Formed in 1999 by Rob Waller and brothers Paul and Anthony Lacques during a philosophical discussion and rock throwing session on an East Mojave desert trek, I See Hawks In L.A. wrote their first batch of songs and then sought advice from local country rock guru David Jackson, sideman with John Denver, Dillard and Clark, and Emmylou Harris.Jackson set up a few mics and recorded Rob and Paul, playing along on bass. This demo turned into featured songs on the Hawks eponymous debut on now-defunct Ethic Records, featuring legendary fiddler Brantley Kearns (Dwight Yoakam, Dave Alvin, Hazel Dickens).
The CD established the Hawks signature sound: high lonesome three part harmonies, twang guitar and unadorned acoustic arrange-ments, with lyrics musing on mortality, whales, and the geography of pre-apocalyptic L.A. I See Hawks In L.A. received rave reviews, made the F.A.R. Alternative Country Chart, and continues to get regular airplay. With its experimental spirit and wide ranging musical influences, the record tweaked some traditionalists. But most agree that the Hawks have broken new ground.
The Hawks hadn't planned on much more than back porch songwriting and beer drinking, but the buzz prompted them into live performing, and they quickly rose to the top of heap in the brand new Los Angeles alternative country scene.
Bassist/vocalist Paul Marshall (Strawberry Alarm Clock, Hank Thompson, Rose Maddox) threw in with the Hawks after sitting in at Ronnie Mack's Barndance in Burbank, and after brother Anthony left to pursue documentary film making, drummer Shawn Nourse (Dwight Yoakum, James Intveld) signed on for a trip to Texas and SXSW and never left. Shows all over SoCal, from their basement downtown home of Coles Bar, down Sunset to the House of Blues, and across the 405 to the Cinema Bar, garnered the Hawks two L.A. Weekly Best Country Artist awards in 2002 and 2003.
The Hawks second CD, "Grapevine," was released on the summer solstice 2004, and immediately went to #1 on the F.A.R. Chart, lingered in the Americana Chart's top 100 for months, and hit #2 on XM Radio's X Country station in January '05. Strong press reviews and a national audience followed the Hawks 28 city Summer '04 tour, from a state prison in Vermont to a Mississippi roadhouse to the Cactus Cafe and KUT's Eklektikos in Austin, to Hempfest in Seattle. Summer of '05 West Coast and Rockies tours brought the Hawks to the woods, and the woods to the Hawks.
J Shogren
Singer-songwriter J Shogren is celebrating the release of his new CD, Jahamericana (JAHA! records). This raucous collection comprises many styles from roots to country to blues. His gruff voice and jackalope lyrics join his old Gibson L-48 guitar to charm and shake you off your bar stool.
The songs come from a life lived in loud proportions. His adventures have taken him from days as a trapper to an endowed professor.
J splits his time between the mountain town of Centennial (Wyoming) and the wilds of Umeå (Sweden). He sits as unlikely as it sounds as the King’s Professor. And even more riotous, he was awarded a share of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize as a member of the IPCC for their work on climate change.
Now that is a lot of living packed into the 14 songs on Jahamericana.
Jack Sundrud
“I grew up in northern Minnesota. Small town; pop. 500. Oklee, by name. Got the music bug when I first heard the Beatles. Bought a guitar, played every night until my fingers bled. Joined my first band in high school. And that's what I'm still doing.
In 1969, I was in an original country-rock band called Podipto, also from MN. We had a good bit of regional success and in '71, we did an album for GRT Records. The band toured with The Carpenters, Elton John, James Taylor, Laura Nyro and, fortuitously enough, Poco. I left in '73 to go to nearby Fargo, doing cover songs 4 sets a night, 7 nights a week for a steady check and free beer (OK, not one of my better decisions).
I moved to Nashville in '81. Worked as bassist/vocalist on the road with: Vince Gill, Dickey Betts, Nicolette Larson, Michael Johnson, Gail Davies, The O'Kanes, Gary Morris, Kathy Mattea and others.
I was the singer/writer/rhythm guitar guy for Great Plains, a country-rock band on Columbia and later Magnatone Records. We had some minor success in the early 90s and hung it up in '96.
Had a job as a staff writer for about 15 years. I've had songs recorded by several artists (see discography), including a #1 by Ty Herndon in '99.
These days I'm working with the seminal country-rock band Poco. I love it. Great guys, great music.
’Yes’, he said, ‘I enjoy playing, singing and writing - but what I really want to do is produce!’ Well, I have indeed actually gotten to do some of that. I was co-producer on David Llewellyn's self-titled CD. I've also produced Paul Cotton's, "When The Coast Is Clear" and the new release by Keith Miles, "What It Was They Became".
I also have a new CD of my own. You have fifteen bucks. Let's talk.....”
Jack Tempchin
Jack Tempchin is from San Diego. He grew up in the folk era, singing and playing, performing mainly in coffeehouses.
Jack is the writer of many legendary songs, like “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Already Gone” by the Eagles, ”Slow Dancing” by Johnny Rivers, “You Belong To The City” and “Smugglers Blues” by Glenn Frey, as well as many, many others.
As well as writing hits for others, Jack has also recorded and released 6 highly acclaimed solo albums. The most recent one, “Songs”, is all Jack, and all new.
Jackson Browne
On March 4, 2008, singer-songwriter Jackson Browne will release JACKSON BROWNE–SOLO ACOUSTIC, VOL. 2, the second in a series of live albums recorded at recent solo concerts in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. Building on 2005’s critically acclaimed and GRAMMY®-nominated Jackson Browne – Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1, the album features twelve career spanning songs, with Browne alternately on both guitar and piano. Also like its predecessor, VOL. 2 features lively exchanges between Jackson and his audiences. The disc will be available on the artist’s own Inside Recordings label, with distribution through ADA Global.
One selection from JACKSON BROWNE – SOLO ACOUSTIC, VOL. 2, “Something Fine,” reaches all the way back to the artist’s landmark 1972 self-titled debut album, about which Rolling Stone wrote in its original review, “Jackson Browne’s sensibility is romantic in the best sense of the term: his songs are capable of generating a highly charged, compelling atmosphere throughout, and – just as important – of sustaining that pitch in the listener’s mind long after they’ve ended.”
That rapt connection is felt throughout JACKSON BROWNE–SOLO ACOUSTIC, VOL. 2., which also features the track “Redneck Friend” from his second album, For Everyman, and four songs from Browne’s most recent studio album, 2002’s The Naked Ride Home: “Never Stop,” “The Night Inside Me,” “My Stunning Mystery Companion” and “Casino Nation”. Other highlights include “In The Shape Of A Heart,” from 1987’s Lives In The Balance, “Sky Blue And Black” from 1993’s I’m Alive, “Alive In This World” from ’96’s Looking East and the 1982 Top 10 hit “Somebody’s Baby,” originally featured on the Fast Times At Ridgemont High soundtrack.
Throughout his career, Jackson Browne has defined a genre of songwriting and performing charged with honesty, emotion and personal politics. He’s been honored with inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2004) and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame (2007). As influential and enduring as Browne’s music is his legacy as an advocate for social and environmental justice. Recent humanitarian honors include the John Steinbeck Award and the Chapin-World Hunger Year Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award. In 2007, Browne re-united with his Musicians United For Safe Energy (MUSE) co-founders Graham Nash and Bonnie Raitt to oppose a revival of the nuclear energy industry.
Jackson Browne is currently at work on a studio album of new material slated for release in fall 2008. Following the March 4 release of JACKSON BROWNE–SOLO ACOUSTIC, VOL. 2., he will perform a series of solo concert dates in the U.S.
James Cooper
After 2 years touring throughout Europe & the UK as a singer-songwriter in his own right and a session musician with Universal Music in UK and Holland, James releases his debut solo album 'Second Season'.
Having just co-written 'Beautiful As You' for the Whitlams' "Little Cloud" album, James releases eleven of his own finely crafted pop/rock gems this August. With the single 'Love in London' receiving rave reviews around the globe and having already released the album in the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Japan and Australia.
Sydney born, 25-year-old James Cooper is a guitarist, pianist, singer and songwriter. Cooper’s captivating songwriting and intimate vocal style has led to much success already and comparisons to the likes of a young Paul McCartney or Tim Finn. His musical inspirations include Calexico, Bob Dylan, Josh Ritter, Richard Hawley, The Waifs, Midnight Oil, John Lennon, Crowded House, Laura Cantrell and Ryan Adams.
For his debut album “Second Season” – written primarily on a six-week London hiatus in a small French town called Sarlat and recorded in Sydney with Michael Carpenter at the controls – is an assured thing of wonder and yet another reason to marvel at why the greater unwashed continue to miss the lasting appeal of beautifully-crafted power pop.
Cooper is not only an accomplished musician. He designed the sleeve for Paul McCartney’s ‘Fine Line’ single and worked on the album art for ‘Chaos and Creation In The Back Yard’ as well as EMI UK’s release of David Bowie’s “Platinum Collection”
James Lee Stanley
"So where have they been hiding James Lee Stanley? We could say that James Lee Stanley is probably the last great undiscovered singer-songwriter in America. But true as that may be let's say something else, let's say that a diamond has been smuggled into the wasteland…and here is where the wasteland ends"
- Tom Robbins - Author of ‘Even Cowgirls Get the Blues’
It is only a long lived singer-songwriter career that lets JAMES LEE STANLEY unite the unpredictable creativity and the eclectic elements that make up his world. His remarkable ability as a vocalist and composer allow him to create songs, each recorded with a finely crafted backing that sonically enhance the impulse behind the lyric. But a whole new dimension is added when James Lee performs live.
These incredible songs, coupled with his outragously hilarious repartee, make for an evening of hilarity and tenderness.
He is one of the few all time greats and undisputed geniuses among singer-songwriters. Fi Magazine listed his “FREELANCE HUMAN BEING” as one of the finest recordings of 1998 and one of the Top 200 Recordings of all time - Fi Magazine March 1999.
JAMES LEE STANLEY, began recording at 14 for LeGrand Records. He majored in music at Cal State University. With twenty albums to his credit, he has produced an extraordinary body of work. And he's been quite the road dog, performing three hundred dates a year with such diverse acts as BONNIE RAITT, ROBIN WILLIAMS, CHICK COREA & RETURN TO FOREVER and BILL COSBY.
Jason Plumb
Since the mid 1980s, Jason Plumb has contributed to the musical landscape of the Plains, Canada and many other parts of the world.
As lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for Regina pop group, The Waltons, he received many awards. A Juno Award for best new group, A SOCAN Award for the song “In the Meantime”, the COCA Award for best college band and a Certified Gold album for “Lik My Trakter”.
The British music magazine Q honored Waltons second album, “Cocks Crow” with 4/5 stars and stated; "Songwriter Jason Plumb is not only one of Canadas best tunesmiths, but possibly one of the Worlds".
Waltons third and final album, “Empire Hotel” was placed in the top 20 Canadian albums of 1998 by the Globe & Mail and heralded as some of the Waltons best work by many critics at home and abroad.
Upon the return to his home in Saskatchewan, Jason began expanding his musical horizons to include album production for other artists, scoring/music supervision/editing for film and television as well as co-writing with other songwriters.
To date he has written songs with the likes of Ed Robertson (Barenaked Ladies), John Mann and Geoffery Kelly (Spirit of the West), Bernie Leadon (The Eagles, Burrito Brothers), Craig Northey and Stephen Drake (Odds) to name a few.
His first Solo Album, “Under and Over” (2004) was Produced by longtime friend and Barenaked Lady, Ed Robertson.
Just released is his brand new album “Beauty In This World”.
Jeff Larson
Those who long for the breezy soft rock sound that typified California rock in the early 70s will find Jeff Larson’s latest, Sepia, a refreshing revival.
Like his pals, Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley, the duo that carries the America banner, Larson excels in creating lush, melodic sounds that are tailor made for radio and other forms of mass-consumption, an instantly accessible and agreeable approach that’s both assured and reassuring.
Not surprisingly, Bunnell and Beckley make their presence known here as back-up players and writers, reinforcing the America comparisons on such songs as What About My Dreams and Crying (not surprisingly, a Beckley composition). However, Larson doesn’t really need the superstar support (Brian Wilson collaborator Jeffrey Foskett also adds to the sunny ambiance); with several other stellar albums already under his belt, Sepia merely confirms what fans already know, namely that he’s one of the best pop pundits out there these days.
Where others may rely on gimmicks or studio gadgetry, Larson’s forte is simply making memorable melodies. True to form, songs such as Suburban Lawns, Broken Heart Smile and Never Enough Time tug at the heartstrings and make an indelible imprint even on first hearing.
Chalk it up to the fact that he’s not on a major label, or that radio is simply too constricted to play mass appeal music, to explain the fact that Larson isn’t the major star he ought to be. Whatever the reason, don’t let it dissuade you. Simply put, Sepia is one of the best albums you’re likely to hear all year. "
Jenny Gunn
Jenny Gunn grew up in a small community in Canada's Ottawa Valley.
When she was 13 her dad gave her a guitar and said if she could learn to play three cords she could keep it. Try as she might she could not get her little hands around the wide neck of that guitar and she gave up in disgust. However...
She was regularly infused with the sounds of the "Street of Dreams" music studio that was directly below her bedroom of her childhood home
in "Old Killaloe".
Jenny loved growing up in a house full of musicians and all the music from the late night band practices and recording sessions drifted into her dreams at night. Through the day, piano could almost always be heard coming from her step-dads studio.
How could she not become a song writer?
Jenny plans to sell many songs, for many different venues. She is open to any possibility, and definitely up to the challenge.
Jenny's 1st CD is deeply lyrical and the cording is a perfect match.
Since the early 1990's, Jenny Yates has established herself as a successful songwriter, with songs recorded by numerous artists, culminating in her collaborations with Garth Brooks, co-writing his hits "Standing Outside the Fire", "The Red Strokes", "Thicker Than Blood" and the Golden Globe Nominated "When You Come Back To Me Again" from the film FREQUENCY.
Making a "to do" list of her life, she found she still wanted to make her own statement as an artist, and that she had written many songs to choose from to back up that desire. Setting out to create her own Country-Folk sound, and working with some of the world's finest musicians, singers and engineers, "Out Of The Blue" was recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles, and has been compared to the work of Emmylou Harris, Karla Bonoff, Mary Chapin Carpenter and early Linda Ronstadt. A collection of 14 songs spanning the genres of Country, Folk, Americana, Blues and Adult-Contemporary.
Performing since the age of 14 in her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona - Jenny has been making music all her life. First as a singer of other peoples songs, then as a writer. She signed with her first music publisher, the legendary Al Gallico in her mid-20's, who then secured her a recording contract with Mercury/PolyGram Records, which led to critical acclaim and two Billboard charting singles, but not enough to warrant the release of a complete album.
In the ensuing years, without the support of a record label or music publisher, she made repeated trips driving across country from LA to Nashville for a month at a time. Living off her credit cards and the kindness of friends with couches, she continued her education in songwriting - working with many of the best writers in the music business, some whose songs she'd been singing every night. The Nashville songwriting work ethic, being Monday thru Friday, 9 - 5:00, instilled in her the discipline which enabled her to pursue her life-long love of songwriting. She became a songsmith.
Having made a living for so many years singing the songs of others - Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Van Morrison, Merle Haggard, The Beatles, Carole King, Paul Simon, and so many more, Jenny has gone back to her own roots as an artist, guitar in hand, but now, singing her own songs. It is difficult to condense a life into a soundbite, and in Jenny's case, having lived her life in music, perhaps it's best to let the music speak for itself.
Jewly Hight
“I might as well come right out and say that I wrote my own bio, which was no easy task, no matter how many of them I’ve written for others in the past. As a music critic, I’m used to writing about what somebody else’s album amounts to. Here’s what I make of my own.
Darlin’ Understand is my first album—14 original songs (only one co-written) colored by the molten physicality of blues and the deep, unceasing pulse that I internalized through several years of playing the drums. I know this much—I’ve always been drawn to the more full-bodied and visceral approach to almost anything. I chose clogging—with its shuffling, loose-limbed motions and joyous whooping and hollering—over tap dancing, the drums over clarinet.
The musicianship on Darlin’ Understand occupies a potent place somewhere between audaciousness and precision. Those responsible are Charlie Rich, Jr., Delaney Bramlett, Chad Watson—bass player for Charlie Rich, Ronnie Milsap, Janis Ian, Freddy Fender and Delaney Bramlett—Dave Perkins—who’s handled guitar for Ray Charles, Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Lucinda Williams and Carol King—Dwight McConnell—bassist for Earl Thomas Conley and T. Graham Brown—Jason Eskridge—backing vocalist for Lyle Lovett and Jonny Lang—Bob Nickerson—who’s played drums for Sun Records, Jeannie C. Riley and Tammy Faye Bakker—and Joshua Whitaker—the raw, intuitive newcomer among the bunch. I co-produced the album with Watson and Nickerson, and let the latter use my 1975 Rogers drumkit throughout the recording process, the very same kit he’d used in the studio and on the road from ’75 to ’89 and later sold to me. That’s a story in and of itself.
Darlin’ Understand breathes like a two-sided LP, book-ended by lap steel-washed, Flannery O’Connor-inspired incantations (“Part I Man Without a Gun” and “Part II Good Country People”) and punctuated midway through by an a capella chant set to heavy boot steps across my kitchen floor (“My Mother’s Daughter”). The passionate and the mundane are joined on the title track. The verses uncover the bones and sinews of a relationship—with a melody curling around a droning chord—and the chorus describes the humble, worn-in features of the partners’ world—eventually giving way to the cathartic back and forth of bottleneck guitar and B-3. “Guilt”—simultaneously pained and droll—was an occasion for me to play a blender with a beer bottle. Songs like “Some Things (Gonna Be Left Undone)” and “Junebug” cull earthy imagery from my family’s geographical center (rural Warren County, N.C.) and my more than hundred-year-old East Nashville home. “Pure Honey” melds minimal, hypnotic lyrics, modal vocal and bottleneck guitar melodies and the ragged dignity of a field drum march. As a seamless Southern R&B/rock and roll suite, “Poke Salad” and “Tiger” jarringly juxtapose internal and external sources of profound human pain.
I’ve spent enough time with the album that I could go on forever. But I won’t. You have a listen.”
Jim Barile
This artist has been writing for the past 20 years in an eclectic alternative folk style of music. Though Jim Barile isn't pop, his music tends to be very reflective with many romantic mystical spiritual undertones that can be intrinsically felt all through his music, "If You Get Close You Can Hear".
In view of writing, this artist states that the most important thing in this world is to take time to be still to be able to recognize the little wonders in life that at times can be only recognized in our dislocated moments in our everyday.
Special appearances on his CD :
Delaney Bramlett, from Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. Delaney has played with such greats as Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, and George Harrison.
John Molo, who has toured with Bruce Hornsby and Phil Lesh and Friends.
Albert Lee, who has toured with EmmyLou Harris and Bill Wyman.
Augie Meyers, who toured with Bob Dylan, The Texas Tornados, and The Sir Douglas Quintet.
Rosemary Butler, who has been the background vocals for such greats as James Taylor and Jackson Brown.
Jeff Pevar, from Crosby, Pevar and Raymond.
Mickey Raphael, the harmonica Wizard for the Willie Nelson Group.
Essra Mohawk, from Frank Zappa and Mothers of Invention.
Sky Sunlight Saxon, the leader of the Seeds.
Billboard Magazine calls Jim Campilongo, "an American treasure", an accolade this guitarist's artistry and influential career has richly earned him.
With seven albums of original material and guest appearances on dozens of recordings; from the Bammie-winner's contribution on Cake's million-selling "Prolonging The Magic" to (most recently) doing lead guitar duties with The Little Willies, his band with Norah Jones, Campilongo's virtuosity and originality has inspired a generation of guitar players. His songwriting uses a palette of the best in Blues, Country, Jazz and Rock with a sensitivity and wit that has also earned him the broad fan base most instrumental guitarist never enjoy.
Campilongo's career began in the mid 1970s when he studied guitar in his native San Francisco with the eccentric Bunnie Gregoire, who taught the pre-teen to embrace everything from George Van Eps to John Denver. Campilongo recalls, "Before Bunnie I used to just randomly buy records if there weren't that many songs on them, I didn't care who the artist was. A banner day would be discovering a double album that only had two songs on it. So I ended up with John Coltrane Live in Japan and John McLaughlin's Devotion with Larry Young on organ. I listened to those records until they melted and I still do to this day (on CD). Eventually, I found Roy Buchanan's first album and all bets were off, I was going to be a guitar player." Jim's first instrument was purchased with Green Stamps.
In addition to Chet Atkins and Roy Buchanan, Jim began to be deeply affected by Muddy Waters and the Sex Pistols. Around this time he was given a 1959 Telecaster by an appreciative student in exchange for successful bass lessons. "Playing that '59 Tele changed everything for me," Campilongo remembers, "It was like it told me to get serious." Soon after, he formed the hugely popular Ten Gallon Cats, which featured pedal steel guitar and Jim's ever-expanding Country/Jazz vocabulary. They recorded three CDs.
Jim broke from the Cats and reached a creative pinnacle in his existing body of work with 1998's Table For One, a collection of winsome and elegant compositions praised by Billboard as, "Americana at its most touching". Guitar Player affirmed the CD as a showcase for Campilongo's "darkly romantic melodicism". The record also garnered Campilongo a new level of recognition.
In 2002, Campilongo pulled up stakes and moved to New York, where he formed his Electric Trio, which toured Europe and Scandinavia and recorded the acclaimed CD American Hips, lauded by Guitar Player as "easily his best effort to date". No Depression raved, "Campilongo meets himself every time he picks up his instrument; that brand of artistic bravery is rare and to be treasured." Since 2004 the "Campy Trio" reigns each Monday night at New York's Living Room, a residency that Time Out New York recommended as "one of the city's strongest".
Jim's latest CD, entitled “Heaven Is Creepy” is was released in August, 2006.
Jim Weider
“ProJECT PERCoLAToR” represents Jim Weider's newest musical venture into a powerful groove & atmospheric guitar driven band. Jim blends rock & blues with funk & jazz groove's combining modern drum loops and samples, to playing beautiful melodic ballads. This is an all star line up playing Jim's original new CD "Percolator" plus other tunes from his previous cd's and always improvising them differently at every show .
Jim Weider, a master of classic telecaster guitar, is renowned for his rock and blues-based signature sound. Born and raised in the famed 
arts colony of Woodstock, NY, Jim received great acclaim during his long tenure (1985-1999) as lead guitarist (replacing Robbie Robertson) for Rock in Roll Hall of Fame inductees, The Band. During 14 years of international touring with original members Levon Helm, Garth Hudson and Rick Danko, Jim was featured on numerous albums, films, videos and television appearances.
Highlights included a 1990 performance with The Band and Ronnie Hawkins at The Berlin Wall concert produced by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd; several cable TV specials (notably "The Bob Dylan Tribute" at Madison Square Garden; and "The Road," 1994 pay-per-view concert telecast from the Woodstock '94 Festival; and a 1995 appearance on the A&E Biography documentary "The Authorized Video Biography - The Band" for cable TV and video, released by ABC Video).
For Homespun Video, Jim has produced six of the internationally distributed
company's best selling instructional video tapes/DVD's : “Get That Classic Fender Sound”, “Rockabilly Guitar” (two-video set), “Electric Country Blues” (two-video set), and his 2000 release, “Basic Licks and Classic Solos for Electric Blues Guitar”.
2005 WC Handy Award winner for co-writing Mavis Staples hit single and title-song ”Have-a-Little Faith”. Jim has written songs and produced for many artists, including The Band’s top ten hit ”Remedy”.
He has made three solo albums; “Big Foot” , “Remedy”, and his newest album “PERCoLAToR”
Jock Bartley
Rock 'n' Roll is alive and well as rock music legends convene in the Colorado Mountains to record on a hot new CD - Jock Bartley, lead guitarist, songwriter and leader of '70s U.S. rock sensations Firefall, has just completed his debut solo CD entitled Blindside.
Bartley is best known for his inspired work on such classic Firefall hits as "You Are The Woman", "Just Remember I Love You", "Strange Way", "Cinderella" and "Mexico".
Recorded between January and August 2006, Blindside features guest appearances by such rock luminaries as:
*Richie Furay, former Poco member and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee with the Buffalo Springfield,
*Rusty Young of Poco,
*John McEuen and Jimmie Fadden of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,
*Mark Andes from Spirit, Heart and Firefall,
*John Magnie from The Subdudes,
*Brian Nevin from Big Head Todd And The Monsters,
*Michael Travis of The String Cheese Incident,
*Jake Sproul of Rosehill Drive,
*Bob Harris from Warren Zevon, Frank Zappa and Axe, along with many other notable musicians and singers.
Songs from Blindside effortlessly span the musical spectrum - from rock to pop to blues, the album showcases Bartley's extraordinary songwriting talents. The tender, heartfelt ballad "Veronica So Fair" not only displays Jock's vocal prowess, but could quite possibly be one of the finest love songs ever written! The well-crafted pop-rock title cut, ‘Blindside,’ is the first single.
All songs on Blindside were written by the Firefall guitarist, who also produced the album. Another highlight of this exciting new CD is the positive message song "Call On Me", which was originally written in 1998 for Suicide Prevention. The song became an anthem of sorts for the cause and helped to launch the first national crises hotline, 1(800) SUICIDE. A portion of the proceeds from the sales and performance of "Call On Me" will be donated back to Suicide Prevention, helping to reverse the terrible national statistics.
Joel Rafael
On April 8, Southern California-based singer-songwriter Joel Rafael will release THIRTEEN STORIES HIGH, his first album of original material since 2000’s acclaimed Hopper. The disc comes out on Inside Recordings, the independent label founded by Jackson Browne and his management team; 
distribution is through ADA. It follows up Rafael’s two renowned albums saluting the songs of Woody Guthrie, ofwhose music he’s considered a natural and pre-eminent interpreter. Joel Rafael is also the recipient of the Kerrville Folk Festival’s 1995 “New Folk Emerging Songwriter Award.”
Blending troubadourial eloquence, timeless folk and timely political observations, THIRTEEN STORIES HIGH opens with its lead single, the forthright and simply-worded protest song “This Is My Country,” with backing vocals from Rafael’s friends David Crosby and Graham Nash. “I wish I had written this song,” says Nash, adding, “it’s so powerful and profound…a call from his heart to ours.”
Throughout, the album is driven by this directness. It’s also colored by Rafael’s plain-spoken delivery–as gentle as it is affecting–and wry, understated way with a moving lyric. In a recent piece on Rafael, screenwriter Bob Krakower described his singing style as, “a voice that sounds like a cross between Mercy and Vengeance,” continuing, “he walks and talks as if he came off the pages of a 1930’s Steinbeck novel…his is as authentic as any American voice you have heard in a very long time.”
That authenticity informs Rafael originals including the homespun yet elegant philosophical gem “Time Stands Still,” the resonant “Song Of Socrates” (inspired by the film The Peaceful Warrior) and “Reluctant Angel,” a meditation on sharing one’s gifts with the world. Highlights also include “Promised Land,” which he calls a, “to hell and back song,” the free-spirited folk ballad “Wild Honey” and “Missing Pages,” whose theme of resistance to fear-mongering echoes the album’s social justice message.
Two of the thirteen tracks are covers of other songwriters’ work – “Rich Man’s War” first saw the light of day on Steve Earle’s 2004 album The Revolution Starts Now. “Thematically,” says Rafael, “it was perfect for this record.” “I Ought To Know” is by longtime friend Jack Hardy, one of the forces behind the historic Fast Folk series (now in the Smithsonian). When he first heard Hardy perform it at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, Rafael says, “I was knocked out by it and knew I wanted to record it.”
Rafael has performed at that same Festival since its 1998 inception in Guthrie’s hometown of Okemah, OK, and will be a featured performer when it takes place there this year from July 9 through 13. Long renowned for his fluid interpretations of the legendary artist’s music, Rafael is also a member of the national touring cast of the famed Woody Guthrie revue Ribbon Of Highway, Endless Skyway.
Rafael’s recorded tributes to Guthrie, also out on Inside, are Woodeye (’02) and Woodyboye (’05), The Songs of Woody Guthrie, Volume 1 and Volume 2, respectively. Together, they present Rafael’s elemental takes on twenty-four Guthrie–and two Guthrie-inspired–compositions. Five feature music Rafael created for previously unpublished Woody Guthrie lyrics, given to him by Nora Guthrie, who directs the Woody Guthrie Archives and oversees her father’s legacy. Woodeye and Woodyboye, which contain guest appearances by Artho Guthrie, Jackson Browne, Jennifer Warnes and Van Dyke Parks, will be available in special bundled packages with THIRTEEN STORIES HIGH (and individually).
John Batdorf
“I have survived many careers in one lifetime. Starting with the 70's as a recording artist with Batdorf and Rodney and Silver. I made records and toured this country and Canada for most of the 70s. We headlined many shows, but as an opening act we got to play with a lot of great groups like America, Seals and Crofts, Dan Fogelberg, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Fleetwood Mac, The Doobie Brothers, Bread, The Youngbloods, Hall and Oats, Cheech and Chong, England Dan and John Ford Coley, Pure Prairie League, Harry Chapin, John Prine, Dave Mason, Kris Kristofferson just to name a few! A great time was had by all.
I spent the 80's as a staff songwriter writing songs for America, England Dan, The Curry sisters and Kim Carnes, and as studio singer singing on hundreds of jingles, movies, and TV shows. I sang on four main titles including, "Doctor, Doctor", "Tom and Jerry Kids", "Garfield and Friends" and "Promised Land". I sang background vocals on some really great recordings by Rod Stewart, Motley Crue, Dave Mason, Eric Anderson,The Jefferson Starship, Berlin, Donna Summer, Dwight Yoakum, Boy Meets Girl, Mickey Thomas, Stan Ridgeway, James Lee Stanley, David Lee Roth, The London Choir Boys to name a few.
Then came the 90's and I started producing records and commercials. During that time I met and went on to write some great songs with my friend, Michael McLean. We have recorded 4 CDs together. In 1996 I got my first chance to score a CBS TV prime time show, "Promised Land". I composed all the music underscore for three years until the show came to an end. I went on to compose music for another CBS drama, "Touched By An Angel" which after nine very successful seasons is no longer in production. TBAA and Promised Land reruns still appear somewhere on the planet every day of the week. Soon after, I composed the entire musical score for a 2 hour made for PAX TV movie called "Book of Days" which appeared January and March of 2003. "The Best Two Years", which I also scored and wrote songs with Michael and Scott McLean, had a successful theatrical run in 2004 and is now available on DVD as well as the soundtrack on CD.
Now into the second half of the new millennium, John has recorded a new CD with James Lee Stanley "All Wood And Stones" (a highly original take on early Rolling Stones songs, done acoustically with tight harmonies) along with his first solo EP, "Side One." His latest solo CD,"Home Again" is comprised of seven new originals and three songs for the Batdorf and Rodney days. This CD is an acoustic guitar and vocal enthusiasts dream come true! Come listen to John sing songs about things that really matter to him, and you'll understand why they mean so much to his fans that have spanned three decades.”
Singer/songwriter John Vester lives in Venice Beach, California.
He grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he started playing in bands when he was about 16 years old.
He moved to California when we was in his twenties.
He went to the Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, played in bands and soon started writing his own material.
His first CD entitled "My Heart Is In Your Hands" was released in 1998.
His second CD "Half A World Away" was released in 2002. "Half A World Away" is a 12 song project, co-produced by Michael Lennon (from the band Venice) and John Vester.
June 2004 saw the release of John’s third CD, "Things I Wish I Would Have Said", a 17 song project.
All 3 of John Vester CD’s continue John's strong trademark - Simple, straightforward, picture-painting style of songwriting.
Both “Half A World Away” and “Things I Wish I Would Have Said” were co-produced by Michael Lennon and John Vester.
2007 will see the release of John’s fourth album, “The Devil’s Playground”, with contributions from Michael Lennon, Mark Lennon,
Kate Markowitz and Greg Leisz - Stay tuned!
Jon Redfern
Jon Redfern is a new songwriter and musician with folk roots but diverse musical influences. Half British, half Chinese, he was born in Brighton, England and lived in North Wales from the age of 12. Jon’s songwriting style stems from the personal and acoustic tradition of John Martyn and Nick Drake and his broad musical influences range from progressive rock to jazz and world music. 
At the age of 11 Jon became interested in the electric guitar techniques and music of Edddie Van Halen and Jimmy Page. When he was 18 he swapped his electric for an acoustic and moved towards the playing styles of guitarists such as Roy Harper and John Renbourn. At this time he moved to Durham, England to study horticulture and became influenced by North Eastern folk music. Here, he developed his singing and percussion skills (playing tabla, congas and djembe) and at 22 joined the young borders band Tarras, who shortly after signed a record deal with Topic Records. Over the next 5 years Tarras released 2 albums and toured extensively in Europe and the U.S. The band, which shared songwriting and singing duties, gave Jon a chance to find his own unique voice and to develop his arrangement skills.
After Tarras disbanded, Jon moved between Manchester and the North East where he worked as a croupier. This gave him time to explore his solo songwriting, drawing from personal experience whilst broadening his use of musical influences to include: Steve Reich, Steely Dan, John Coltrane and Pink Floyd.
In 2004 Jon decided to start a solo career and moved to London to start work on his self-funded debut album. Once there he teamed up with multi instrumentalist and arranger, Patrick Durkan and together they worked on the concept and arrangements for the album. “May Be Sometime” was recorded in September and October 2005, produced by Realworld-engineer Ben Findlay and completed in January 2006. The album distills Jon’s experience and skill as a musician, songwriter, arranger and vocalist. The result is an album of intelligence and emotional depth, which repays repeated listening.
Jon Strider
Jon Strider, a 5th generation, native Californian, began performing music in the (San Francisco) Bay Area, emerging with an artistic destiny shaped by the cultural and artistic upheavals of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.
As the father of a form of music described as "Rhythm & Folk", Strider has synthesized the rock and acoustic worlds, a hybrid of storytelling, grooves and keen empathy.
Strider has toured the world, recorded 5 solo albums, produced dozens of other artists, found a radio audience, built recording studios, scored films and television shows, (December 2000 through 2003 featured song in Fox Network’s U.S. and International television drama ‘Dark Angel’ directed by Dirk Cameron,) and willingly and joyfully entertained people with his music.
Credits: As a keyboardist / back-up vocalist :
Eddie Money / Larry Graham / Van Morrison / Mink Deville / Chuck Berry / John Lee Hooker / Dan Hicks
Credits: As a solo singer-songwriter/performer :
Opened for Etta James / Jorma Kaukonen (of the Jefferson Airplane) / Rodney Crowell / Talking Heads / Albert King
Credits: As a producer/singer-songwriter :
Jon has been blessed and honoured to have produced, worked and played with the musicians from the bands of Paul Simon, Elton John, Don Henley, Jackson Browne, Carlene Carter, Dwight Yokam, George Thorogood, Steely Dan, Tori Amos, John Hiatt, Little Feat and Whitney Houston.
WHITE WINGS (New CD on New Sky Records). Recorded in Scandinavia, this crowning jewel in the ‘Rhythm n’ Folk’ odyssey reveals deep personal transformation and renewal. An extraordinary collection of hopeful and uplifting songs that knock on heaven’s door.
Strider’s warm vocals ride on a rich bed of acoustic guitars and ethnic percussion combined with more modern, and often evocative, rhythmic and harmonic elements. Produced by Jon Strider. Recorded and mixed by Amir Aly. Featured musicians:
Amir Aly, Tomas Brun, Vera Renella, BG Sahlin, Strider and Marlon Tepedino
Jonny Kaplan
“My name is Jonny Kaplan. I was born Jonathan Kaplan, but as soon as I picked up a guitar at age 13… people started calling me Jonny. It fits, it works, it’s rock and roll.
Afterall, you wouldn’t call Tommy Lee… Thomas Lee would you? I didn’t think so.
I’ve been involved with music my whole life. Playing guitar, singing, writing songs, producing other artists… etc, etc.
Everywhere I go, people are compelled to ask: “Are you in a band?” Of course they do… look at me. But, this is when it always gets confusing. Yes, I’m in a band, and I dearly love the people I play with… but, at the end of the day, I’d still call myself a solo artist.
The band is called: Jonny Kaplan & The Lazy Stars (see what I mean?... solo artist)
This is how it works… old school baby, Bob Dylan & The Band, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. You get where I’m coming from... right?
Do you like the musical company I keep? Me too.
Kind of rootsy, classic, rock and roll… that is and will always be... timeless.
All of those labels for the type of music you are supposed to like… like, alternative, pop, polka, emo… I say fuck ‘em... All they do is keep you from finding the good shit. And, if you are an artist yourself, they tell ‘the man’ exactly what box to stick you in… forever. Remember… art is creativity.
I’ve been doing this my whole life… working hard for you folks. I’ve been luckier than a bunch… and maybe not nearly as lucky as few others. I’ve been amazed... I’ve been high, and I’ve been low. I’ve gotten to work with a lot of artists I dearly love and respect.
Watch out… I’m gonna drop a few names (someone may be reading this you know): Keith Richards, Nora Jones, Dee Dee Ramone, Dwight Yoakum, Kings Of Leon, Turbonegro, Shane McGowan, Wilco, Ben Harper… just to name a few. I feel blessed. As you can see , the list is a very varied, you might say “eclectic”mix…. see above reference to timeless… and it all makes sense.
I’ve been practically living out of suitcases for what seems like a pretty long time.
The way I see it is this: you want to play music? You travel… luckily for me, I love to travel.
I’ve been all over the world in the past few years, supporting my first two records: “California Heart” and “Ride Free”. After the last batch of touring, I holed up in a one room flat in Madrid… to finish writing songs for my new record… “Seasons”.
I’ve been technically “living” in Los Angeles for the past few years, really just stopping in periodically to collect my mail… but after Europe I needed a change so I headed to Nashville, where I finished recording my new record in any kitchen, toilet, backyard and garage that would have me. It came out great… it has a real, nice, organic feel to it. It makes me proud.
It’s coming out soon… and we (remember… the band and I) will be out there playing for you… everywhere that will have us.”
Jordan T West
Jordan T West was born is the serene town of Kelowna BC, about 4 hours from Vancouver, and has had music in his veins from a young age. He is an artist whose lyrics surround the rubbish of relationships, the truth we so often manipulate , speaking of things you may have tried to forget.
Being played and anywhere from coffee shops to international and internet radio stations his vocals and songwriting are often compared with the likes of Damien Rice and Dave Mathews mixed with David Grey.
Blatant sounds and beautiful melodies combined into an eclectic acoustic sound that will make you remember, even if you'd rather not. With an honest appreciation for the tragic yet beautiful realities of life, this artist will most definitely make you think, question and occasionally cry, while he continues to smile. His music is skimming the folk scene from Vancouver to Winnipeg on two separate tours with some pretty twangs and an overly anxious appreciation for artistic truth. With clever timing and some ridiculously impressive vibrato, West may force you to tell your friends, families and foes alike.
He is surprisingly rare with a true passion for sound, a love for love, and a lack of the pretension of this time which some of us attempt to avoid. His life appears elegantly through his lyrics, in all of the confusion, beauty, distress and contemplation which comes along with it. At performances he is often paired with piercing violin lines by Nicki Wiebe as well as haunting vocals from Lindy Enns. On disc he is backed my the cello of Lisa Nazerenko and the percussion Caleb Friesen.
Jubal Lee Young
Jubal Lee Young's songs are reckless, deep and spiritual, meticulously crafted and delivered by an amazing voice that can go in a heartbeat from a falsetto whisper to a lions roar.
The only son of singer-songwriter Steve Young (‘Seven Bridges Road’, ‘Lonesome Onry and Mean’) and Terrye Newkirk (‘My Oklahoma’, ‘Come Home, Daddy’), Jubal grew up around the best of the 70's and 80's Country, Folk, and Bluegrass artists, who happened to be his parents amazing circle of famous and infamous friends.
Those influences are certainly there, but there is a decided edge that comes from listening to a lot of stuff that rocked, too.
Young has experienced life’s darker sides, yet transcends them in his songs. Along the way, he came up with a unique sound that encompasses the diverse styles of the musically fertile Southland, but with a genius for intelligent lyrics and wry humor that is altogether fresh.
Jubal Lee Young has learned from the greats, first- hand, right there at the kitchen table. You can hear it.
He’s the real deal.
Jude Johnstone
Jude Johnstone’s new release Blue Light on BoJak Records is a rediscovery of a musical style rather than a departure from the flavor of her previous works in critically acclaimed cds “Coming of Age,” and “On a Good Day.” The music of Blue Light possesses the sensitive, soulful and poetic qualities found in the prior discs but returns Johnstone to the musical influences she grew up with in Ellsworth, Maine listening to Sarah Vaughn, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney and Glen Miller from her father’s record collection. “I thought it was just on in the background but, lo and behold, it had crept into my subconscious and my songwriting. After my father’s death in 1987, I noticed that I couldn’t hear Glen Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” without getting all misty-eyed,” said Johnstone.
The genesis for Blue Light, and the revisit to Johnstone’s jazz/blues/torch roots was the passing of legendary engineer/producer Henry Lewy (Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young) in 2006. Johnstone and manager Bob Burton had worked with Lewy in 1983 when they recorded a project at A&M studios. During those sessions the song “Over and Done,” was recorded with Chuck Damonico (Tom Waits) on standup bass and Mark Hatch (Ray Charles, Bette Midler) on trumpet. The song was a highlight from the sessions and when revisiting the recordings after Lewy’s death it became a source of inspiration for Blue Light. The CD includes a bonus track of Lewy’s original recording of “Over and Done,” as a special tribute. Johnstone added, “Henry’s death prompted me to finally put this project together and “come home” as he had beckoned me to do for so long…and this is the result. We did it live in the studio - the old fashioned way—over 3 days, then added the strings.”
Blue Light conveys the emotional depth of Johnstone’s songwriting delivered in her passionate voice supported by sophisticated, spacious arrangements. Itwas recorded at Mad Dog Studios in Burbank, Ca with musicians Danny Frankel (Rickie Lee Jones, Beck) on drums; David Piltch (K.D. Lang, Madeleine Peyroux) bass; Matt Margucci, trumpet; Marc Macisso, sax, and Freddy Koella (Bob Dylan) on guitar. Recording engineer was Ken Allardyce (Stevie Nicks, Green Day), Charles Duncan mixing engineer and mastering with Gavin Lurssen at Lurssen Mastering. Johnstone was the producer, played keyboards and wrote all the songs except a rare co-write on “Best Friend.”
The 2002 BoJak Records release of Jude Johnstone’s debut CD “Coming of Age,” included her songs covered by Bonnie Raitt (Wounded Heart), Stevie Nicks (Cry Wolf), Johnny Cash (Unchained), Jennifer Warnes (The Nightingale), and Trisha Yearwood (Hearts in Armor). It was featured on NPR’s Morning Edition and reached #6 on Amazon’s Best Seller’s List. Johnstone’s 2005 CD “On a Good Day,” generated impressive media buzz leading to Johnstone’s national television debut where she performed the title track on CBS’s The Early Show. “On a Good Day” attracted guest vocal performances by Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Rodney Crowell and Julie Miller.
I See Hawks
J Shogren
Jack Sundrud
Jack Tempchin
Jackson Browne
James Cooper
James Lee Stanley
Jason Plumb
Jeff Larson
Jenny Gunn
Jenny Yates
Jewly Hight
Jim Barile
Jim Campilongo
Jim Weider
Jock Bartley
Joel Rafael
John Batdorf
John Vester
Jon Redfern
Jon Strider
Jonny Kaplan
Jordan T West
Jubal Lee Young
Jude Johnstone
