One of the delights of our neighborhood is proximity to, well, everything. And one of my favorite everythings is Kowalski’s Market on Hennepin, because it’s an easy stroll from our house and a very nice place to shop. And because of Nathaniel Harris, a street musician who you may have heard playing at various venues around town. Or at Kowalski’s.
Harris grew up in Chicago, where his love of music was nurtured by his mother, a gospel singer, and by his older brother who taught him to play guitar. In high school he played in the orchestra but was drawn to the music of Motown, and to Chicago’s own Earth, Wind and Fire, the band he says most influenced his own style. He moved to Minneapolis in 1995 and worked at a Christian-based recovery center and with vulnerable teens through the Strong Mind, Strong Body Foundation. In recent years, he’s been able to support himself as a musician.
About four years ago he started busking on the sidewalk outside of Kowalski’s, where his eclectic mix of blues, soul and funk, infused with his joyful spirit, caught the attention of customers like me. It also caught the attention of Ryan Wojciak, the manager of Kowalski’s at the time, who invited Harris to play in the café on Friday evenings. His gigs were lively affairs, with Harris jamming with other musicians and holding an open mic for just about anyone who wanted to perform, including students and Kowalski’s employees.
I’m writing in the past tense because while doing this interview, I learned that due to the downturn of businesses in Uptown and the continuing road construction on Hennepin Avenue, Kowalski’s has had to put the Friday evening programs on hold. Harris continues to play at three other Kowalski’s stores and according to Dan Leitner, manager of the Hennepin store, they hope to have him play outside in the spring, and in the café once business picks up.
His temporary (we hope) departure from Kowalski’s is a reminder of how vulnerable our local businesses are during the disruption of the Hennepin Avenue reconfiguration. Please do your part. Shop, eat and listen locally.
To Hear His Music:
You can hear Nathaniel Harris play “upbeat music for an upbeat audience” at various locations, including the Midtown Global Market on March 20th, from 12-2 pm. To find out other dates and locations, go to — @nathanielharrislive [Instagram], Nathaniel Harris Live [Facebook].
