Jesse Harris
“The Grammy-winning writer makes a most lasting impression with these warm, wistful tunes.” - People Magazine
Originally from New York City, Jesse Harris is a GRAMMY Award winning songwriter, singer, guitarist and producer of artists from all over the world. He began making records in the mid 90s with Once Blue (EMI Records), his first group and first experience writing for another singer. Since then he has worked with dozens of artists and released 15 albums under his own name. His latest album, Songs Never Sung, was released in 2019. Recorded in the tradition of the classic vocal albums, with horn arrangements by CJ Camerieri, it features jazz guitar legend Bill Frisell, drummer Kenny Wollesen and bassist Tony Scherr.
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 over 20 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 many of his albums and he appears as guitarist on almost all 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 Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot, Lana Del Rey, Maria Gadu, and Vinicius Cantuaria.
In 2013, Harris joined John Zorn’s The Song Project, along with Mike Patton, Sofia Rei, and Sean Lennon, writing lyrics for various Zorn compositions and singing them at festivals worldwide with a band featuring Marc Ribot on guitar, John Medeski on keyboards, and Zorn conducting. Two of the group’s albums have been released by Tzadik Records. Recently, Zorn and Harris started a new project, Songs For Petra, which features Petra Haden and The Julian Lage Trio (for whom Harris has produced two albums, Arclight and Modern Lore).
Cosmo, Harris’ instrumental project, features drummer Jeremy Gustin, guitarist Will Graefe, trumpeter CJ Camerieri, trombonist Mike Boschen and bassist Benjamin Lazar Davis. They perform in New York City often and are at work on their first album with producer Jason Lader.
Other production credits for Harris include albums for Forro In The Dark, Sasha Dobson, and Petra Haden, who recorded an entire album of his songs, entitled “Seemed Like A Good Idea – Petra Haden Sings Jesse Harris” (Sunnyside Records). Current projects include the debut album for singer/actor Maya Hawke, the new album for experimental duo Star Rover (whom Harris has used as his backing band on several recent albums), and the debut for Parisian singer Gabi Hartmann.
Jesse Harris - Select Discography
Select Recordings as a Bandleader:
2019 Jesse Harris – Songs Never Sung (Secret Sun)
2018 Jesse Harris – Aquarelle (Secret Sun)
2017 Jesse Harris – Music For Chameleons (Sunnyside)
2016 Petra Haden and Jesse Harris – Seemed Like a Good Idea – Petra Haden Sings Jesse Harris (Sunnyside) – producer, songwriter, guitarist, singer
2013 Jesse Harris – Borne Away (Secret Sun)
2012 Jesse Harris – Sub Rosa (Dangerbird)
2010 Jesse Harris – Cosmo (Tzadik)
2010 Jesse Harris – The Secret Sun – 2010 Single Version (Secret Sun Recordings)
2010 Jesse Harris – Through The Night (Mercer Street/Secret Sun)
2009 Jesse Harris – Watching The Sky (Mercer Street)
2007 Jesse Harris – Feel (Velour)
2006 Jesse Harris – Mineral (Secret Sun)
2004 Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos – While The Music Lasts (Verve)
2003 Jesse Harris and The Ferdinandos – The Secret Sun (Verve)
2002 Jesse Harris and The Ferdinandos – Without You (Bean)
2001 Jesse Harris and The Ferdinandos – Crooked Lines (Bean)
1999 Jesse Harris and The Ferdinandos – Self-titled (Bean)
Select Recordings as a songwriter:
2019 Bill Frisell – Harmony (Blue Note) – songwriter
2018 Kandace Springs – Indigo (Blue Note) – songwriter, guitarist
2018 Melody Gardot – Live In Europe (Universal) – songwriter
2017 Lana Del Rey – Lust For Life (Polydor/Interscope) – songwriter
2016 Kandace Springs – Soul Eyes (Blue Note) – songwriter, guitarist
2015 Lizz Wright – Freedom & Surrender (Concord) – songwriter, guitarist
2015 Forro in the Dark – Forro Zinho – Forro in the Dark Plays Zorn (Tzadik) – producer
2015 Melody Gardot – Currency of Man (Universal) – songwriter, guitarist
2014 John Zorn – The Song Project – limited edition vinyl 45s (Tzadik) – songwriter, singer, liner notes
2012 Vinicius Cantuaria – Indio De Apartamento (Naïve) – songwriter, vocalist
2012 Wax Poetic – On A Ride, featuring Jovanotti (Nublu Records) – songwriter
2012 Melody Gardot – The Absence (Universal) – songwriter
2011 Marisa Monte – O Que Você Quer Sabe De Verdade (EMI) – guitarist
2010 Chico Pinheiro – There’s A Storm Inside, Featuring Dianne Reeves & Bob Mintzer (Sunnyside) – songwriter
2010 Nikki Yanofsky – Nikki (Decca) – producer, guitarist, songwriter
2009 Norah Jones – The Fall (Blue Note) – songwriter, guitarist
2009 Forro In The Dark – Light A Candle (Natgeo) – songwriter, singer
2009 Melody Gardot – My One And Only Thrill (Universal) – songwriter
2008 Solomon Burke – Like A Fire (Shout Factory) – songwriter, guitarist, vocalist
2007 The Hottest State – Soundtrack, featuring Willie Nelson, Feist,Bright Eyes, Emmylou Harris, The Black Keys, M. Ward, Cat Power, Brad Mehldau, Norah Jones, Tony Scherr, and Rocha (Hickory) – songwriter, producer, guitarist, vocalist
2007 Norah Jones – Not Too Late (Blue Note) – guitarist
2006 Madeleine Peyroux – Half The Perfect World (Rounder) – songwriter
2005 Lizz Wright – Dreaming Wide Awake (Verve) – songwriter
2004 Madeleine Peyroux – Careless Love (Rounder) – songwriter
2002 Norah Jones – Come Away With Me (Blue Note) – songwriter, guitarist
2001 Norah Jones – EP First Sessions (Blue Note) – songwriter, guitarist
1996 Jewel – Single “You Were Meant For Me” (Atlantic) – guitarist
1995 Lisa Loeb – Tails (Geffen) – guitarist
Film / Theatre / TV:
2016 Hello, My Name is Doris (Roadside Attractions) – songwriter, guitarist, actor
2014 They Came Together (Lionsgate Films) – songwriter, producer, guitarist, actor
2011 Verano Maldito – Luis Ortega film (Argentina) – songwriter, singer, actor
2007 The Hottest State – film (Think Films) – score composer, songwriter, guitarist, actor
2007 Arrivals – stage play (Bank Street Theatre) – incidental music composer
1998 Dragon Tales – TV show theme song – songwriter, guitarist
Artist Webpage: www.jesseharrismusic.com
Originally from New York City, Jesse Harris is a GRAMMY Award winning songwriter, singer, guitarist and producer of artists from all over the world. He began making records in the mid 90s with Once Blue (EMI Records), his first group and first experience writing for another singer. Since then he has worked with dozens of artists and released 15 albums under his own name. His latest album, Songs Never Sung, was released in 2019. Recorded in the tradition of the classic vocal albums, with horn arrangements by CJ Camerieri, it features jazz guitar legend Bill Frisell, drummer Kenny Wollesen and bassist Tony Scherr.
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 over 20 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 many of his albums and he appears as guitarist on almost all 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 Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot, Lana Del Rey, Maria Gadu, and Vinicius Cantuaria.
In 2013, Harris joined John Zorn’s The Song Project, along with Mike Patton, Sofia Rei, and Sean Lennon, writing lyrics for various Zorn compositions and singing them at festivals worldwide with a band featuring Marc Ribot on guitar, John Medeski on keyboards, and Zorn conducting. Two of the group’s albums have been released by Tzadik Records. Recently, Zorn and Harris started a new project, Songs For Petra, which features Petra Haden and The Julian Lage Trio (for whom Harris has produced two albums, Arclight and Modern Lore).
Cosmo, Harris’ instrumental project, features drummer Jeremy Gustin, guitarist Will Graefe, trumpeter CJ Camerieri, trombonist Mike Boschen and bassist Benjamin Lazar Davis. They perform in New York City often and are at work on their first album with producer Jason Lader.
Other production credits for Harris include albums for Forro In The Dark, Sasha Dobson, and Petra Haden, who recorded an entire album of his songs, entitled “Seemed Like A Good Idea – Petra Haden Sings Jesse Harris” (Sunnyside Records). Current projects include the debut album for singer/actor Maya Hawke, the new album for experimental duo Star Rover (whom Harris has used as his backing band on several recent albums), and the debut for Parisian singer Gabi Hartmann.
Jesse Harris - Select Discography
Select Recordings as a Bandleader:
2019 Jesse Harris – Songs Never Sung (Secret Sun)
2018 Jesse Harris – Aquarelle (Secret Sun)
2017 Jesse Harris – Music For Chameleons (Sunnyside)
2016 Petra Haden and Jesse Harris – Seemed Like a Good Idea – Petra Haden Sings Jesse Harris (Sunnyside) – producer, songwriter, guitarist, singer
2013 Jesse Harris – Borne Away (Secret Sun)
2012 Jesse Harris – Sub Rosa (Dangerbird)
2010 Jesse Harris – Cosmo (Tzadik)
2010 Jesse Harris – The Secret Sun – 2010 Single Version (Secret Sun Recordings)
2010 Jesse Harris – Through The Night (Mercer Street/Secret Sun)
2009 Jesse Harris – Watching The Sky (Mercer Street)
2007 Jesse Harris – Feel (Velour)
2006 Jesse Harris – Mineral (Secret Sun)
2004 Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos – While The Music Lasts (Verve)
2003 Jesse Harris and The Ferdinandos – The Secret Sun (Verve)
2002 Jesse Harris and The Ferdinandos – Without You (Bean)
2001 Jesse Harris and The Ferdinandos – Crooked Lines (Bean)
1999 Jesse Harris and The Ferdinandos – Self-titled (Bean)
Select Recordings as a songwriter:
2019 Bill Frisell – Harmony (Blue Note) – songwriter
2018 Kandace Springs – Indigo (Blue Note) – songwriter, guitarist
2018 Melody Gardot – Live In Europe (Universal) – songwriter
2017 Lana Del Rey – Lust For Life (Polydor/Interscope) – songwriter
2016 Kandace Springs – Soul Eyes (Blue Note) – songwriter, guitarist
2015 Lizz Wright – Freedom & Surrender (Concord) – songwriter, guitarist
2015 Forro in the Dark – Forro Zinho – Forro in the Dark Plays Zorn (Tzadik) – producer
2015 Melody Gardot – Currency of Man (Universal) – songwriter, guitarist
2014 John Zorn – The Song Project – limited edition vinyl 45s (Tzadik) – songwriter, singer, liner notes
2012 Vinicius Cantuaria – Indio De Apartamento (Naïve) – songwriter, vocalist
2012 Wax Poetic – On A Ride, featuring Jovanotti (Nublu Records) – songwriter
2012 Melody Gardot – The Absence (Universal) – songwriter
2011 Marisa Monte – O Que Você Quer Sabe De Verdade (EMI) – guitarist
2010 Chico Pinheiro – There’s A Storm Inside, Featuring Dianne Reeves & Bob Mintzer (Sunnyside) – songwriter
2010 Nikki Yanofsky – Nikki (Decca) – producer, guitarist, songwriter
2009 Norah Jones – The Fall (Blue Note) – songwriter, guitarist
2009 Forro In The Dark – Light A Candle (Natgeo) – songwriter, singer
2009 Melody Gardot – My One And Only Thrill (Universal) – songwriter
2008 Solomon Burke – Like A Fire (Shout Factory) – songwriter, guitarist, vocalist
2007 The Hottest State – Soundtrack, featuring Willie Nelson, Feist,Bright Eyes, Emmylou Harris, The Black Keys, M. Ward, Cat Power, Brad Mehldau, Norah Jones, Tony Scherr, and Rocha (Hickory) – songwriter, producer, guitarist, vocalist
2007 Norah Jones – Not Too Late (Blue Note) – guitarist
2006 Madeleine Peyroux – Half The Perfect World (Rounder) – songwriter
2005 Lizz Wright – Dreaming Wide Awake (Verve) – songwriter
2004 Madeleine Peyroux – Careless Love (Rounder) – songwriter
2002 Norah Jones – Come Away With Me (Blue Note) – songwriter, guitarist
2001 Norah Jones – EP First Sessions (Blue Note) – songwriter, guitarist
1996 Jewel – Single “You Were Meant For Me” (Atlantic) – guitarist
1995 Lisa Loeb – Tails (Geffen) – guitarist
Film / Theatre / TV:
2016 Hello, My Name is Doris (Roadside Attractions) – songwriter, guitarist, actor
2014 They Came Together (Lionsgate Films) – songwriter, producer, guitarist, actor
2011 Verano Maldito – Luis Ortega film (Argentina) – songwriter, singer, actor
2007 The Hottest State – film (Think Films) – score composer, songwriter, guitarist, actor
2007 Arrivals – stage play (Bank Street Theatre) – incidental music composer
1998 Dragon Tales – TV show theme song – songwriter, guitarist
Artist Webpage: www.jesseharrismusic.com