Harry James: Harried Vinyl LP

“Just a year after the release of his solo debut, Harry James Brenner Jr. is back with his sophomore effort, Harried. Blending elements of jazz, hip-hop, ambient, and R&B, Brenners latest work is a natural progression of the style and themes established on 2021s Buy the Numbers, adding fresh dimension to his sound while affirming his steadfast personal vision. Harried bears the same core approach as its predecessor succinct, self-recorded themes built on overlaid lines and intricate rhythms but its 14 tracks reflect a marked evolution in Brenners craft and methods. Notably, the album finds his role shifting from sole performer to arranger and collaborator: where Buy the Numbers saw Brenner handle all instrumentation himself, Harried gathers contributions from a stellar cast of musicians drawn from Chicagos jazz and experimental scenes, including Keefe Jackson, Dave McDonnell, Gerald Bailey, Hope Arthur, and Bill MacKay. With nods to influences like Sun Ra, Mulatu Astatke, and Yesterdays New Quintet, the songs vary in their tempo and timbre but share an overarching sense of handmade intimacy, the results at once evocative and forward-thinking, searching and deliberate, raw and refined.” -Christopher Schreck

• black vinyl pressing
• gold paste-on cover w/ printed insert
• limited edition of 250
• music label: Potions Music NYC 2022