The phenomenon had its beginnings in the back-to-the-roots albums Taj Mahal cut in the late '60s, and in Harris' case, the similarities don't stop there. With his intertwining of acoustic blues with reggae and African folk and pop, he treads a distinctively pan-African path, quite similar to the blend Taj has explored since the late '70s.
On Daily Bread, Harris, intentionally or not, threatens to cross over into the mainstream with his multicultural brew. Couched in Third World instrumentation, these songs possess a subtle charm and enough substance to seduce both unsuspecting radio programmers and listeners. The title track, for instance, features a congenial, contagious chorus that could garner spins in pop formats. Another gem, "A Nickel and a Nail," is an infectious R&B workup that benefits from Harris' Al Green-like delivery and down-home percussion. With Daily Bread, Harris should garner a pack of new fans without upsetting the old.
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