The title comes from Harris's Aunt Kate's well-loved luncheonette which was behind the Apollo Theater. The songs draw on our singer's childhood memories and the atmosphere of Harlem which gave music, literature, history and a sense of belonging to its residents. Harris has a pleasant baritone voice, he sings with feeling, and the songwriting is skilled. There are short jazz-like solos, mostly from piano, guitar and harmonica, and interesting lyrics, such as (Open Up) 'Love is the fruit of mankind, we must pick it from the vine' and (One More Notch, about a boy with a gun) 'we must live as one, put down your gun.'
The album opens with lively restaurant chat, then Harris sings about growing up in Harlem; Wash Away My Sins combines gospel with a love song; 99 Miles is about being on the road and also a love song; New Day is about making the most of each day. Feelgood themes. The track I liked best is very much of the moment, Run Through America, a driving rhythm and lyrics about the current situation of the black community in the USA and how it has to change, mentioning, for example, George Floyd, ending with repeated choruses of 'run through America'
The
album will be released on Friday of this week on the Love Productions label,
and is available from the usual suspects.
Ann Alex
* The title spells Kates without an apostrophe. The blurb includes an apostrophe!
Allan Harris (voice, guitars); Shirazette Tinnin (drums); Nimrod Speaks (bass); Arcoiris Sandoval (piano); Gregoire Maret (harmonica); David Castaneda (percussion); Curtis Taylor (trumpet); Alex Budman (alto sax); Keith Fiddmont (tenor sax); Ondre J Pivec (organ); + Tonga Ross-Mau (guitar track 6); + Marty Kenney (bass) Jhair Sala (perc); Carolyn Leonhart (Background vox) all on final track
I Grew Up (Kate's Place); One More Notch (Put down your Gun); Wash Away My Sins; Open Up; Shallow Man; Color Of A Woman Is Blu; 99 Miles; Autumn Has Found You; New Day; Run Through America
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