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Gravity and Faith

Live at the Acorn Theater


Anne exclusively uses
LR Baggs pickups & DIs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

February 28, 2013 -  Rave Review for Otis Taylor's "My World is Gone" in Chicago Blues Guide

"Joining Taylor on this album and frequently during live performances is another local Chicago favorite, Anne Harris. Her ethereal fiddle sounds add to Taylor’s trances and give the listener chills...

"Taylors’ fans will gobble up this new release; it is another profound set of statements in Taylors’ inimitable style. Anyone new to Taylor can learn to appreciate the deep roots of his music as it relates to early blues and music from West Africa; here the listener is also treated to a blending of Native American traditions into the beats and harmonies of Taylor’s work. I loved this CD; Taylor has hit another home run with this “lucky thirteenth” release!" - Steve Jones, Chicago Blues Guide, Feb. 2013

Read the full review here

February 5, 2013 - Downbeat Editors Pick "My World Is Gone"

Otis Taylor's new release, My World Is Gone, was named in Downbeat magazine's Editors Picks for February 2013.

 

 

January 20-27, 2013 - Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise #20

Anne sets sail for the Caribbean islands with the Otis Taylor Band on their 2nd Blues Cruise, along with Taj Mahal, Elvin Bishop, Mavis Staples, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Tab Benoit, Terrance Simien and too many others to mention. Anchor's aweigh!

January 13, 2013 - Anne Harris in Words & Music at SPACE

Words & Music is "a very special evening featuring performances from a diverse group of gifted songwriters," hosted by Ingrid Graudins.
This installment features Anne Harris, Cathy Richardson, Susan Voelz and Andrea Zonn.


December 20, 2012 - Anne's Note for the New Year

Anne shares a few thoughts as we transition into a brand new year.
 

December 10, 2012 - Anne Harris Honored with Jimi Award

Anne Harris was honored to receive a 2012 Jimi Award from Blues411 in the category Instrumentalist Other, in recognition of her violin performance. Otis Taylor received the Album of the Year honors for his 2012 release,  Contraband. Thanks, Chefjimi!


September 20, 2012 - The Lamp Project Features Anne Harris Acoustic Performance in New Video Post

During her interview with The Lamp Project's Dalton Graudin, Anne gave a rare solo-acoustic performance of her song, Lullaby.


September 13, 2012 - Anne Harris and Coat Angels Featured in Video Spotlight by The Lamp Project

"The Lamp Project shines the spotlight on Chicago-based fiddler, singer, and songwriter Anne Harris. Enjoy her impassioned, vibrant, and soulful brand of folk-blues-rock, and hear how she and her music support Coat Angels, who provide winter coats to disadvantaged kids."

The Lamp Project is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to spotlighting and supporting socially engaged artists and the causes they champion.

 

August 24, 2012 - Otis Taylor Band's Performance at Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland Impresses Blues Revue 

"...the Otis Taylor Band began their set, with Taylor on guitar and lead vocals, Anne Harris fiddler extraordinaire, Larry Thompson sitting behind the drums, Shawn Starski also on guitar, and bassist Todd Edmunds. Taylor asked the crowd, “How are you guys doing?” Then he encouraged everyone to squeeze up to the stage as close as they could. “Hey Joe” was performed with a completely different arrangement than normal, with a hard-driving rhythm and animated fiddle playing by Harris. Couple that with heavy guitar riffs, backed up by thudding drums and thumping bass that assaulted the ears through sonic vibrations that reached every fiber of one’s physical being and you begin to get the picture."

Read the complete festival review here

July 17, 2012 - Otis Taylor's Contraband is Best Blues Album in DownBeat Critics Poll

Otis Taylor's Contraband was awarded Best Blues Album in the 60th Annual DownBeat International Critics Poll. “For our 2012 poll, 186 critics from around the globe voted, making this the largest voting turnout in the poll’s illustrious history,” [Downbeat publisher Frank] Alkyer said. “The DownBeat Critics Poll is the most comprehensive poll in the jazz world."
In addition to Jazz categories, the poll also includes Blues and Beyond categories. The complete results will be published in the August issue of DownBeat, arriving on newsstands on July 17. Read more here.

May 21, 2012 - Otis Taylor Impresses at Doheny Blues Festival

"Otis Taylor, at 63, brings to blues what bands like Radiohead and Arcade Fire do for rock," raved the Orange County Register in its review of the May 20, 2012, performances at 15th Annual Doheny Blues Festival in Dana Point, California.

"Taylor may have been a bit under the weather (he apologized several times for hoarseness), but that didn't stop him and his mighty backing band from bringing their scorched-earth sound to the Backporch Stage. That area is normally a quiet place for people to relax and kick back while taking in acoustic performances, but Taylor would have none of that.
In songs that blended his intoxicating, open-to-interpretation stories with driving rhythms, he had fans cheering and moving. His self-penned "Rain So Hard," "Blind Piano Teacher" and a version of the rock standard "Hey Joe" were all potent this afternoon. Amazing fiddler Anne Harris (who plays violin like [Buddy] Guy wields his guitar) and the rest of Taylor's band -- an ensemble diverse and strong enough to stand out at Coachella -- seemed to bring their A-game to this gig."

Read the complete review here.

January 12, 2012 - Blues411.com Interview with Anne Harris

"On the October 2011 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise I was honored to witness the Otis Taylor Band. Within minutes the audience and myself was captivated by the fiddle playing Anne Harris. A cross between Jimi Hendrix gyrations and Gypsy-like trills soon had the boat buzzing with her name and talent. I was besides myself when she accepted my proposition to be interviewed for Blues411..."

Read the interview by Chefjimi Patricola here

December 21, 2011 - Anne's Note for the New Year

Anne shares a few thoughts as we transition into a brand new year.

November 18, 2011 - Blues Revue Interview with Anne Harris

"Once you have witnessed Anne Harris play the violin, you aren’t likely to forget the experience any time soon. It’s not just the wondrous music she makes drawing her bow across the strings, it’s also the way the spirit of the music emanates from her physically. She inhabits the music, or maybe the music inhabits her, but it is impossible not to be drawn under her spell. BluesWax wanted to find out what inspires this energetic and mesmerizing performer, who joined Otis Taylor for his performances aboard the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise in October, 2011, so we sat down for a chat on the ship."

Read the full interview by Stacy Jeffress here

November 15, 2011 - Blues411.com Raves for Otis Taylor Band

Chefjimi Patricola of Blues411.com named Otis Taylor the Best of the Blues Cruise.
Here's his review, Otis Taylor and Band: The Best for My Money.

November 12, 2011 - Otis Taylor performs Absinthe on Blues Cruise

Here's a video that captures the vibe and intimacy of the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. Otis Taylor performs Absinthe in the Ocean Bar. Note: camera view improves greatly after 1:00.

October 31, 2011 - Anne Harris joined Otis Taylor for Blues Cruise

Anne set sail Oct. 23 with Otis Taylor Band and a boatload of other musicians and music fans on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. They say what happens on the boat stays on the boat, but those willing to speak report that everyone had a tremendous time with round-the-clock music and merriment.

Among the highlights of every Blues Cruise are all the impromptu collaborations between the various artists. Below is a video of Cedric Burnside playing his song, The World Don't Owe You Nothing, with Anne Harris sitting in on fiddle. Watch full size on YouTube. There are also lots of photos linked on Anne's Facebook page.

October 19, 2011 - Anne Harris supports Carolina Chocolate Drops

Anne gave an acoustic performance in support of Carolina Chocolate Drops at the Acorn Theater on October 19, 2011. CCD's performance was taped by WNIT for the public television music series mentioned below.

October 3, 2011 - Anne Harris Honored for Distinction in Children's Television

Anne was fairly amused to learn that she was named "The Hottest Woman in Children's Television" by a Houston Press Blog.

September 7, 2011 - WNIT (PBS) Films Anne Harris Concert at the Acorn Theater for Music Series Pilot

Anne Harris' performance at the Acorn Theater on Wednesday, September 7th was recorded and filmed by a camera crew from PBS affiliate WNIT Public Television of South Bend, Indiana. The concert taping will serve as a test episode for a proposed music performance series to be produced by WNIT in cooperation with the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Michigan.
Update: Anne performed to a packed house for the taping. Editing is underway and everyone is very pleased with the results so far. The series will be offered to PBS affiliate stations nationwide.

July 9, 2011 - Otis Taylor at North Sea Jazz Festival

Anne Harris performed with Otis Taylor Band at the prestigious North Sea Jazz festival.  The week long festival, held annually in Rotterdam, Netherlands, featured a stellar lineup of world-class artists such as Paul Simon, Prince, BB King, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Herbie Hancock, and many others. Below is a 45-minute video of part of Otis Taylor's performance. Or you can watch it slightly larger here.

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June 2011 - Chicago Magazine Summer Music Preview





Anne shares her picks for the best of Chicago's music and festival scene this Summer.

 

 


April 2011- Video: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert: Otis Taylor

Otis Taylor performs 4 songs for NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert series. Recorded live in February 2011at the National Public Radio studio in Washington, DC, Otis and the band play Ten Millions Slaves, Ran So Hard, Talking About It Blues, and Think I Won't. Audio and video available for download. Otis Taylor, banjo; Anne Harris, fiddle; JP Johnson, guitar; Todd Edmunds, bass, Larry Thompson, snare drum.
Update: The Tiny Desk Concert performance is now available on YouTube: http://youtu.be/am4GcbBrdMA

January 2011 - Anne's Note for the New Year 2011

Anne shares a few thoughts as we transition into a brand new year.

October 29, 1020 - Otis Taylor's interview with Blueswax (Part 2)

Otis talks with Blueswax editor Don Wilcock about what's new and what's coming up. Blueswax is the weekly ezine from Blues Review magazine.
Read Part 1 of the interview here.

July 2010 - Otis Taylor Band Wraps Italian Festival Tour

Otis Taylor Band wrapped a successful tour of six music festivals in Italy, including Liri Blues Festival, Gompm Alm, Trasimeno Blues and Rocce Rosse in Sardinia. Thanks to all the music lovers and new friends who packed every festival.

Here's a video from the Liri Blues Festival in Isola del Liri, Italy. Anne Harris plays her song "Room 604" as an intro to "Rain So Hard," from Clovis People Vol 3.


Rave Reviews for Otis Taylor Band at 2010 Chicago Blues Festival

Otis Taylor received critical praise for his performance at the 2010 Chicago Blues Festival.  Although it came amidst a stretch of five Chicago shows over four days (including Legends, Pritzker Pavilion, SPACE in Evanston, and a live radio broadcast), the energy was high for Taylor’s Festival performance on June 11th in Grant Park's Petrillo Music Shell.

Chicago Sun-Times: “Otis Taylor stated his case once more for being the bright shining light of the postmodern blues. …Taylor was not only a spellbinding presence onstage, but also fronted perhaps the most compelling group musically since early '90s Los Lobos.”

Chicago Tribune: “Instead of standard blues chord progressions, Otis Taylor alternated between banjo and electric guitar to create hypnotic grooves — helped by a band that included a steel guitarist and Chicagoan Anne Harris on violin — and his singing reached back to the blues' origins in field hollers and work songs. …Taylor provided another example of how the blues can move forward even as it draws upon its past.”

ChicagoConcertgoers.com: “Otis Taylor showed why he’s regarded as one of the most relevant contemporary blues artists. Not only is he a terrific songwriter, but he presents his material in a series of surprises. ... Anne Harris was a striking presence dressed in white as she added her mojo and fiddle, while pedal-steel guitarist Chuck Campbell aided the band’s trance blues sound.”

WXRT's Tom Marker: “The Otis Taylor band was also amazing. It might have been the first time there was a band on the Petrillo stage at Blues Fest with a banjo and a violin. Chicago’s Anne Harris nearly steals the show every time she fiddles with Otis. He also sounded great at the broadcast we did from Legends on Thursday.”

BluesWax: “Taylor is becoming the John Mayall of the 21st century, constantly introducing to his fans to new sidemen and women who re-enforce his self-proclaimed 'trance blues' mantra. The latest jaw dropping performers include: [steel guitarist] Chuck Campbell from the sacred steel band the Campbell Brothers; foxy Anne Harris on hot pants and violin (not necessarily in that order); and guitarist Jon Paul Johnson...
    “The most creatively valid, innovative Blues artist of the last ten years, [Taylor] put on a simply stunning set of all originals including material from his new Clovis People Vol. 3.”

 

May 12, 2010 - Anne Harris Appears on New Release by Otis Taylor

Clovis People, Vol. 3 (Telarc) is another album that could only have come from Otis Taylor," writes Gary Schwind of Examiner.com. "These are songs that feature non-traditional blues instruments like banjo and cello." Add to that Anne Harris' fiddle. Harris, who has been touring with Taylor since the 2008 Chicago Blues Festival, appears on 4 tracks, including the somber Lee and Arnez, which made USA TODAY music critic Jerry Shriver's Playlist for the week.

Despite some unusual instrumentation, David Bowling of Blogcritics Music Reviews says Taylor's latest release "is a very back to basics and stripped down album. He has created a sparse sound with a hypnotic style." Chicago Tribune music critic, Greg Kot, elaborates: "Snaking guitars ride a chord, maybe two, over grooves as steady as a river, while banjo, theremin, violin and pedal steel add spooky atmosphere, and a cornet darts in and out. Once in a while, a guitar solo erupts. It's a hypnotic sound that shares similarities with acid-rock, Afro-beat, and the Mississippi hill-country blues of R.L. Burnside."

"Every Otis Taylor record is a cause for celebration, and Clovis People, Vol. 3 is no exception," raves Frank Alkyer in Downbeat magazine's Editors' Picks for May 2010. "His blues are packed not only with primal urges, but also with equal doses of thought and intellect...For newcomers to Taylor, enjoy the originality and surprise of one of our greatest living blues artists." Adds Schwind, "If you love blues and you want something a little different, get a hold of Clovis People, Vol. 3, available in stores [May 12, 2010.] Chances are, you don't have anything like it in your collection." Order it here.

May 8, 2010 - Praise for Anne Harris / Jann Klose co-bill at the Skokie Theatre

Anne Harris performed in a dual concert event with renown singer songwriter Jann Klose at the Skokie Theatre on Friday, April 30th, 2010. In his review of the concerts, Buzz Magazine's Kendall Guimond says,

"Anne Harris...brings an enchanting and sweet demeanor to her folk-pop music" and "captivates the audience with her charming, and often very funny, disposition. ... Like Klose, Harris has a worldly air to her songwriting, poetically telling stories of love, loss, and life."

March 25, 2010 - Anne Harris Live In-Studio with Steve and Johnnie

Anne Harris and Ernie Hendrickson visited with Steve and Johnnie in the WGN Radio 720 studio to promo Anne's upcoming show at the Skokie Theater in Skokie, IL. Steve and Johnnie posted a couple videos of Anne and Ernie performing live in-studio.

February 16, 2010 - Multimedia photo-documentary by Anne Holmes, Crisis on the Border, features original music by Anne Harris and Alison Chesley

Crisis on the Border, a multimedia documentary by photo-journalist Anne Holmes, provides a much needed window onto the ongoing crisis in Chad and Sudan. Says Holmes, "I spent a month wandering around the desert of Eastern Chad in 2008, where a quarter million Darfur refugees are sustained by international aid agencies. European troops had just arrived under UN mandate to mount a peace-keeping mission to protect aid workers, locals and refugees from bandits and violence spilling over the border with Sudan. Darfuris fled a conflict over basic resources in Sudan 6 years ago, to a country already struggling with its own limitations, ushering Eastern Chad into a conflict of its own. The situation remains critical."



When Holmes contacted Anne Harris about music for the project, Harris  was excited to collaborate and passed along several instrumental songs which she and cellist, Alison Chesley (Helen Money), had recently composed. Holmes found them to be a perfect complement to her halting photography and audio recordings. Watch Crisis on the Border.

February 15, 2010 - Anne Harris appears in new Hello Dave video on CMT.com

Anne appears playing fiddle in the new video by old friends and long-time country rockers, Hello Dave. The video, featuring their hit single, Golden, was shot in Chicago in December and is now showing on CMT.com.

Anne's Note for the New Year 2010

Anne shares a few thoughts as we transition into a brand new year.

October 3, 2009 - Anne Harris debuts 4 new songs at SMSO event

Anne premiered four new songs and showcased a different instrumental lineup at a concert in the Benton Harbor arts district on October 3rd, 2009. The event, produced by the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra and hosted by the Richard Hunt Studio Center, capped off a day of public art exhibitions. Joining Anne for the sold out event were cellist Alison Chesley, Greg Nergaard on upright bass, Bob Garrett on percussion & guitar, and Aaron Krossovitch with projected visual art.


Anne Harris at Richard Hunt Studio Center

September 18, 2009 - Otis Taylor thrills Telluride Blues Fest crowd

Otis Taylor and his African Orchestra played to an enthusiastic crowd at the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival. Check out this video of Otis with his big band, including Anne Harris on fiddle, guest Jason Ricci on harp, and West African percussion master Fara Tolno on djembe.

 

September 3, 2009 - Otis Taylor BluesWax interview

Anne's work with Otis Taylor was mentioned in his interview with BluesWax, published in their September 3rd edition of their weekly Ezine. Read it here.

August 2009 - Her Nashville article promoting CSA features Anne's Food Is Terrorism lyrics

The lyrics to Food Is Terrorism are featured in an eco-awareness article in the August 2009 issue of Her Nashville. Author, Terra Bella, warns of the present danger of allowing the global food supply to be controlled by a few enormous agri-business corporations like Monsanto, Cargill and ADM. She suggests combating the threat at the local level with Community Supported Agriculture projects. Read the full article here. 

May 2009 - Anne Harris performs at Blues Music Awards

On May 11, 2009, Anne performed at the 30th Annual Blues Music Awards (formerly WC Handy Awards) in Memphis, playing fiddle with the Otis Taylor Band and sharing the stage with BB King, Koko Taylor, Taj Mahal and many other blues legends. Otis Taylor was nominated for two awards and took home “Instrumentalist of the Year"  for his work on Recapturing the Banjo.


Otis Taylor Band at the Blues Music Awards                                  photo Bob Seckinger


April 2009 - New Anne Harris Single
Wall in Washington released on benefit album

Anne's version of Iris DeMent's Wall in Washington is part of the compilation album, Have You Seen My Hero. The album is now available for download on a pay-what-you-want basis and all proceeds benefit the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

January 22, 2009
Live In-Studio with Otis Taylor

Otis Taylor was the guest on WUNC's The State of Things, discussing the African roots of the banjo and its cross-cultural journey in America, prior to his performance at Duke University. Anne Harris (fiddle) and Don Vappie (banjo) joined Otis and his banjo in the studio for a live performance of Ran so Hard the Sun Went Down.
Here is a link to download an mp3 of the live song.
Or click here for a stream or podcast of the entire interview.

January 17, 2009
Otis Taylor tour news

Otis Taylor brought down the house at a packed Saturday night NAMM showcase at the Anaheim Marriott. Next up for Otis and the band is January 22 at Duke University where Anne will be honored to share the stage with Alvin Youngblood Hart, Don Vappie and Corey Harris as they join Otis' band for a special concert. The three legendary artists, performed on Otis' 2008 record, Recapturing the Banjo.

January 5, 2009
Anne makes Best of '08 in Illinois Entertainer magazine

Illinois Entertainer - Best of Around Hear '08
Between dates with blues legend Otis Taylor and hippie heroes Jefferson Starship, not to mention the release of Gravity And Faith, it has been a banner year for Anne Harris. The singer-songwriter/fast-action fiddler continues to raise the bar on a soulful blend of folk, pop, and roots rock on record, while her deft instrumental abilities continue to resonate in concert. Outside sheer entertainment, the troubadour is always brimming with socially conscious, and at times, intensely personal lyrics as memorable as thought-provoking.

Anne's Note for the New Year 2009

Anne shares a few thoughts as we transition into a brand new year.

Anne noted in Feb/Mar 2009 Blues Review magazine

Anne Harris was noted for her contribution to the trance blues of the Otis Taylor band in an article showcasing bassist Cassie Taylor.

October 17, 2008
Anne Harris releases Live at the Acorn Theater CD

Anne and her band celebrated the release of her new CD, Live at the Acorn Theater, with a special concert event at the Acorn Theater, where the record was recorded back in June 2007. The 13-track disc contains live performance of songs from all four of her studios records.

Accolades for Gravity and Faith

Concertlivewire.com says Gravity and Faith "boasts a carefully crafted blend of violin-infused pop/rock arrangements, the occasional folk flavoring and introspective lyricism that find the ambitious troubadour digging down deep into the most transparent portions of her provocative soul." - Andy Argyrakis

Lake Magazine says Gravity and Faith is "a thoughtful voyage" by "an electric performer who touches your spiritual side" with lyrics "more aptly called poetry." - Gail Isaacson

Anne and her band celebrated the release of Gravity and Faith Sept. 12, 2008 at Martyrs' in Chicago.

Thanks to everyone who came out and filled the room with good vibes.


Gravity and Faith
Live Video

Here's a new video of Anne and her band performing Gravity and Faith:

 

October 2008 - Anne plays fiddle with Jefferson Starship

The legendary Jefferson Starship is at it again. Moving forward by reaching back, and in doing so, daringly casting a light for a new generation of change-makers riveted by the group’s first new studio album in a decade, Jeffersons’ Tree Of Liberty, and introducing a soaring new female voice on many of the songs...Chicago favorite Cathy Richardson.
Now touring in support of the new record, Jefferson Starship welcomed Anne Harris and her fiddle to the band for the Midwest leg of their tour.

Anne touring with Otis Taylor

Anne Harris is adding her fiddle to the trance-blues of Otis Taylor's band for selected dates on his international tour. She first performed alongside the legendary innovator at the 25th Annual Chicago Blues Festival in June 2008.

According to Billboard Magazine, "Otis Taylor is one of the most innovative, thought-provoking blues artists to emerge in the last 20 years." He is currently touring internationally in support of his new record, Recapturing the Banjo, which features "an all-star cast of fellow blues revivalists and banjoists (Keb Mo, Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Guy Davis, Don Vappie) to pay brilliant tribute to the instrument rooted in the legacy of African-American music. Spurning banjo stereotypes and keying in on the instrument's rhythmic versatility, Taylor covers a broad swath of stylistic ground, including rocking blues, funky swagger, jazz-inflected melody, Creole dance, old-timey jug band and country blues." - USA Today

Blues Festival kickoff party June 4, 2008

Anne Harris and her band performed a few songs from her forthcoming CD, Gravity and Faith, at Buddy Guy's Legends as part of NARAS Chicago Chapter's annual event kicking off the Chicago Blues Festival. All proceeds from the event support NARAS' education and advocacy programs.

Anne's Note for the New Year 2008

It's an annual tradition for Anne to share a few thoughts as we transition into a brand new year. Read it here.

6/16/07 Acorn Theater performances recorded for live CD

Anne Harris' June 16th performances at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Michigan, were recorded for a future live CD. Anne and her band were accompanied for the performances by a string quartet. The program featured songs from all three of Anne's CDs, as well as new songs from her forthcoming record, Gravity and Faith. Brando Triantafillou of soundcake engineered the live multi-track recording.

4/20/07 Anne Harris featured in Chicago Tribune

"Anne Harris' songs frequently sound born of a spiritual awakening." So began the Chicago Tribune's feature about Anne and her music in the Friday 'On the Town' section, in advance of her performance at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, IL. You can read the full text of the article here.

4/18/07 Anne Harris performs live on WTTW11 "Chicago Tonight"

"I spent a good part of the afternoon listening to [Wine and Poetry]," said 'Chicago Tonight' host Phil Ponce during a live interview with Anne, "and one of the things that struck me is that the music and the lyrics are just very 'up.' It's positive, it's hopeful." Anne was the featured musical guest on WTTW's nightly public-affairs series. Following the interview, Anne performed acoustic versions of 'Wine and Poetry' and 'Letting Go,' accompanied by guitarist, Chris Siebold and bassist, Greg Nergaard.

Anne Harris concert benefits Hope Jr.

On March 11, 2007 Anne and her band gave a concert benefiting Marillac House's Hope Jr. program for girls. Marillac House is an organization doing vital work on Chicago's west side, providing social services to people of all ages, helping families to break the cycle of poverty. The "Hope Jr." program offers girls age 7 to 17 a range of after-school and out-of-school programs, including cultural field trips, community service activities, art, theater projects, music and choir, as well as tutoring and mentoring. The goal of Hope Jr. is provide the girls with positive experiences and guidance that will translate into positive choices in the future.

Anne Harris returns in new episodes of Jack's Big Music Show

Anne returns as Prudence in two new episodes of Jack's Big Music Show, the smash hit children's TV show on Noggin. The episodes, Snow Day and Jack Bunny, premiered in January 2007 and continue to run.

Anne Harris featured on Chicago Public Radio

As a part of their ongoing series exploring Chicago's music scene, Chicago Public Radio's Tony Sarabia profiled Anne Harris. The piece aired on June 20, 2006, during Eight Forty-Eight and NPRs All Things Considered, but if you missed it you can stream or download it at ChicagoPublicRadio.org.

Anne Harris featured in Fusion Studio D promotion

Anne was among ten female artists featured in Fusion Studio D, a women's lifestyle event visiting cities nationwide in 2006. Sponsored by Ford and Elle, the free promotion focused on the latest in beauty, fitness and music, while raising money and awareness for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and Race for the Cure. On June 6th, 2006 Anne Harris and Kat Parsons, another featured artist, performed at a Studio D event presented at Ford's marketing headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. Anne was the Artist of the Month for December.
 

Anne Harris to perform at 25th Annual American Music Festival

Anne is excited to join a fantastic lineup of diverse American music for this annual 4-day, multi-stage event hosted by FitzGerald's in Berwyn, IL.

Wine and Poetry wins "Album Artwork of the Year"
at 2006 DIY Convention

Anne Harris was awarded "DIY Album Artwork of the Year" honors for her Wine and Poetry CD at the Sixth Annual DIY Music Festival and Convention in LA. The concept packaging features photography and graphic design by Flynn. You can check out some of the Wine and Poetry images and other amazing work at flynnworks.com.
The DIY Convention: Do It Yourself In Film, Music and Books focuses on support and promotion of independent film, music and books.

2/9/06 CoffeehouseTour.com review

Here's what CoffeehouseTour.com had to say about Wine and Poetry in their February 2006 CD reviews:

Anne Harris is the connoisseur of combining “Wine and Poetry” with exquisite lyrical songs that showcase her talent for beautiful vocal melodies laced with breathtaking lyrics. After a suspenseful, instrumental beginning in the first song “Connected”, Anne’s voice soothes powerfully across the tracks giving the listener a sneak preview of the vineyard of songs forthcoming on the menu of “Wine and Poetry”. There is not one throwaway track on this release. Each song is memorably attractive and dazzling, I absolutely love this album. The diversity that flows from it makes it nearly impossible to tag it with just one genre category. Think Americana, soul, folk, Celtic, gospel and pop all on a glorious joyride…it’s that damn good! Experience the aroma of “Wine and Poetry” for yourself. You’ll be glad you did!
     - Heather Corcoran, Feb. 2006

2/1/06 Illinois Entertainer review

Here's what the Illinois Entertainer had to say about Wine and Poetry in the February 2006 issue:

Besides being one of the most cleverly packaged CDs to come out in the past year, Anne Harris' Wine and Poetry makes for a delightfully diverse listen. Like a fine wine, the vocalist/songwriter/fiddler gets better with time as she unleashes rock, pop, soul, and the occasional sliver of Americana. Cuts like "Fly" and "Connected" bounce with brisk acoustics, while "Desperate Day" unfolds with orchestrated urgency. Harris further connects with her experimental tendencies on the percussion peppered instrumental finale and remains tasty until the last drop.    - Andy Argyrakis, February 2006

11/05 Ted Airlines selects "The River" for in-flight playlist

Anne's song 'The River' from Wine and Poetry can be heard on the airline's Tedtunes in-flight radio Channel 8 through December, 2005. Called EclecTed, the channel features fresh voices from established and up and coming artists. If you are flying Ted make sure and tune in.

11/3/05 Anne appears in new Robbie Fulks video

Anne appears playing fiddle in a new video by Chicago native and Yep Roc Records recording artist Robbie Fulks. The video for the Robbie's song "Georgia Hard" was shot earlier in 2005 at Hideout in Chicago.

9/14/05 Anne Harris appears on Jack's Big Music Show

Anne will be featured on an episode of Jack's Big Music Show, a way-cute new children's program on the Noggin channel. Anne appears as "Prudence the Music Genie" to grant musical wishes for Jack, his friend Mary, and his dog Mel. As you might expect of a Music Genie, she sings and plays a little violin and mandolin, and even yodels. Cathy Richardson also appears on a few episodes, as do some other Chicago musicians including Buddy Guy.
Update: The "Music Genie" episode, and all the others, have been airing repeatedly since early September 2005. The series is a hit among kids, and parents, and work is underway on a brand new season for 2007.

 

 

© 2012 Anne Harris / Rugged Road Records
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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