Album Notes

Jae C. Steele's sound has been crafted over many years of musical isolation. Self-taught and playing only by ear, her guitar style has been influenced by John Fahey, James Taylor, Lindsay Buckingham, Tom Rush, and Leon Redbone, in particular. Vocally, she is best described as a mix of Peggy Lee, Bonnie Raitt and Leon Redbone. Being primarily a solo artist all her life, Steele has created a big guitar sound which allows her to play bass, rhythm and lead all together, using fingerstyle technique. So what you hear on "Christmas in Iraq" is, mostly, a simultaneously recorded vocal/guitar CD with no overdubbed tracks.

Don't let the album's title fool you. "Christmas in Iraq" is not a Christmas CD. The title was taken from the song of the same name (track 3) that has created a buzz for this artist, defining her as "the woman with the monster right hand". Her work has been aired on local network and public access TV and radio, despite barely a promotional attempt on Steele's part. Since her return to professional music in 2005 after a 10-year hiatus, Steele has appeared at some of the best listening rooms and coffee houses in New England, she recently opened for Tim Grimm, and has earned a healthy level of respect among her peers and her audience.

"Christmas in Iraq" (the album) is a limited release. No additional copies will be made.