With musical influences ranging from Celtic to classical, folk-rock to Flamenco, Bluegrass to Afrobeat and beyond, Chicago-based vocalist / songwriter / fiddler Anne Harris is an artist whose sonic signature is decidedly unexpected yet broadly appealing, with soaring vocals and an earthy, organic vibe. On Wine and Poetry, she employs lush harmonies, enchanting string arrangements, and poetic lyricism to offer a theme that pulsates with urgency and enlightenment.
As a leader in Chicagos conscious music scene, Harris has made quite a name for herself with a growing body of fans who are drawn to her passionate and captivating performances and evocative songs.
Being an indie artist has afforded Anne the latitude to experiment freely even if it counters popular trends. Consequently, Wine and Poetry is one of the most cleverly packaged CDs to come out in the past year (Illinois Entertainer, Feb. 2006) at a time when downloaded music seems to have become the mainstream. "Even though CDs and their packaging are becoming obsolete to some degree," says Anne, "I still feel that there is something really special about a tangible product, and the way it is presented gives the artist another dimension with which to explore."
Fiery fiddler Anne Harris is a free spirit (Chicago magazine) and exemplifies an original sound and voice. (Bruce Hornsby, June 2005.) She has received radio airplay in over 80 markets nationwide, including Ted Airlines in-flight radio, and was awarded Album Artwork of the Year honors at the 2006 DIY Music Festival in Los Angeles for her Wine and Poetry CD packaging.
Reviews
"She's very talented. The music is good...an original sound and voice."
- Bruce Hornsby
Chicago Tribune
"Anne Harris' songs frequently sound born of a spiritual awakening. ... Many of her lyrics read like intensely personal diary entries. ... On "Wine and Poetry" songs reference mountains, rivers and deep-rooted trees, the singer viewing the natural world almost as an open-air cathedral."
Illinois Entertainer
"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."
CoffeeHouseTour.com
"...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 joyrideits that damn good! Experience the aroma of 'Wine and Poetry' for yourself. Youll be glad you did!
BestFemaleMusicians.com
As you can imagine, each week I listen to nearly 100 CDs searching through submissions to the web site. Many of these CDs are good, at best, but every once in a while a breath of fresh air comes along, and that breath is Anne Harris' "Open Your Doors." This is Americana; roots music at its finest!
I can not remember the last CD that I was as impressed with from start to
finish. Anne is a voice and writer who we will hear more from in the future. Her vocals are at times sultry, at times pure Americana, and always right on target for the song she is playing. And she can handle a fiddle with great adeptness as well.
She opens the disc with the toe tapping, hand clapping "In My Dream" which has a Gospel feel to it. Her songs celebrate life, love, and joy. On "Vauban" we get the chance to hear her play the fiddle. This music is infectious and bound to perk up the listener's ears. Her fiddle playing at times takes on a Celtic feel reminiscent of Natalie MacMaster. The third track "Love Song" starts off with a nice fiddle prelude, again giving Anne the chance to show off her chops. Harris uses a unique, fast paced vocal technique on the chorus lending a double time feel to the song.
"Map To Your Heart" uses a great acoustic guitar part to drive the song. "Never The Same" is the most beautiful song on the release and gives the listener a glimpse of Anne's ability to tell a big story in a period of five minutes. "Falling Off The Page" changes the pace, speeding things up for the story of a lover pondering over whether they will ever catch their beloved.
Interestingly, Anne uses her voice as a percussion instrument on "Love Is The Light" The intro is strong and fast and again allows Anne to shine on the
violin.
Harris doesn't work alone here. She surrounds herself with an array of fine
musicians including Bob Garrett, Chris Siebold, Shawn Sommer, and Kalyan Pathak on "Love Is The Light." All that is left to say is that if you are a fan of
Americana BUY THIS CD!
Indie-Music.com
"Buckle yourselves in, kids. This is a great ride. She never sits still. Shes
too passionate for that. There is not a quiet moment on this CD. It bursts with
life in every note. Each song wants to explore. She has a knack for layering
slinking, sliding, sensually writhing notes just beneath the surface, whether
they're played on the fiddle or carried by her voice. It'll make your toes
wiggle."
