Zacc Harris is a Minneapolis-based guitarist, composer, and bandleader who has been an integral part of the Twin Cities jazz scene since 2005. Recognized for his articulate guitar work, inventive compositions, and dynamic live performances, he performs with and leads a range of projects, including the Atlantis Quartet, the Zacc Harris Group, and American Reverie. In 2017, he was named the Twin Cities’ Best Jazz Artist by City Pages.

Harris leads and co-leads a wide array of acclaimed projects, including the Atlantis Quartet, a genre-defying ensemble known for its adventurous sound and compositional sophistication. The group received a 2015 McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians and was named Best Jazz Artist by City Pages in 2011. As co-leader, Harris has released five albums with Atlantis Quartet since 2006, along with a digital anthology chronicling their first decade. Renowned jazz critic Bill Milkowski described the band in JazzTimes as “Twin Cities modern jazz renegades [who] shift nimbly from a punk-jazz aesthetic to ECM-ish sensitivity… startlingly original stuff.”

In addition to the Atlantis Quartet, Harris fronts the Zacc Harris Group, the Zacc Harris Trio, and the folk-meets-jazz project American Reverie. His work spans a wide musical spectrum, but it’s consistently marked by deep melodicism, thoughtful improvisation, and a reverence for both jazz tradition and contemporary expression. His latest release, Chasing Shadows (2024), has been met with critical acclaim, with JazzWise Magazine praising Harris’ compositions for “exploring the kind of big-sky generous melodicism pioneered by artists like Metheny and Gary Burton,” adding that “his timing and articulation are beyond reproach and his imagination extensive.” His previous album, Small Wonders (2021), received a 4-star review from DownBeat Magazine and landed on their Best Albums of the Year list.

In 2012, Harris made his debut as a leader with The Garden on Shifting Paradigm Records, which showcased his compositional voice and agile playing. City Pages lauded the album for its “enticing fluidity” and intelligent links between the past and future of jazz. He followed this with American Reverie in 2017, a trio project with bassist Matt Peterson and drummer Lars-Erik Larson that reimagines American folk classics—ranging from Stephen Foster to Bob Dylan—through a jazz lens. All About Jazz called the album “full of fresh twists, all played with understated warmth,” while City Pages praised its “smart contemporary jazz interpretations” and “eloquent guitar work.”

Harris’ performance career has taken him throughout the U.S. and U.K., with highlights including a 2016 engagement at London’s iconic Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and a main stage appearance at the 2017 and 2022 Twin Cities Jazz Festivals as well as the 2015 Iowa City Jazz Festival. 

As a sideman, Harris has performed with a long list of respected artists, including Debbie Duncan, Bruce Henry, Babatunde Lea, Eric Gravatt, Ben Wendel, Michael Janisch, Javier Santiago and Nancy Harms. He is also a member of several other cutting-edge ensembles such as JT Bates’ Grain Trio, Lars Larson’s Mancrush, Cory Healey’s Beautiful Sunshine Band, Dean Granros’ Tall Tales, the bass-less ambient/improvised trio, Baldwin/Harris/Hennig who released their debut Boundaries in 2024.

A graduate of Southern Illinois University, Harris has become a dedicated educator as well as performer. He has taught privately for over two decades and currently serves on the faculty at Carleton College and Hamline University.

Zacc Harris brings a spirit of curiosity and collaboration to every project, continually exploring new ways to connect with both audiences and fellow musicians. Rooted in a deep respect for the jazz tradition, his music also reflects a personal voice shaped by years of study, performance, and creative exploration. With a growing body of work and an array of ongoing collaborations, Harris continues to evolve as a guitarist and composer, engaging listeners through thoughtful, emotionally resonant music.