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CDREVIEWS.COM - NOVEMBER 2006 Having lost my three closest and oldest friends to strokes in the past four years, the heavy sense of loss in Michael Harris’ voice and words in “September Song” is painfully relatable. “Are you sitting here with me/Easing my pain so lovingly,” Harris sings, his voice trying to hold back the tears. Given that the album is dedicated to the memory of his mother, there’s no doubt as to whom the words are about. But even as a sorrow-stricken cello haunts its intimate, reflective arrangement, “September Song” is for healing, not mourning. It’s for after you’ve accepted a loved one’s passing, when you begin to wonder if their spirit is nearby. It is incredibly moving. When you hear the melancholia rise in Harris’ vocals when he croons, “Do you remember how he played?”, it’ll linger in your memory. Some critics have compared Harris’ voice to that of Peter Gabriel and Matthew Scannell of Vertical Horizon. There is merit in both although Harris’ music has far more substance, lyrically and sonically, than Vertical Horizon’s. Artistically, Harris’ explorations of jazz, acoustic rock, and world beat can be more closely linked to Gabriel but without any dance elements. Overall Harris prefers a slow groove, and when he is on, he can quite spectacular, especially on the sultry “Blue Horn”; the pensive “Why?”; and the soaring “Superman,” the second best track on Open Letter after “September Song.” “Superman” isn’t about the comic-book character but a guy who has succeeded in doing everything for his girl except the biggest thing, which is preventing their relationship from crumbling into pieces. “Try to fulfill the dreams in your head/ Lost my cape along the way,” Harris confesses as the Man of Steel walks away in defeat. Open Letter is exactly that: It’s Harris’ open letter to the world. And we are blessed for having the opportunity to read it. Michael Sutton ________ WHISPERIN & HOLLERIN (UK) NOVEMBER 2006 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. 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. Adam Harrington   I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)