Stefon Harris & Blackout deliver a night of jazz with help from a surprise Clark College musician
PENGUIN NATION SPOTLIGHT:
Stefon Harris (vibraphone) & Blackout performing with Clark College student Blake Bruning (drums).
Stefon Harris & Blackout took the stage to open the 62nd Clark College Jazz Festival Wednesday, January 28th, part of the Arts@Clark Presents series; the evening promised world-class musicianship. What unfolded instead was something even more powerful, a reminder that the most meaningful moments in the performing arts are often the ones no one could have planned.
“This concert has been in the works for a very long time, but I had the opportunity to see Stefon Harris & Blackout in concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City in early January,” said Ruth Wikler, Director of Arts Programming, Partnerships, & Philanthropy at Clark College Foundation. “When Mr. Harris spoke from the stage about his dedication to jazz education, I knew we had found an artist for Clark who was not only a phenomenal musician but also a kindred spirit. He and his ensemble did not disappoint. They brought not only incredible musicianship but also empathy and excitement about sharing the joy of jazz with the future of jazz: our students.”
The evening began with a performance by Clark College Jazz Band I, setting the tone for a night centered on artistic excellence and student opportunity. But as the night progressed, Blackout’s drummer wasn’t able to make it. Who would fill the drummer’s seat for Blackout?
The answer was waiting backstage.
Second-year Clark College student Blake Bruning, a drummer in Jazz Band one, stepped forward to assist during sound check and quickly gained familiarity with the ensemble’s music. What began as a practical solution soon became a remarkable act of trust between student and professional artists.
Clark College student Blake Bruning.
Bruning had little time to overthink the moment. After assisting with sound check that afternoon, he learned just two hours before the concert that he would be performing the full set with Stefon Harris & Blackout. “I didn’t think twice about playing with them,” he said. “I got a chance to play with them earlier in the day and got a good feel for how they played and felt comfortable going with the flow.” The nerves and adrenaline were there as the first song began. Still, Bruning leaned into the experience like any other high-level performance. By the end of the night, relief gave way to something bigger. “I realized I hadn’t stopped smiling the entire time,” he shared. “It all hit me how cool of an opportunity it was.”
One of the most electric moments of the evening came when Harris and Bruning began trading solos, pushing and responding to each other in an unprompted exchange that drew cheers from the audience. “That trading was such a crazy experience, totally unprompted but equally exhilarating,” Bruning said.
Clark College student Blake Bruning & Stefon Harris trading solos.
A recipient of the Field Department scholarship for Clark’s Arts Department, he credits scholarship support with helping cover tuition and essential music supplies, allowing him to continue honing his craft. “I’m incredibly grateful for such an amazing opportunity,” he added. “I’m looking forward to the relationship that I got to start with those amazing musicians.”
Performing alongside internationally acclaimed musicians is a milestone many young artists only imagine. Bruning rose to the moment with professionalism and confidence, earning encouragement from Harris throughout the performance and admiration from an energized audience.
Music runs deep in the Bruning family. Blake’s brother, Parker Bruning, is also a Clark College musician who previously soloed with Tito Puente Jr. at the Vancouver Arts & Music Festival, making the evening feel like part of a larger story about mentorship, preparation, and artistic growth happening within Clark’s music program.
“The performing arts take place in real time: we all gather to experience something unique that’s unfolding before us,” said Wikler. “And that’s how last week’s magical concert unfolded, too. Travel complications created uncertainty throughout the day about who might fill the drummer’s seat; our brave and excellent student, Blake Bruning, stepped up to help with sound check and gained familiarity with the music to be played that evening. Mr. Harris trusted Mr. Bruning to complete the sextet that evening, visibly encouraging him throughout the set.”
“As a result, Gaiser Hall filled with Penguin pride, and a call-and-response chorus rounding out a spirited rendition of Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World ended the evening with maximum joy.”
Moments like these reflect the core purpose of Arts@Clark: to bring exceptional artists to Southwest Washington while creating transformational, hands-on learning opportunities for students. By sharing the stage, sometimes literally, students gain experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. For one night, preparation met opportunity, mentorship met trust, and a student musician found himself performing at the highest level.
It was unscripted. It was collaborative. And it was exactly what arts education is meant to be.