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Jesse Harris

Occupation Singer/Songwriter/Producer

Hometown

Current Residence

New York-born and raised, Jesse Harris has found a lifetimes worth of inspiration in the city. The Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer, guitarist and producer began making records in the mid-90s with his first group, Once Blue. Since then he has worked with dozens of artists (Norah Jones among them) and released 17 albums under his own name. Here, the multihyphenate shares his go-to spots in his hometown along with a few anecdotes.

WHAT CAN’T YOU TRAVEL WITHOUT AND WHY?
My guitar. Usually I have a performance or a session so I need it anyway, but even if I don’t I play it often and use it to write songs.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY?
Paris. Aside from that I have many friends and musical collaborators there, I’ve always felt good there. Other than that, Rio de Janeiro.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN NYC?
Same as any other day, really.

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE PERSON TO SHOW YOU “THEIR NEW YORK CITY,” WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Can I go back in time? I’d like to see Walt Whitman’s NYC. Or Andy Warhol’s.

WHAT OR WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU RECENTLY AND WHY?
Surf rock records. Such good music.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE NYC RESTAURANTS? WHAT DO YOU ORDER THERE?
Cafe Mogador in the East Village, Elias Corner in Astoria.

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO SPOT IN NYC FOR DRINKS?
I don’t often go out just to drink, but if I do, I like The Ten Bells, cause they have good wine.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NYC BRUNCH SPOTS; WHAT DO YOU ORDER WHEN YOU GO?
Brunch is too late! But Mogador has a great brunch.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ART FIX IN NYC?
Met Museum, Morgan Library, Galleries around town, Guggenheim

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE LATE-NIGHT HANGOUTS IN NYC AND WHY?
Bar Lunatico, Nublu—two music venues that friends of mine own that always have great music.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR UNDER-THE-RADAR MUST-DO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NYC VISITORS?
If they like books, they should visit Mast and Dashwood.

WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO THESE DAYS? WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSICIANS?
Aside from the surf rock records I mentioned (Dick Dale, The Astronauts), I’ve been obsessed with old Haitian and French Antilles records for several years. Most of it is not on streaming services, so you’ll have to come hang at my place to listen! Sometimes I do DJ sets with those records.

WHAT ALBUM OR SONG WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK TO NYC?
Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited or “Positively 4th Street”.

WHEN YOU THINK OF NYC, ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR EMOTIONS OR MEMORIES THAT IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND?
I was born in Manhattan, so it’s been a lifetime of memories.