Album Notes

Jeff Jones’ first memories are at the piano singing Gospel at Grandma’s house. Yet despite happy beginnings, Jeff moved 17 times in nine states before high school’s end.

Is it any surprise Jeff embraced the comfort and companionship of music early in life? The myriad of experiences and characters along the way are integral to his music as well as fodder for the imaginative and creative process of songwriting.

As transitory beginnings dictate personal independence, Jeff is entirely self-taught via discipline, solitude and tips from his father and uncles, every one of which is a musician. Jeff learned rhythm guitar with ease and regards the first three ZZ Top albums as highly influential. Inspiration for his slide guitar and creative open tunings hit suddenly after hearing Chris Whitley’s “Poison Girl” off Chris’ Living with the Law debut.

In 1990, at 19 years old Jeff joined the military to fulfill dreams of traveling abroad. Soon after, he found himself ducking scud missiles in Desert Storm. No stranger to new and different environments, Jeff spent his R&R in Europe with a six string Yamaha acoustic and close friends. “The entire experience formed yet another foundation for my musical career as a guitarist, songwriter and storyteller” he says optimistically and retrospectively.

In the mid 90s Jones found his voice performing onstage and studying Playwriting at Arizona State University. “I attribute my strong vocals to my experience with theater and performing on-stage, it was then I really learned how to project to the audience.” Jones explains “Shakespeare has always been a big influence on me. Words, the lyrics, are where it’s at for me and he is one of the very best. I have always been fascinated with what can be done combining sound and lyric whether by a playwright, musical group or individual.”

The decision to become a full time musician came after seeing Ben Harper live. Jeff explains “I realized that the man performed every song with such a fierce conviction that you couldn’t help but be moved by his music. That is my personal goal, to perform every song with fierce conviction.”

So far so good. Jeff Jones was crowned 2005 Best Live Band/Musician by his hometown, Lake Tahoe newspaper and humbly boasts a solid and devoted fan base. The local Tahoe paper wrote, ‘His originals hint of influences from well established jazz and blues greats, with echoes of the Allman Brothers, Dave Mathews, Ben Harper, The Beatles, Lou Reed and even Keller Williams.’

In July 2006 Jeff Jones releases his national debut Biscuits & Gravy on Foursome Records. The album echoes years of adapting to new neighborhoods, social circles and circumstances with diverse offerings of blues, roots, rock, jam band, jazz roots, and alternative folk

Biscuits & Gravy was recorded as a three-piece ensemble of guitar, keyboards and drums, recorded in Italy and California, and produced by Francesco Brini (Swayzak, Rob Smith (Smith & Mighty) and Mo’ Magic (Outkast rec.).
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