While still relatively
unbeknownst to many a casual listener,
guitarist Corey Harris is quietly making a name for himself as one of the
premier modern
renaissance bluesmen currently on the scene today. With a keen talent for the
Delta blues guitar work, combined with
poignant and sometimes biting lyrics, and the ability to
distill a wide blend of influences into solid music, Harris is quickly becoming one of the most
revered guitarists in the modern blues era.
Born in
1969, in
Denver, Colorado, Harris grew up around music for much of his
formative years, through church and through family friends and relatives who were involved in a wide range of music scenes. Harris himself began playing
guitar at age twelve. Influenced by the likes of
Lightnin' Hopkins and
Robert Johnson, he eventually ended up playing for a few bands in high school.
Following high school, Harris went to study at
Maine's
Bates College, where he studied
anthropology, and it is through this program where Harris began to encounter an even wider range of musical influences. Travelling to Africa and visiting places such as
Cameroon, because he wanted to learn more about "the
black experience", he soon found himself learning more about the
rhythms and
textures of music.
Upon arrival back in the
States, Harris moved to
Louisiana, where he taught English and French to make a living. He also began recording music, but he also, again, started picking up local influence, this time being
cajun and
zydeco nuances.
From there, it's all recent history. in
1995, Harris put out his debut album,
Between Midnight and Day; both
Midnight and its follow-up effort,
1997's
Fish Ain't Bitin' explore the heart of Delta blues, while at the same time, expand beyond the traditional considerations of the genre. In
1999, however, Harris came out with
Greens From the Garden, a highly energetic and vivid album that draws heavy influence from his Cajun residency, including two songs sung in French. In addition, there is the ever-so-slight
Carribean flavour to this album, but everything comes together quite nicely.
Greens is often considered his best album to date.
In
2000, Harris teamed up with
pianist Henry Butler, on
Vu-Du Menz, an album that tends to return back to his more traditional roots, but doesn't quite go all the way -- it still manages to hold some of that Louisiana influence; there's also a very definite
ragtime feel to this album. Harris' sometimes
raspy,
ragged voice manages to blend quite well with Butler's smooth,
velvety croonings.
Finally, in
2002, Harris put out his most recent effort,
Downhome Sophisticate, but not before taking several trips
back to Africa, this time to
Mali. Harris' trips truly energized him, and have made this album perhaps his most exciting release to date. Furthermore, while it is true that all of Harris' albums have touched upon the black struggle in America,
Downhome Sophisticate bears the heaviest weight of all the albums thus far, without turning into a
political grudge match.
As it stands now, the future looks bright for Corey Harris. It seems that he is on the top of his game right now -- and if this isn't the case, who knows what we're all in for. If you are unfamiliar with this
musician, it's high-time to change this. This future
elder statesman of blues is only getting better as he goes.
Works Referenced:
- "Corey Harris: Biography": http://www.coreyharrismusic.com/bio.html
- "All Music Guide: Corey Harris": http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=B5xh9keptjq7m