In “Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris,” Andrea Swensson shares an intimate portrait of a Minneapolis treasure— blues piano player, singer and songwriter Cornbread Harris. Still playing regularly in the Twin Cities in the latter part of his 9th decade, Harris has been a fixture in the music community for decades. If you visit his regular “Church of Cornbread Harris” series at Palmer’s on a Sunday, for instance, you’ll see the joy and deep love Harris has for music, which he shares with everyone present, including a rotating cast of musicians and his fans. In her book, Swensson writes of her admiration for Harris’ musicianship, and her delight in Harris as a person. Her writing captures Harris’s sense of humor and his vulnerability, even as she gets at his true love of music.
- Deeper Blues launch with Cornbread Harris, Jimmy Jam, and Andrea Swensson
“Deeper Blues” is a biography, but it’s also really a story of reconciliation. Swensson began writing the book in 2021, around the same time she played a part in bringing Harris and his son, Jimmy Jam, together for the first time after years of estrangement. The former Prince collaborator, known for being part of the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis duo, asked Swensson for help in getting in touch with his father while he was in town for a recording session at Paisley Park. Eventually, he’d join in the weekly interviews Swensson conducted with Harris as she pieced together the elder musician’s life. She learns about Jimmy Jam’s own musical beginnings playing with his father and even performing with his band as a youngster.
Swensson’s 2021 book, “Got to Be Something Here: The Rise of the Minneapolis Sound,” charts the development of funk, soul and R&B music in Minneapolis, outlining the layers of musical history and community that led to the city’s distinctive musical style. With “Deeper Blues,” Swennson takes a more focused approach, concentrating on the story of one beloved musician. In Cornbread’s story, Swensson reflects on his impact on the musical community through his mentorship and teaching and his devoted years of performing. She makes the case that his legacy also continues through Jim Jam’s music as well.
As a companion to “Deeper Blues,” Swensson has also released a limited-edition eight-song vinyl LP, featuring a number of the songs Swensson writes about in the book. It has Augie Garcia’s 1955 “Going to Chicago,” featuring Cornbread’s voice, and a recording at “Live at Nikki’s” of “The Cornbread Song,” which gave Harris his name. You can also find it on Bandcamp.
Harris and Jimmy Jam will join Swensson at the Cedar for the book launch event Friday, Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. at the Cedar. $35 in advance, $35 day of the show. More information here.
Sheila Regan
Sheila Regan is a Twin Cities-based arts journalist. She writes MinnPost’s twice-weekly Artscape column. She can be reached at [email protected].