pursue her dream of attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. She was lead saxophonist in the college’s Female Big Band. The group played live in various venues in Boston, New Hampshire, New York and Maine.
    In 2001 she graduated with a major in performance. Soon after returning to her home town of Fresno, local clubs started calling, and the local smooth jazz radio station, KEZL 96.7, invited Jeanette and her band to play at the Riverbend Jazz Festival.
    To date, The Jeanette Harris Band has played in a number of jazz festivals, including the Hollywood Park Jazz Festival, the Inglewood Jazz Festival and the San Diego Street Festival. The band has shared stages with The Rippingtons, Eric Marienthal, Kirk Whalum, Eloise Laws, Denise Williams and others.
    Jeanette released her first CD, Here and There, on the J&M Record label. Her second CD, Jeanette Harris Live at Platinum Live, and her newest release, Down Route 99, are on the Sweet Music record label.
    Learn more about Jeanette’s amazing music career and brand new music at www.jeanetteharrisband.com.

Send your comments to Big Cat at insidebuzz@yahoo.com.