On Saturday, May 7, Dorchester Center for the Arts will welcome the Stephen Philip Harvey Octet to the George B. Todd Performance Hall for an evening of original jazz music. The concert will begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Visit DCA online at dorchesterarts.org for the ticket link.

Stephen P. Harvey (1992) is an American saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator.

The Octet (SPH8) is a collective of eight musicians from several Mid-Atlantic jazz scenes coming together to play his original compositions and arrangements. The group includes Harvey on tenor sax; Chris Coles, alto sax; Tommy Lehman, trumpet; Sam Blakeslee, trombone; Dan Bruce, guitar; Theron Brown, piano; Tony DePaolis, bass; and Dustin May, drums.

This performance is part of SPH8's 2022 Spring Tour where they'll be premiering music from Harvey’s newest octet suite, “Elemental.” The compositions from this suite are inspired by the classic elements: earth, wind, fire and water. In addition, the set will showcase reductions of some of his big band music and expansions of some of his small group music to fit this eight-member ensemble.

As a musician and bandleader, Harvey has performed extensively in Western Pennsylvania, Northeast Ohio and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Projects under his belt include his jazz duo/trio Harvey Allen, his mid-sized jazz combo SPH8, and his large ensemble the Stephen Philip Harvey Jazz Orchestra.

He has also performed professionally with the First Class Big Band, The Akron Symphony Big Band, The Ohio Players, The Youngstown Jazz Collective, The Big Nasty, The Black Wolf, and the Thief, The Vindy's, The House of Leaves Band, and other musical projects. It is his practice to funnel his eclectic musical background into his compositions, fusing jazz and classical with popular, funk, hip-hop, rock and gospel.

Dorchester Center for the Arts is dedicated to enriching Maryland’s Eastern Shore community through high quality, engaging programming in the visual, literary and performing arts. For additional program information or registration, visit DCA online at dorchesterarts.org, call 410-228-7782, or stop by 321 High St. in Cambridge. The center is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and Thursday, noon-8 p.m. Programs at DCA are supported by the Maryland State Arts Council. For the latest, find DCA on Facebook.