Everette Harp started playing piano at two, and began practicing saxophone at the age of four. The youngest of the eight
Everette Harp started playing piano at two, and began practicing saxophone at the age of four. The youngest of the eight children of a minister, gospel music was one of Harp's earliest influences. Harp started playing jazz in high school, and graduated from North Texas State University with a music major in the early 1980s. While there he joined Phi Beta Sigma. Working as an accountant for a short time, Harp played in local Houston bands, most notably a local jazz/funk group called The Franchise, which released its own album locally, which included the first recording of Harp's "There's Always Hope" in 1987. Harp moved to Los Angeles in 1988. He immediately toured briefly with Teena Marie, and then internationally with Anita Baker. In 1992, Harp released his self-titled solo debut.
Soon after, Harp played at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and began weekly appearances on The Arsenio Hall Show. He continued to play & tour with notables, including Chaka Khan, George Duke, Chante Moore, Anita Baker, Kenny Loggins, Brenda Russell, Marcus Miller, Dianne Reeves, and many more.[4][dead link] Harp is also known for his performances with Marcus Miller, David Sanborn and Wayne Shorter. In recent years Harp has reduced his side gigs to focus on his solo career.[5] Harp has also performed at the Omaha Blues, Jazz, & Gospel Festival held annually in North Omaha, Nebraska in August. He also performed on "Soul Train '93" (Know You Like to Dance)" with the rap group Naughty by Nature in 1993.
Discography
1992 Everette Harp (Blue Note Records)
1994 Common Ground (Blue Note Records)
1997 What's Going On (Blue Note Records)
1998 Better Days (Blue Note Records)
2000 For the Love (Blue Note Records)
2004 All For You (A440 Records)
2006 In The Moment (Shanachie Records)
2007 My Inspiration (Shanachie Records)
2009 First Love (Shanachie Records)
Collaborations
Kenny Loggins ("What's Going On") (1997)
Regina Belle ("Lazy Afternoon") (2004)
Forever, For Always, For Luther (2004)
"Wholly Holy"
Yolanda Adams ("Wholly Holy") (1997)
Nikkole ("Love Was Made In Heaven") (2009)