The Board Members – The Barry Harris Institute of Jazz

About The Board Members

James Austin Jr.

James Austin Jr. – President

Founder

The soulful stylings of James Austin Jr., reveal his jazz pedigree and gospel roots. James, originally from Chicago, is an accomplished pianist and bandleader. He honed his craft under the tutelage of a number of legendary musicians, including extensive study with renowned jazz educator, Barry Harris. In recognition of his highly skilled musicianship, James has received numerous accolades and awards, including the honor of being selected as a semi-finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano competition. James has performed alongside an illustrious list of singers and musicians in diverse settings throughout the world, including numerous celebrity functions and televised shows. He recently served as pianist and arranger for two star-studded concerts at Carnegie Hall under the baton of esteemed musical director, Ray Chew. James is regularly featured in the New York City area as a pianist and bandleader for various live concerts, theatrical performances, and civic and charitable events. He has curated and led the NJPAC Jazz Jam series since its inception. For the past couple of years, he has also served as musical director for jazz phenom Miss Alexis Morrast. Songs in the Key of Wonder, James’ debut album, showcases his tasteful instrumental arrangements of a selection of classic compositions from the songbook of the great Stevie Wonder. James regards Stevie Wonder as one of the greatest composers of our time. Others have covered Stevie’s songs, however, James’ arrangements have a particularly appealing flavor and infectious groove.

Phil Bingham

Phil Bingham – Vice-President

Founder

Phil Bingham is Minister of Music Emeritus for Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn, NY. He is also a music consultant with the New York City vicinity School Districts, and the cover conductor of the The Barry Harris 50-Year Concert Retrospective Concert Band, Orchestra and Choir. Mr. Bingham is a composer, arranger, and conference leader. He has conducted professional development workshops for both the secular and sacred music communities. Some examples of his presentations are “Worship Intentionally”, Worship Intonationally”, “Worship Contoured”, and “Worship with a discernible bridge to the various music traditions.” On our upcoming conference, Phil Bingham says, “Music is a potent tool for worship. A song can often touch people in a way that a sermon can’t. Music can bypass intellectual barriers and take the message straight to the heart. This workshop will provide you with valuable tools to assist you in selecting music that sets the theme for worship, enhances the sermon and engages the congregation. Activities may include composing and arranging music.”

Richard Clements

Richard Clements – Vice President – Treasurer

Founder

Richard Clements is a pianist. In the 1970’s Richard played in various R & B bands in the northern California area. In the early 1980’s, he moved to New York City to pursue his Jazz studies with Jazz master pianist Barry Harris. Richard has worked with Clifford Jordan, Abby Lincoln, Leon Thomas, Charlie Persip and His Super Band, Clarence C. Sharp, Roland Alexander, Melba Joyce, and others. In 1997 Richard moved to Paris, France and joined the band of Archie Shepp. During this time he traveled extensively throughout Europe, Japan, standing with the Archie Shepp Band for five years. During the time Richard lived in Paris, he collaborated with Melvin Van Peebles, providing a piano soundtrack for one of his movies. In 2001 Richard moved back to New York City and directed the vocal workshop at The University of the Streets. Presently, Richard conducts a weekly piano workshop at Bill’s Place in Harlem.

Howard Rees

Howard Rees – Vice President – Secretary

Founder

Howard Rees is a Canadian jazz pianist, bassist and educator. He has performed with jazz musicians Charles McPherson, Ray Drummond, Barry Harris, Akira Tana, Leroy Williams, Earl May, Kenny Burrell and Jaki Byard. Howard spent a decade in New York apprenticing with jazz master Barry Harris. Upon returning to Toronto he founded Howard Rees’ Jazz Workshop, a school that has been home to more than 3,000 students over its 38 years. Howard produced the critically acclaimed Barry Harris Workshop Video series, the go-to resource for studying the late maestro’s world-renowned methodology. These materials were dubbed the ‘Bebop Bible’ by Tommy Flanagan, and are used by university-level jazz courses throughout the world.

Alex Stein

Board Member

Alex Stein attended around 600 of Barry’s improvisation classes between 2001 and 2021 and made video recordings of more than 50 classes between the end of 2009 and the end of 2010. He performed for many years with the Stein Brothers Quintet and taught music in NYC and Newark, NJ. He is the curator of and project lead for the Barry Harris Digital Archive, which is inspired by the belief that Harris’ legacy is best served by making his decades of recorded teaching more easily searchable and navigable so that he can continue to teach and speak for himself long after he’s gone.

John Lang

Administrative Director

John Lang is a bassist, arranger, and composer with a distinguished career spanning performance, education, and leadership in the New York jazz scene. Widely recognized as a straight-ahead bassist, he performs regularly at some of the city’s premier venues — including Cellar Dog, Little Branch, Ornithology, The Django, The Ivy Room, The Jazz Forum, Midnight Blue, Maureen’s Jazz Cellar, and Winnie’s Jazz Bar — and has appeared as a sideman alongside saxophone greats Grant Stewart and Chris Byars and with pianists Rick Germanson and David Janeway.
In January 2026, Lang was named the inaugural Administrative Director of the Barry Harris Institute of Jazz, a role dedicated to protecting, preserving, and promulgating the musical compositions, teachings, and legacy of the legendary Barry Harris.

Lang’s relationship with Harris began in 2008, when he first attended one of Barry’s classes. “Everything Barry played that night hit so hard, and seemed so effortless,” he recalls. “I could understand the playing, but he spoke a completely different language when he talked about the music. I quickly realized that Barry had a much deeper understanding and relationship with the jazz language than any other teacher I had ever known.” Lang became a devoted student around 2017 and remained so until Barry’s passing. “The river is deep,” he says of Harris’s teaching legacy. In his new role, Lang looks forward to honoring and expanding that legacy — championing the work of the greatest teacher of bebop music this side of Kansas City