Jesse Harris - Through the Night

Despite having released eight solo albums of exceptional songwriting expertise, Jesse Harris has, to this point, basically been summed up all too often as "the guy who wrote 'Don't Know Why' for Norah Jones." That will hopefully change with the August 24 release of Through the Night, an album of fourteen often starkly etched songs that despite being recorded at the legendary Compass Studios in the Bahamas by the equally legendary producer Terry Manning, reflect not so much sun as moonlight, a nocturnal theme that runs through the project. “The songs depict dreams, romance, and mystery against the backdrop of moon, stars, and sometimes chaos,” reflects Harris. “I wanted to explore the theme of night in different scenarios, from peaceful Rousseau-esque fantasies to sleepless nights of obsession.”

We think that in many ways the sign of a gifted writer is in the ability to make melodies sound perfectly natural and completely unforced, notes following each other with an easy grace, seemingly knowing exactly where to go. Harris elevates this skillset to a whole other level, boldly mixing in a variety of textures and rhythms while keeping the core melody and lyrics that are both revealing and perfectly opaque. "Tough as Water" has a rich, soulful heart, Harris' boyish vocals striking a chord of unassuming declaration above a thick stew of horns and jazzy guitar lines. The shuffling "Put It Out of Your Mind" offers up gorgeously twisting chord progressions and a straight-up shot of classic R+B strut. Recommended.

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Jesse Harris - "Tough As Water" (from the album Through the Night)

Jesse Harris - "Put It Out of Your Mind" (from the album Through the Night)