SPH Octet | Live Jazz | Vinyl Release & Suite Premier

Experience the electrifying fusion of jazz innovation and elemental inspiration as saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Stephen Philip Harvey takes the stage with his acclaimed Stephen Philip Harvey Octet (SPH8). Join us for a dynamic double set of music—celebrating where this boundary-pushing ensemble has been and where it’s headed next. Harvey, a Rochester native, brings this set of music to his hometown theater this August.

Set One – Elemental (Live) Vinyl Release - Originally composed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Elemental (Live) is a powerful suite inspired by the classical elements—fire, air, water, and earth. With Harvey’s signature blend of modern harmony and cinematic texture, the music captures the forces of nature through a uniquely personal lens. While released digitally in May 2024, this special performance celebrates its new vinyl edition, arriving just ahead of Harvey’s next large ensemble album, Multiversal: Live at Bop Stop. Early copies of Multiversal will be available for purchase at the show before its worldwide release on August 22.

Set Two – The Pen is Mightier Premiere - Be the first to hear Harvey’s latest work for octet: The Pen is Mightier, an eight-movement suite inspired by seminal voices in Black American literature. Drawing from the writings of Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, August Wilson, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Amanda Gorman, and others, this deeply resonant piece pays tribute to the authors who shaped—and continue to shape—the narrative of Black life in America. This premiere performance leads into the ensemble’s upcoming studio recording of the suite.

Stephen Philip Harvey is an acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and educator whose genre-blending work spans jazz, classical, funk, hip-hop, and gospel. He leads multiple ensembles under his label Hidden Cinema Records, including the Stephen Philip Harvey Octet (SPH8), and his music has been performed by top international ensembles. Harvey currently teaches at Salisbury University and serves as Music Director for 91.3 WESM, Delmarva Public Media’s jazz and blues station.

SPH8 is a powerhouse jazz octet featuring musicians from the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, performing Harvey’s original compositions and arrangements. Known for their bold sound and fluid ensemble chemistry, SPH8 released their debut album Elemental in 2023, followed by two 2024 live recordings: Elemental (Live) and Live at Radio Artifact.

For more information on Harvey and his musical projects, please visit his website

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