As the year begins to close, we can start compiling our lists of the best albums of the last twelve months. When that time has come, the Michael Harris Band's "Open Letter" (http://www.daibox.com) CD will stand proudly among them. From start to finish this is a breezy yet highly emotional effort, a personal masterpiece that combines the best elements of jazz, acoustic folk, soul, and alternative rock.
This is no trendy indie effort, just back-to-basics light rock played with love and bittersweet tears. To say that I have been obsessing over this record would be an understatement; I am completely under its spell, from the engaging shuffling beat of the title track to the mournful, contemplative strings of "September Song." In fact, I have probably listened to "September Song" more than any other tune on my iPod this month. It's a song about accepting death, the loss of a loved one, and wondering what happens to people after they die. Do they continue to caress us with their spirit, and do they take their rightful place in the skies above? It is touchingly beautiful with a healing vocal performance from Harris.
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Harris is a gifted songwriter who probably isn't aware of how good he truly is. At first, "Fresh Water" seemed to address the plight of the hungry and dying populations of Africa, then it hit me that it's probably about how the government treated the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
There are touches of jazz, namely with the contributions of Michael Moynahan on trumpet and the late Michael Rose on saxophone, but they don't dominate the mix; instead, they simply provide spicy illumination. More importantly, the tunes are memorable and filled with life and positive vibes. We need more artists like this, definitely.
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