The Secret Sun

Jesse Harris, Jesse Harris & the Ferdinandos | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Thumb
• ASIN: B00008Y4KL
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,591 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Jesse Harris will probably always be best known as Norah Jones's favorite songwriter—he wrote five songs on Come Away With Me, including "Don’t Know Why"--but he’s also an able recording artist himself. Many of the 12 songs on his fourth album with the Fernandos, The Secret Sun, are built on a foundation of acoustic guitar--his and that of ex-Lounge Lizard Tony Scherr (who also plays electric guitar throughout). These two are abetted by a particularly supple rhythm section--bassist Tim Luntzel and Kenny Wollesen (Tom Waits, Bill Frisell). Similar to Jones's work, there's an understated elegance to these songs, and the band is clearly comfortable with bluesy pop, country rock, singer-songwriter ballads, and even traditional folk (the album's one cover, "Roberta"). Jones appears on one song, the duet "What Makes You," but it’s not even the best song here. That honor could go to the pre-rock classic pop grace of "How?" an intricate guitar-and-marimba workout "The Midnight Bell," or the album-closing stunner, "You, the Queen," a jazzy love song full of longing, regret, and hope. Clearly, Harris doesn’t have a voice that comes close to matching Jones's, but The Secret Sun is full of good songs played tastefully--a combination that deserves to be applauded. --Keith Moerer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars As Good As His Work WIth Norah Jones, May 27, 2003

By 

Karl Miller "kemspeaks" (Phoenixville, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Secret Sun (Audio CD)

Jessie Harris is the type of intelligent, literate songwriter that too often goes unappreciated in today's noisy pop world. With his work with Norah Jones having earned him some accolades (and hopefully a lot of cash), he should get some well-deserved attention for his latest project with his band, The Ferdinandos.
"The Secret Sun" is not "Don't Know Why 2", and that is a good thing. Rather than repeat the songs he wrote for Norah, Jesse returns to guitar based tunes, and works in a number of styles. Some great rock songs ("All My Life" and You Were On My Mind" are both excellent, with uptempo beats, and excellent use of the Ferdinandos rhythm section) share space with traditional blues (the classic "Roberta"), and the whole program works incredibly well. The jazz stylings that were prevalent on "Don't Know Why" do make a number of appearances here, and "You The Queen" a gorgeous love song written in hushed tones is as good as anything from the Norah project.
Norah does make a visit, playing piano and sharing vocal duties on "What Makes You" - the song sounds so warm, you can tell that the two principal musicians are enjoying recording with each other. It's a gem of a song, and along with the graceful melody of "How" make up the best tracks on this disc.
Harris is a great songwriter and a very good musician, and this disc will hopefully gather him as much attention for his playing that his writing got him for "Come What May". If you want to discover a fresh talent with incredible songwriting skills, this is worth the purchase.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful Music!, May 25, 2003

By 

Peter Lasker Scherr (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Secret Sun (Audio CD)

There are a handful of records that I know I can always call on for sustenance, and The Secret Sun joins the rest of Jessie Harris and the Ferdinando's records in this small treasured group. For me, Jessie's songwriting evokes the kinds of images and memories that define life. Musically, this is a beautiful band of friends, highly evolved, with heart and soul. Imagine The Band, but with 1000 years of collective playing experience. They know how to dress it up, but the way that they dress down is so nice.

Sonically it is a treat. Though it sounds great in the car, give it some time on a good system. It's one of the great rock recordings. The mix... ah, lookout! Kenny's drumming and Tony's guitar and singing are far in, and Tim's a find. A low frequency Zen-master. And on this recording, there are so many shades to Jessie's singing.

Of course I hope that these guys make it, but mostly I hope that they continue to record together. It gives me something to look forward to!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Craft, December 12, 2003

By 

Rees Shad "[e-mail]" (Boiceville, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Secret Sun (Audio CD)

There are folks who write songs and then there are craftsmen. Jesse Harris has not only studied his craft (I hear Tin Pan Alley all over this record), but he's brought it to a new place. His voice is gentle and earnest, and charming to the core. Not some polished up glamour album, this work allows you to see the scratches on the Dobro, and hear a little rattle on the snare drum. It feels healthy and real as if we're hanging out in the songwriter's loft apartment.

I strongly recommend this album to those who aren't looking to find Nora Jones in the guise of a man, but who are willing to see what we're really missing in modern American music. Talented songwriters with classy simplicity and studied craftsmanship.