About Jesse

Jesse Harris is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer, guitarist, and producer of artists from all over the world. Originally from New York City, he began making records in the mid ’90s with Once Blue (EMI Records). Since then he has released more than 20 albums under his own name and his instrumental group Cosmo, as well as many others with various projects and artists. His latest, Paper Flower, a collection of new songs, was recorded in Paris with his old friends Kenny Wollesen and Tony Scherr (who used to accompany Jesse as The Ferdinandos in the late 90s/early 2000s), plus special guests.

In 2003 Harris received the Grammy Award for Song Of The Year for Norah Jones’ breakout hit “Don’t Know Why,” from her debut album, Come Away With Me, which has sold almost 30 million copies worldwide. It includes four other of his compositions: “Shoot The Moon,” “One Flight Down,” I’ve Got To See You Again,” and “The Long Day Is Over.” He plays guitar throughout the recording.

Since then, Jones and Harris have collaborated numerous times. She has been a guest on several of his albums, and he appears as guitarist on many of hers. He also contributed songwriting to her 2008 release, The Fall, and produced her version of his song “World Of Trouble” for the Ethan Hawke film The Hottest State. That soundtrack features not only Harris’ score, but new versions of his songs by Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Cat Power, Feist, The Black Keys, M. Ward, Brad Mehldau, Bright Eyes (on whose album I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning Harris also appears as guitarist) and others. Harris and Jones appear together in the Amy Poehler/Paul Rudd comedy They Came Together, performing his song, which he also produced, “It Was The Last Thing On Your Mind.”

Other artists who have recorded Harris’ songs include Smokey Robinson, George Benson, Pat Metheny, Kandace Springs, and Solomon Burke, on whose album Like A Fire Harris plays guitar and sings backing vocals.

Songwriting collaborations have included Maya Hawke, John Zorn, Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot, Papooz, and Lana Del Rey.

In 2020, Zorn and Harris released Songs For Petra, which features vocalist Petra Haden and the Julian Lage Trio (for whom Harris has produced two albums, Arclight and Modern Lore).

Most recently, Zorn and Harris wrote a musical, Love Songs. A live album of the songs, featuring Haden, is released by Tzadik Records.

In 2022 Cosmo, Harris’ instrumental project, released the album, But When?, and in 2023, Spring Song.

Other production credits for Harris include albums for Papooz (2024’s Resonate), Maya Hawke, Gabi Hartmann, Sasha Dobson.