Детали релиза : Jesse Harris - Watching The Sky (2009) [FLAC (tracks + .cue)]

Jesse Harris (born 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He is best known for his songwriting on Norah Jones' album Come Away with Me, including the single "Don't Know Why," for which Harris won a Grammy Award. He has contributed as a producer and/or songwriter on albums by more than a dozen artists, including Jones, Melody Gardot, Madeleine Peyroux, Nikki Yanofsky, and Lizz Wright, and has worked as an instrumentalist with these and other artists. He has released ten full-length albums as a solo artist or group member with his latest,Through the Night, released in August 2010. He also wrote and produced the soundtrack to Ethan Hawke's movie The Hottest State. Harris's music has been described as "blend[ing] folk, rock, jazz, and world rhythms."

Harris began his professional career teaching guitar lessons and performing in "various musical groups," before forming the duo Once Blue with singer/songwriter Rebecca Martin. Once Blue released its self-titled debut on EMI Records in 1995. A planned sophomore album was never released, but nine tracks recorded for that album were included on a 2003 re-release of Once Blue. Harris subsequently signed as a songwriter with Sony Publishing and used his advances to help finance three self-released recordings by the newly-formed Ferdinandos, a group consisting of Harris, Tony Scherr, Tim Luntzel, and Kenny Wollesen. Later, Harris's work with Norah Jones would lead to a major-label deal for the Ferdinandos, and they released two more albums with Verve Records. As a solo artist, Harris subsequently released the albums Mineral, Feel, and Watching the Sky on his own label, Secret Sun Recordings. Secret Sun also released singer Sasha Dobson's Modern Romance, on which Harris contributed as a producer, songwriter, and guitarist.

In 2007, Ethan Hawke approached Harris to write the music for The Hottest State, which Hawke was writing and directing. The soundtrack included songs selected from Harris's previous releases, as well as a few new songs and a score written by Harris. Harris performed a few of the songs himself, and commissioned performances of others by artists including Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Feist, Cat Power, and M. Ward. Harris also acted in the movie.

Harris has toured in North America, South America, Australia, Europe and Japan, including opening for Norah Jones, American Music Club, Bright Eyes, Joshua Radin and Ani DiFranco.

Harris was also a judge for the 10th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.

Harris recorded a new version of his song "The Secret Sun" in August 2010 that's being featured in Corona's "Find A Beach" TV Campaign.

Harris was born in New York City, along with his fraternal twin sister Jenny (a business journalist and television producer married to CNBC anchor and reporter David Faber), the son of As The World Turns actress Marie Masters, and lawyer Jay Harris (the law firm of Hall Dickler Kent Friedman & Wood). Harris is a graduate of Cornell University class of 1991 where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in English.

My first time I heard of Jessie Harris was when he was involved with Norah Jones’ mega hit album Come Away with Me. Although he’s continued playing music, he doesn’t get a lot of praise or airtime on either the radio or television. After listening to Watching the Sky, I’m shocked that Jesse Harris isn’t as well known as he should be. The whole album is creative, using several instruments that I don’t consider to be jazz/folk and is well put together.

I was intrigued by the usage of different instruments in each of the tracks. The flirtation between the brass section and string is original. It gives a country sound more of a jazz feel. The inclusion of Norah Jones in “It Will Stay with Us” is beautiful. She lightly harmonizes in the background; she may be overlooked if you aren’t a Norah Jones fan. Even tracks with minimal arrangements, like “Don’t Wait for Me” and “Looking Back” are handled well. In all of the tracks you know that the star is Harris and he doesn’t get overpowered by the background music.

There is an interesting Latin influence in several tracks of the album. I loved the Tango feeling to “What You Wanted,” the marimba is a great asset to the track. The instrument gives a feeling of time progressing in the track; feeling helpless as you sit and patiently wait for something to happen. The marimba again is used in the tracks “Fool’s Paradise” and “I Think You’re Hiding Something,” the latter continuing to channel the Tango mentality where the male and female have a passionate struggle on the dance floor.

Lyrically the whole album is calm, Harris’ voice lulls throughout. Harris’ lyrical style seems straightforward: anyone could connect with the lyrics. Harris doesn’t alienate anyone and plays on the idea of everyday feelings in life. I think my favorite track of the whole album is “Light as a Feather,” because I love the use of the bells in the background combined with the lyrics. It nostalgically brings me back to childhood summers and brings images of just sitting around with friends talking about what the future would bring to each of us. The usage of the bell represents to me the time passing us by.

I find it almost a weird coincidence, but after reviewing several of the Hushabye Baby soundtracks, I can see this album make a wonderful lullaby album for children. It has the similar multiple instrument arrangements and although some of the tempos are faster, the whole album soothes. You can definitely see similarities to other albums. There is something about the song “The Fool” that channels the Fleetwood Mac classic riff from “Never Going Back Again.” The arrangement is almost like a faster, country take on the song. If I had to suggest another album that sounds similar, I’d mention Norah Jones’ second album, Sunrise. Both albums flirt with the jazz/country/folk idea, but Harris’ playing of the banjo actually fits better than the use of piano.

Watching the Sky doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but Harris’ use of banjo and marimba are a welcome change to current music of today. The album takes elements of jazz, country, folk, and Latin and helps create a picturesque mix which worked wonderful, to my delight. The whole album is lighthearted and sweet. I find this album to be a great summer car album; having the car windows down and driving down to the beach for a lazy day. I don’t understand why more people don’t know who Harris is; all of the tracks are radio friendly and I could even see a track or two used as part of an episode of shows like Grey’s Anatomy that likes to showcase artists. Jesse Harris did a great job with his album, it’s fun, solid, and has a clear-cut message. Each song on the album has something for any folk, jazz, indie, or country fan.