On the weekend before his 99th birthday, piano legend Cornbread Harris had a very sold out Saturday evening performance at St. Paul’s High Hat. Harris has reached nearly mythical status and you can read more background in our April 2025 review of his (at that time) weekly performance at Palmer’s Bar. Since Palmer’s closure, the so called Church of Cornbread has taken up its weekly residence at Schooners Tavern. But he’s also high in demand, with his annual birthday show on April 23rd at Hook and Ladder, this year needing to add a matinee to the sold out evening gig. This High Hat show was also very full and as the audience slowly made their way in and to tables, Harris was at his keyboards with his traditional cup of coffee to get those magical hands warmed up.

The band was a quartet (keyboards/vocals, guitar, bass, and drums) and included some of his longest time supporting band members. As some of the band ran around getting cables and instruments plugged in, Cornbread simply was playing and with his bassist in tow, they unofficially got started and even just passing time, the skill was obvious. When they told Harris to test his mic, he paid them absolutely no mind, which may have been the best power move possible, as he was simply in the zone. His hat, a Minnesota Music Hall of Fame one, as he is a new inductee here in 2026, was pulled way down on his head and made it hard to see Harris’s face, but you weren’t here for a beauty pageant. And that music was nothing short of excellent. By the time we got our first guitar solo (which was very good), Harris had demonstrated why he’s been such a compelling act to see week after week. Cornbread Blues, a slight variant of Down Home Blues let the bassist get vocals, and the lyrics “I’ll play in any key I choose” was an early humorous moment. Talking about the upcoming birthday got a spontaneously sung Happy Birthday from th crowd and then a short break for Harris to hit the restroom (with the drummer taking him back). What could have been an awkward break turned out differently as drummer Dave Anania (who we saw last week with Willie Wisely) jumped in and the hastily assembled trio played Way Over Yonder, with some brilliant guitar work.

And like that Harris was back and the quartet was off and running again. The band were definitely good sports to the whims of Harris, but how could you not be? A guitar solo in Organ Grinder paired up with Cornbread’s full throttled keys was spectacular and these guys were locking in. Night Train (“it’s in B flat”) took off and there was a real smoothness in Harris’s playing. The way those hands slid across the keys and then quickly pounded for the power was impressive. There was definitely a bit of motor memory at play when a song was called out and Cornbread asked “how does that one go” but when supplied with the starting note, he was off without a doubt. Green Grass did not get going, but Early in the Morning let Cornbread start solo and, honestly, I could have lived with an hour of Harris just riffing. And the band leaned into giving Harris long solos, which were well worth it. The humor was on high, and they headed to “the one song we learned together” and went to On Broadway, so the “new guy” (the guitarist who has only been with Harris for five years) could take lead. Of course, it all came back to those keys as it absolutely should. Moving onto Keeper of Blues, Harris was told he would have to sing, which got us an “oh no” (reader, he did not sing until the very end, in yet another power move). We got another great run from Harris late in the set and the band was firing on all cylinders. A quieter number, including the drums on brushes, was a great late set choice and Cornbread Harris and band had nailed the assignment. Cornbread took vocals for the front half of a song and we finally got to that Wilson Pickett number of Green Grass (sometimes you just have to be patient), and it was a delightful song that could have closed out the evening. A little more playing and Cornbread Harris closed to mighty applause for yet another great set. Happy early 99th!