About

Colter Harper is a musicologist, musician, and teacher. His book Jazz in the Hill: Nightlife and Narratives of a Pittsburgh Neighborhood (University Press of Mississippi, 2024) delves into the history of Pittsburgh jazz clubs as sites of entrepreneurialism, placemaking, labor organizing, and critical listening in the storied Hill District neighborhood. His research has appeared in journals including Jazz Perspectives, South African Music Studies, International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives, African Performance Review, and Fretboard Journal. Colter is a versatile guitarist and composer who owes a great deal to Pittsburgh's musical community as well as his experiences traveling, performing, and studying in West Africa, Brazil, and Europe. In 2007, Colter joined the multi-platinum selling, world music influenced rock band Rusted Root as a guitarist, percussionist, and vocalist. He recorded on the band's latest albums; Stereo Rodeo and The Movement, and performed with the band nationally until the summer of 2013. In 2018, Colter served as a Fulbright Scholar in the University of Ghana where he created a music production teaching facility for the Department of Music. Colter is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor in the University at Buffalo’s Department of Music where he develops courses in popular music and music technology.

Music

As a producer, I have worked with artists including Osei Korankye (Akwaaba Music, 2016), Bridget Kearney & Ben Davis (Signature Sounds, 2015) and Dark Suburb (Dark Suburb Music, 2015). I have also produced four recordings of original compositions: Under a Quiet Sun (2003), Once Upon a Mind (2007), Fool's Resolution (2013), and Songs from the War Streets (2012). As a guitarist, I have appeared on Rusted Root's The Movement (Shanachie Records, 2012) and Stereo Rodeo (Touchy Pegg/Adrenaline/DKE Records, 2008), as well as with Lindsey Horner (ArtistShare Records, 2010; Cadence, 2005), Georgetown (Georgetown Records, 2010), Tony DePaolis (Tony DePaolis Records, 2009), Phat Mandee (Phatti-O-Phonic Records, 2007), and Jim Dispirito (Wichita Blue Records, 2003).

Teaching

2020-2024                Assistant Teaching Professor, University at Buffalo

·       Music Recording and Production

·      Music and American Nightlife

·       World Music

·       Music in Africa

·       Introduction to Photography

2018-2020          Fulbright Scholar, University of Ghana

·       Graduate Thesis Advisor

·       Processes of Art

·       Music Production

2017-2018          Adjunct Faculty, University of Pittsburgh

·       World Music

·       Music in Africa

2017                 Adjunct Faculty, Seton Hill University

·       World Music

2015-2017          Adjunct Faculty, Robert Morris University

·       Digital Imaging

2013-2015          Visiting Scholar, University of Ghana

·       Graduate Thesis Advisor

·       Composition and Theory

·       Transcription and Analysis

·       Music Production

2005-2008          Teaching Assistant/Fellow, University of Pittsburgh

·       History of Jazz

·       World Music

·       Class Piano