Sam Jaffe
Something To Fall Back On
© 2005 Sam Jaffe (806838119422)
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The good side of radio friendly. Great songs, big hooks, soulful vocals, and world class performances from Vinnie Colaiuta, Jim McGorman, Derek Frank, Katisse Buckingham, and more.
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Born in Boston, MA to folk-hippy parents, Sam Jaffe was captured by music and the arts at a very early age. Learning how to play guitar and piano from his mother at age 5, he gravitated towards the great artists of his parents’ generation; singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Joni Mitchel, and Paul Simon, and classic rock acts such as The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and The Beatles. He says, ”it seems now that my earliest memories are musical. Whether it was riding in the car with my mom at age 3 or 4 and singing along with Get Back at the top of my lungs, or singing If I Had A Hammer with my pre-school teachers… there was just always music around, and I love thinking of that now”.
At 15, toting his acoustic guitar, notebook of songs, and cab fare, Sam started gaining notoriety around New England's coffee houses, clubs, and college campuses. After high school in Cape Cod, he went south to study music at the esteemed University of Miami School of Music, majoring in classical voice and jazz composition. It was in these years that he started to combine his roots in folk and rock with his education of jazz and world music, which is evident today in the textures and rhythms that flow through his song’s arrangements. While still in school, he was performing constantly around the Southeast USA, both solo and with a full band. These performances garnered critical, national attention including write-ups in Billboard and Musician Magazine and professional endorsement contracts with Taylor Guitars, D'Addario Strings, and Line 6.
In March ’05 Sam completed his first full-length CD, “Something To Fall Back On”, which he wrote, arranged, produced, recorded, and performed vocals, guitars, keyboards, harmonica, percussion, and did the string programming. In addition, the record features world-renowned musicians Vinnie Colaiuta on drums (Sting, Herbie Hancock, Frank Zappa, etc), Jim McGorman on guitars and keyboards (Avril Lavigne, New Radicals), Derek Frank on bass (Jonatha Brooke, Just Listen), along with other top L.A. session players. “Something to Fall Back On” was mixed by Marc DeSisto (U2, Stevie Nicks, Michelle Branch) and mastered by Bill Dooley (Madonna, Motley Crue, Deftones).
“Something To Fall Back On” has received rave reviews, and is currently selling very well on iTunes and CDBaby. Sam's music has been featured on TV, film, and the internet, and his voice can be heard singing national commercial “jingles” for top music production companies nationwide. Sam was featured on the hit FOX television show, “The OC”, playing keyboards in a scene with the show’s star, Peter Gallagher, and also playing acoustic guitar and singing on The WB’s hit show “Summerland”. "Something To Fall Back On" currently receives play US college radio, XM & Sirius radio, European radio play in Sweden, Norway, Germany, Italy, and France, as well as Canadian radio on CBC Ottawa. Caffeine Clothing has signed Jaffe to an endorsement deal and uses the single “Strong Enough” as the lead-off track on their compilation CD. MTV & VH1 licensed the entire record to use on several of their tv shows. In May and June ‘05, Jaffe performed in Brazil to over 65,000 people per show as a main-stage headliner for the Coca Cola Vibezone Festivals in Sau Paulo and Rio. Jaffe was the only international act invited to play, and the only artist performing for all four nights of the Festival. He recently was the only American artist asked to contribute a song for the European release "A Timeless Vibration - Tribute to Bob Marley" on the German Afrikool label. Sam's solo acoustic version of "Is This Love" was the 1st single off the record. (look for the American release soon).
Having gotten tired of "the LA thing", Sam now lives on the water in Florida with his wife, Heidi, and son, Miles. He has taken a break from touring, and is writing and recording new material. Stay tuned...
reviews
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One of my favorites
author: Jackson Tillerto put it simply, this is a great record.
lovin your music
author: lavons babys momma cousins sister leonai just wanna say this is the best baby makin music i have eva herrd'. my broke ass aint been able to buy no cd cassette playa's since the early 80's but now dat my fat ass has got up and got myself a job your record was the first one i bought! yous the only white boy music i be listen'n to and i just luv it!
- author: Lavon Summers
I would have to say this is by far the best cd that I have bought in a long time. I have listened to it from start to finish, several times, and I love every song on it!
Excellent CD
author: Kenneth BremerAbsolute awesome.... still can´t get this excellent album out of my CD Player.....
this is a biggy
author: chebbourthis is modern melodic poprock of major league class there is not a bad song on it the vocals are awesome and remind me of a rockier version of darryl hall! this deserved to be on a major label melodic heaven!!!!!!!!
Catchy pop/rock of the highest order
author: TrevNever heard of this guy before, just goes to show what a great media the internet is. Great songs and hooklines well crafted, and track 8 Change the Rules is awesome, the kind of song Bryan Adams would Kill for!! An essential purchase for those into well produced modern rock. And having Vinnie Colaiuta on drums ain`t so bad. Cant wait for cd number 2 Trev Dodd (KILJOY).
Fans of both AOR and the modern singer songwriter scene will love this album
author: Par WinbergIf you love Evan & Jaron and Across The Sky and that sort of modern singer songwriter rock with AOR refrains it’s time to take out wallet from your jackets and surf to Jaffe’s homepage and buy yourself a new album, cause this is a real show in refrains extravaganza… The opening “Strong Enough” sets the tone with a helluva refrain, and it just continues. It’s a real damn fine album in the genre and you can’t be more that real damn impressed but this guys ability to write catchy refrains. Fans of both AOR and the modern singer songwriter scene will love this album. Listen to songs like the opener I just mentioned, third out “Feel” (which sounds like an acoustic-edged Harem Scarem tune) and “Angel” (listen to the harmonyvovals…) and I are sure you’ll have a new fave in this man. And just to find Vinnie Colauita behind the drums is cool. A sure check out folks!
The 'oh so' sweet sounds of Jaffe!
author: MikolJaffe's voice is nothing short of incredible. Whether it's a soothing sound you're looking to hear or a feel good face the day kinda beat - Something To Fall Back On has it. Just when you feel certain familiarities to his sound, Jaffe's music turns a corner and brings you to new places. This is a must have to add to your collection!
It’s the good side of “radio-friendly”: accessible, tastefully manicured melodie
author: Jim Kirlin - "Wood & Steel" publication from Taylor GuitarsJaffe starts with quality ingredients: a strong, melodic voice, refined songwriting chops, an ear for big pop hooks, and a handful of sharp musical friends to help flesh things out. It also doesn’t hurt when one of those pals is drumming ace Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Sting). The resulting songs emit that major-label sheen, and reveal that Jaffe is a skilled pop artisan who knows how to build a catchy tune, coating his songs with sonic polish without drowning them in production. It’s the good side of “radio-friendly”: accessible, tastefully manicured melodies, energetic vocals, and musical dynamics that set up for the hook before swelling into soaring choruses. Jaffe doesn’t waste his time getting there, he doesn’t wear out his welcome, and even when you know where he’s headed, it’s a smooth ride. Not surprisingly, Colaiuta helps each song bear fruit; his versatile touch taps the essence of each song and conjures the rhythmic underpinnings that help snap the other elements into place as a unified whole. But it’s ultimately Jaffe’s voice that drives the record. He’s clearly got the soulful, pliable pipes of a should-be pop star who can go it alone with just an acoustic guitar (as he has on the college campus and coffeehouse circuit). On a track like “Strong Enough”, his voice and inflections suggest a rockin’ Darryl Hall. Jaffe’s spring-loaded vocal leads inflate his choruses with an anthemic release, occasionally slipping up into a falsetto finish, while his layered supporting vocals stretch like a smooth sonic fabric across the background. Most of the cuts on Something to Fall Back On are a mid-tempo blend of acoustic and electric guitar. Jaffe covers much of the acoustic and electric rhythm tracks, adding a little high-strung here, a little baritone there, as well as Wurlitzer and B3. Jim McGormon’s electric leads help lift the choruses, and on tunes like the opening track, “Angel”, he cranks out a juicy-toned opening riff that establishes an upbeat mood. It’s a well-crafted effort from Jaffe — much more than just something to fall back on. — Jim Kirlin