Album Notes

Rufus Harris has taken his music to new heights with his sophomore release - How Do You Read it? Its unforgettable melodies, driving rhythms and candid lyrics create a visionary journey that captures an honest yet hopeful look at the state of the Western church.

Songs like Believe, Not Black or White, No Compromise, and Love in What You Do deliver an in-your-face, non-conciliatory message designed to build up the church in a state of crisis. While My Life, Left with Questions and the title cut How Do You Read It? address commitment and practical reasoning.

How Do You Read It? is a cradle of sound that reveals Rufus' rock edge without neglecting his soulful style or his varied musical influences. Like his freshman release, it layers an array of compositional styles set into a smooth contemporary pop format. How Do You Read It? is sure to be an innovative and controversial album in Christian music.

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Rufus and his wife Denise, in an effort to showcase local talented independent artists, started a monthly event in 2002 called 4thFridays with rufus harris. 4thFridays features all styles of music, comedy, art, dance, and poetry in a coffeehouse setting and is held every 4th Friday of the month. It is becoming a local Christian hot spot. Rufus and his band is the house band. In addition they perform at churches, festivals, coffeehouses, and prisons.

Rufus is a national platform artist for Operation Starting Line - a collaboration of ministries that include Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship and many others . Operation Starting Line aims to reach prisoners all over the country with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rufus has also recruited several local artists to minister in Michigan prisons.

Rufus' creative melodies and heartfelt words on his freshman release have won over the many music lovers. Songs like Who Is Like Him? and 2Bpraised reveal the glory of God's creation while Captain, We Long to Glorify, 1INeed and U-R illustrate the relationship one can have with the Father. The album also addresses the resurrection of Jesus, true worship, and the Christian testimony.

At any of Rufus' performances, the listener will be drawn in by the powerful words every song exudes. The message is presented with clarity that's fresh and rooted in the Word. Take a journey with Rufus as so many others have.

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Back in CR58 (Cross Rhythms Magazine), Rufus commented, “The whole of creation demonstrates how marvellous God is.” Equally marvellous is how a black singer/songwriter/guitarist like Rufus can record music so impossible to classify. Here this exceptionally talented songsmith returns with another hugely impressive and highly original album. Again diversity rules. One second Rufus brews up turbulent rock funk like on the propulsive title track, next he’s gliding through a wistfully delicate praise song. The intricate vocal arrangements and layers of harmony he carefully builds up create an air of wistfulness while his apocalyptic lyrics, on the moody “Love In What You Do” are poetically memorable. If you’re looking for music that carries considerable spiritual weight and fits into no stereotypical marketing niche, investigate this album.
Tony Cummings - Cross Rhythms Magazine London