Press Archives
Variety - Hotel Café, Los Angeles, August 22:
Sunday night is the perfect time to hear Jesse Harris. The New Yorker, best known for his work with Norah Jones, writes songs that feel like endings -- of an affair, a journey, a night out. "While the Music Lasts," his recent Verve Forecast release, surrounds Harris' reedy tenor with sharp, sophisticated arrangements, at times sounding like a supper club Freedy Johnston. Backed at the Hotel Cafe by Van Dyke Parks (who provided the album's string arrangements) on accordion, Larry Goldings on piano and bassist Tim Luntzel (from Harris' band, the Ferdinandos), the music had a loose, homespun jazziness, something you could comfortably fall into, like an easy chair or feather bed.While Harris confessed the show was the first time the musicians had performed together (Parks and Goldings played off charts), they meshed wonderfully; Parks leaned over his music stand a few times to shake Goldings' hand and Harris was so pleased he called for a song not on their original set list.They gave the spacey waltz "Mirror Ball" a slightly ominous edge, while on wistful, restrained songs such as "Burn," "I Never Changed My Mind" and "Gone, Gone, Gone" Goldings' easy, jazzy runs flitted around Harris' vocals as the breathy harmonies of Parks' accordion added Cajun and Latin American touches.It was the kind of intimate meeting among musicians you wish could have lasted longer than the 45-minute set, but the evening provided a lovely, gentle punctuation to the weekend.
“The Grammy-winning writer makes a most lasting impression with these warm, wistful tunes.” - People Magazine, August 23, 2004, 3.5 out of 4 stars
“Jesse Harris has learned how to keep an audience interested - and wanting more.” - Rolling Stone, August 5, 2004
“Best of the Month” - Elle, August 2004
“’While The Music Lasts’ marks a big step forward for [Harris] and his resourceful band, The Ferdinandos. Contributions by guitarist Bill Frisell and accordionist-arranger Van Dyke Parks colorfully accent the impressive songcraft [Harris] displays. - Washington Post, August 20, 2004
“Harris’ superlative songwriting skills are marked not only by his laid-back melodies and intuitive arrangements, but also by a keen sense of economy ... [Norah] Jones contributes some backing vocals, and Van Dyke Parks provides string arrangements ... but the tunes themselves are the stars of this show.” - Billboard, July 24, 2004
“Jesse Harris writes songs that feel like endings - of an affair, a journey, a night out. ‘While The Music Lasts,’ his recent Verve Forecast release, surrounds Harris’ reedy tenor with sharp, sophisticated arrangements.” - Variety, August 22, 2004
“[Harris’] gift lies in his deft rendering of fleeting moods and passing moments. Afforded a broader palette on ‘While The Music Lasts,’ he responds with a collection of altogether richer canvases.” - Time Out NY, July 15-22, 2004
“Harris’ hardy sunbursts of day-tripping song - the stringy swirl of “Gone, Gone, Gone,” the cornet-guided “More” - feels like an Astral Week.” - NY Press, July 14-20, 2004
“Harris' [has a] remarkable ability to craft simple sweet melodies that grab hold of the listener.” - Boston Herald, August 31, 2004
“[‘While The Music Lasts’] is a cocktail of of swinging cafe blues and folkish rock, with Harris’ restrained voice calling to mind forebearers Paul Simon and Jackson Browne.” - Jesse Fox Mayshark, Sept/Oct 2004
“Harris’ great skill is that his music sounds unforced, but is actually carefully constructed to allow instruments to flow in and out naturally. The methodology results in songs as wide-open and warm as “More” and “Forever Nowhere,” which collectively define the word “wonderful.” - Performing Songwriter, July/Aug 2004, 4 out of 5 stars!
