John Harmon’s multimedia matrix goes on full display

The Wisconsin-based multi-hyphenate will read, perform music, and premiere a video at Arts + Literature Laboratory on Saturday, April 27.

Winneconne resident, Oshkosh native, and virtuoso pianist John Harmon first rose to prominence as the founding member of the progressive Appleton jazz band Matrix in the 1970s. Matrix’s popularity would ultimately help usher in new mediums for Harmon to pursue, though music remained a constant. Even after Matrix’s initial 1981 disbandment, Harmon’s commitment to music remained steadfast, keeping the pianist occupied before—and after—the nonet’s eventual reunions. 

Over the past five decades, Harmon has been a remarkably consistent presence in the arts as a sought-after composer, speaker, professor, literary author, and musical performer. And on Saturday, April 27, Harmon will demonstrate the breadth of that artistry in an impressive multimedia showcase at Arts + Literature Laboratory. Harmon’s Arts + Lit Lab appearance will boast an additional layer of intrigue via the world premiere of a near-half-hour video accompaniment to Earth Day Portrait, Harmon’s half of the album Earth Day Heritage: A Celebration In Words And Music.

First released in 2020 to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Harmon’s original composition boasts a bevy of Madison connections, incorporating eco-conscious messaging from Aldo Leopold, John Muir, and former Governor—and Earth Day founder—Gaylord Nelson. Each section is read aloud by a descendant of its author, creating an implicit mirror of nature’s cyclicality.  

Little is known about the contents or production of the video, but given Harmon’s long-standing devotion to nature and the project’s initial intent, there is little doubt the film will include strong environmental messaging. Earth Day Portrait‘s filmic premiere will be a small portion of the overall event, which will also feature Harmon reading from his 2023 Matrix memoir, From The Heart: The Story Of Matrix. Harmon’s detailing of the band’s history constitutes an important literary article on one of the most fascinating and frequently-overlooked bands in Wisconsin’s musical history.

Not a lot of published material from the band’s heyday is easy to find or access, save for a pair of 1978 New York Times articles from noted jazz critic John S. Wilson. Each of Wilson’s pieces effectively mark out the band’s curious eccentricities and stylistic electricity. With From The Heart, Harmon has created the definitive document of the jazz-fusion band’s rollercoaster existence, intimately detailing the band’s ascension of popularity in the mid-to-late 1970s. 

But Matrix is only part of an enormously rich tapestry when it comes to Harmon’s artistic impact. His list of accolades and notable achievements is truly head-spinning and hard to convey without feeling overly cursory. And with Harmon, artistic impact is only a fraction of the equation, with the personal impact he’s managed to impart on his friends, family, associates, and acquaintances being just as substantial. Though, with Harmon, it’s impossible to extract his artistry from human connection. One of Wilson’s New York Times Matrix pieces closes with Harmon providing some confirmation on this point: “We try to give the audience a workable link of communication. We’re not from the school of stage indifference.” (Granted, he was talking about Matrix’s penchant for referencing Lord Of The Rings in their work, but the overarching commonality—an emphasis on human connection—remains intact.)

That emphasis on connection is even further exemplified by Harmon’s relationship to teaching music, which has also remained a relatively consistent aspect of his illustrious career. A Matt Ambrosio profile on Harmon for Wisconsin Academy nicely outlines the satisfaction Harmon appears to glean from the act of teaching, which functions at its best through moments of mutual understanding and, yes, connection. Harmon’s work as an artist carries the type of irresistibly accessible personability that tends to function as the hallmark of a great teacher. Whether it’s composition, structure, improvisation, or maximizing a sense of playfulness, there are valuable lessons to be learned by deconstructing and absorbing Harmon’s work, musical or otherwise. 

From an outsider’s perspective, Harmon’s journey is an enchanted one. From an inauspicious musical upbringing to a stint as a private student of Oscar Peterson to drunkenly forming a band that would make a genuine mark on jazz history, the multi-talented musician’s history is defined by wild evolution. There’s an inordinate amount of chapters of Harmon’s life that seem notably spectacular, but he has continuously navigated those chapters with dignity and grace. As a result of that humility, Harmon’s become a figure who’s not just respected, but beloved.

Saturday, April 27, may be the most complete showcase of Harmon’s work to date, allowing for an impressive cumulative total of the composer’s talents. In addition to the intrigue inspired by the relative secrecy attached to the world premiere of the short Earth Day Portrait film, Harmon’s various modes of expertise will be on full display. Audiences would be wise to keep their attention rapt for the duration of Harmon’s run through various forms of multimedia, as there’s a good chance Harmon will deliver a few lessons worth learning.

Tickets and purchasing rates for the event are available here. Portions of merchandise sales at this event will benefit Earth/Art Resources.