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.

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.