“… a powerful singer at ease in any setting.”
Ross Gentile, “Standards in Jazz,” WSIE-FM

"Karla Harris engages the audience and makes us
happy to be sharing the evening with her."
-Clubscene

Welcome to vocalist Karla Harris’ home on the Web!
Thanks for stopping by.

News, Updates, and Performances...

July 2010

Good morning, sunshine ...

... and honeysuckle vine and hummingbird flying.... "These are a few of my favorite things" this time of year!

Wishing you all a relaxed summer and hope to see you enjoying an evening at the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival in Portland on July 17, where I'll be performing this year with the Bobby Torres Latin Jazz ensemble and special guest, Grammy-Winning percussionist Luis Conte. Luis was here last February for a night with the ensemble at Jimmy Maks, and the beat was, shall we say, compelling! Don't miss enjoying it at this great setting.

For a special place to spend a pretty evening, come out to the Heathman Hotel in downtown Portland (July 17) or the Allison resort in Newberg (July 9 and 31). I'll be with some of my favorite musicians, who'll be putting their special stamp on my songbook. Always something I love sharing with you.

Please visit the calendar link above to see all the details.

As always, thank you for your warm support of live music, wherever it's made.

All good wishes,
~Karla

For a quick look at Upcoming Events, please click on the Calendar link above. Please drop an email at the Contact Link above if you'd like to be on Karla's mailing list.

* * * * * * *
"My Own Little Corner" ...
(New poem posted July 4, 2010)

I have always loved words. I think that's in large part why I'm drawn to singing the standards -- they're often so lyrically gorgeous or clever, moving or even thought- provoking. And it's why I love poetry, which, like a perfect lyric, can say so much in just a relatively few lines. A few poems to share:

Long Afternoon at the Edge of Little Sister Pond

As for life,
I'm humbled,
I'm without words
sufficient to say

how it has been hard as flint,
and soft as a spring pond,
both of these
and over and over,

and long pale afternoons besides,
and so many mysteries
beautiful as eggs in a nest,
still unhatched

though warm and watched over
by something I have never seen -
a tree angel, perhaps,
or a ghost of holiness.

Every day I walk out into the world
to be dazzled, then to be reflective.
It suffices, it is all comfort -
along with human love,

dog love, water love, little-serpent love,
sunburst love, or love for that smallest of birds
flying among the scarlet flowers.
There is hardly time to think about

stopping, and lying down at last
to the long afterlife, to the tenderness
yet to come, when
time will brim over the singular pond, and become forever,

and we will pretend to melt away into the leaves.
As for death,
I can't wait to be the hummingbird,
can you?

-"Long Afternoon at the Edge of Little Sister Pond" by Mary Oliver


Patience

Patience is wider
than one once envisioned,

with ribbons of rivers
and distant ranges
and
 tasks
undertaken and finished
with modest 
relish
by natives
in their native dress.


Who would have guessed it possible

that waiting is sustainable—
a place with its own harvests.
Or that
in 
time's fullness
the diamonds of patience
couldn't be distinguished
from the genuine
in brilliance
or hardness.

-"Patience" by Kay Ryan

Inside Job

Some work
just won’t stay unfinished
sitting there by the side
or
remaining where you
think you left it far behind
some work
rushes back
demanding your
attention!
when it’s time
by and by
inside.

-"Inside Job" by KJ McDaniel


________________________________________________



Past News of Note:

2010

May 28, SRO for Harris, Horsfall, Strait, Captein at Arrivederci's Wine Bar
May 8, Silverton Wine and Jazz Festival with Bobby Torres Ensemble
April 9, interview and live performance on Lynn Darroch's radio show celebrating Betty Carter
Feb. 13, concert with Bobby Torres Ensemble featuring Grammy-winning percussionist Luis Conte


2009

We've brushed up the site and have added a new page ... see the "SHOWS" link above.

Plus, a new mp3 on the "LISTEN" link. So many people commented that they loved this song from Karla's recent live performance on KMHD ... We've posted it. Thank you for letting us know you liked what you heard. Go to the Listen page and click on "You Better Go Now."


June 6: Karla at the new "'Round Midnight" series created by David Ornette Cherry. Performing with the Bobby Torres Ensemble, 11:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. at the Curious Comedy Theatre in Portland. For the night owl in you ... www.roundmidnightpdx.xom

May 30: Tune into KMHD 89.1 for Homegrown Live with host Mary Burlingame at 2 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time. Karla is the featured performer and will be making music with the JumpTown Quartet, including bassist Tim Gilson, guitarist Eli Reisman, pianist Mark Simon and drummer Larry Bard, for the full hour.

"Wine, Woman and Song," debuting May 19 at Tony Starlight's Supper Club and Lounge. ..... Karla, with the help of Tony's supreme Chef and Sommelier Tom J. Fields, has created a unique wine-food-music 'tasting' with songs specifically chosen to enhance the flavor of each wine variety you'll taste. This show is based on research done by major vintners Karla read about after wondering if music could be paired with wine in the same way food is -- to bring out the full "flavors" in each.

Karla is accompanied this night by the JumpTown Quartet, featuring musicians as fine as the wine -- guitarist Eli Reisman, pianist Mark Simon, bassist Tim Gilson and drummer Randy Rollofson, who are going to play everything from Monk to Mozart to test these theories.

Saturday, April 25 -- SIREN NATION'S annual BILLIE HOLIDAY TRIBUTE, at the new Mississippi Studios. Karla joins a fine group of singers, each presenting three of their favorite songs from Lady Day. sirennationcom. Check out the calendar for more info to come.

2008:

What a special July, and more in August and September...

We had an excellent time performing at the 28th annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival in Portland July 20. It was great to share the stage with my Twice As Nice recording partner and extraordinary bassist Tom Kennedy, plus outstanding drummer Todd Strait and the endlessly inventive pianist Randy Porter who played their hearts out for our show. Thanks to everyone who let us know they enjoyed the Music at the park or via the KMHD 89.1 simulcast, and to all who purchased Twice As Nice CDs. Hats off and thanks also to event director Joe Beeler and all of the organizers and volunteers. It was a great day!

Tom Kennedy and I are taking the show to the East Coast over Labor Day Weekend. We'll be opening the Nantucket Island Arts Festival, joined by great musicians out of NYC. Looking forward to meeting everyone there!

SEPTEMBER 6 -- I'll be on the beautiful Portland South Waterfront with the Bobby Torres ensemble at the Portland RiverFest. Latin jazz at its best and a great family event. Please check the calendar link above for details.

SEPTEMBER 7 -- I'm traveling to the coast for the Newport Jazz Festival. I'll be singing some tunes at the festival's Finale event -- the local All-Star Jam Performance, 1-2 p.m. This group features players from Newport joined by headliners who are in for town to perform at the festival. Looking forward to being a part of the party!