Jess Grant
The Washington Waltz
© 2003 Jess Grant (766433020724)
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"A wealth of fresh, original ideas...one outrageous or innovative idea after another." Victory Music Review
tracks
- 1 The Washington Waltz
- 2 Auto Shop
- 3 Another Lost Evening
- 4 Buddy the Barnacle
- 5 For my Foreskin
- 6 My Birthright
- 7 Jose Caballero
- 8 Thumbin' Through the Personals
- 9 Hands
- 10 Sailor's Song
- 11 Why Don't You Leave Me?
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Jess Grant writes songs that provoke and amuse, fusing lyrical intensity with diverse pop styles and working-class ethics. Raised by a father who’s tone-deaf and a mother who called sheet music “those little black dots with lines,” Jess had to look elsewhere for musical inspiration. He was drawn to the stories sung by folk singers like Ed McCurdy, the Kingston Trio, Harry Belafonte, Joan Baez and the Weavers.
Driving cross-country as a kid, Jess would look forward to hearing rock’n’roll hits like the Rolling Stones’ Satisfaction and Chuck Berry's Memphis. In high school he took up the piano and his imagination was captured by the music of Jethro Tull, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, David Bowie, Paul Simon, early Supertramp and early Genesis.
Jess’ own music has changed over the years, and his songwriting has grown more focused. Starting out on piano in high school, he switched to bass for a couple of years before finally settling into his current position of rhythm guitarist and lead singer. Some of Jess’ favorite performing songwriters currently include Graham Parker, Steve Earle, Ani Difranco, Richard Thompson, Bruce Cockburn, Joan Jett, Utah Phillips, Delbert McClinton, Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, and James McMurtry.
Jess tackles topics that would stump a lesser songwriter, and his shows invariably elicit some uncomfortable titters. “For my Foreskin” is a cutting but humorous critique of circumcision; “Oh Victoria” is a lovelorn look at lingerie catalogs and the self-pleasure they can provide; “Elvis and the Magi” recasts the Nativity tale with Elvis Presley in the holy infant’s role; and “Living in the Harem” is told in the voice of a eunuch living among a rich man’s wives. Not songs for the faint of heart – but luckily Jess writes plenty of love songs too.
Career Spotlights:
· "For My Foreskin" -- Best Original Song (TLCTugger Contest, 2006)
· Featured performer at the 9th Int'l Symposium on Circumcision (2006)
· Leader of Jett City (the world’s only tribute to Joan Jett)
· “My Birthright” -- finalist in the Tumbleweed Festival’s song contest (2005)
· Featured performer at the IWW’s 2005 Centenary Celebration (Vancouver BC)
· Appeared at Seattle’s NW Folklife Festival (2005)
· “Auto Shop” -- heard on NPR's Car Talk (2004)
· “Hands” -- title track on Normajean Jacob’s CD (independent release, 2003)
· Studied with Steve Seskin at the Sisters Songwriting Academy (2002)
· Opened for artists Utah Phillips, John Trudell, Jello Biafra, & Penelope Houston
Discography
The Washington Waltz (full-length acoustic CD on Bristling Barnacle Music, 2003)
Oh Victoria (rock EP on Bristling Barnacle Music, 2003)