Jack L

I went to see a guy in concert recently called Jack L. I thought he was American but no, he's homegrown. He started his career by doing Jacques Brel songs and then went on to write his own. But the songs hark back to vaudeville and they allow for huge audience participation. In fact, the audience part really makes it complete. He alternates between booming baritone and light tenor as the songs demand.

For a sample, you can hear one of his funny/tragic songs called The Man Who Couldn't Cry here:

http://www.jacklukeman.com/

I went to the site and checked him out, and that was good stuff there, Mr. B.

I cant imagine how hard it is to break through in music circles these days. I used to love writing songs, but I dont know what happened to it----it just flew away...

For what its worth, I have 4 songs uploaded here:

http://www.purevolume.com/wynstonsmyth

Im playing everything, wrote everything, recorded everything, produced everything. Good grief that was allot of work. Now I remember WHY I stopped doing it...

Hi Brendan,
It's a sad song and life can be difficult and he gets the pain across we all feel at times. I bet he is good in concert. I too like to be able to participate in singalongs.
regards
Derek

Hi guys,

It might be that introspective thing that the French excel in, from when he started with Jacques Brel songs. He takes the audience through highs and lows, and they love it. I was surprised that so many people knew him well but he was brand new to me. So they knew HOW to participate. It was great, nicer and more an experience than karaoke, I think. Group fun!

Matt, your material is VERY introspective too, I think - dark, brooding songs.
You should make your music into a topic of its own in this sub-heading, so you can add to it if you do anything new.

Regards,
Brendan.

Hi Matt,
You are obviously a man of many talents.

Thanks, Mr. B.

Derek wrote:

Hi Matt,
You are obviously a man of many talents.

And thanks to you Mr. D. But, I learned music from the BEST: British musicians (Apart from Stevie Wonder and Johnny Cash, everyone I have ever listened seriously to was British).

Overt the summer when I was 15, I bought an electric guitar, and all, repeat ALL, of the Beatles stuff on cassette tape. I proceeded to learn the songs, specifically, Lennons Rythm parts and George's solos, but also, HOW to write songs. And I learened ALL of their songs. There was/is simply no one better than those guys at putting it all together for 4 minutes, or, 40 minutes on an album (if you like). I knew their stuff forwards and backwards, all songs, all records. As I once said on Shelter, "Something" by George Harrison is the single greatest pop-rock song ever written-it is perfection; everything else is second at best.

Lennon was always my favorite. I saw McCartney in 2005 in DesMoines Iowa, truly a great concert. I dont think there has been anyone better in Pop music than that guy.

brendan wrote:

Yes, Lennon/McCartney were really special. I must say, though, that I also grew up on a diet of U.S./Canadian artists like Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, James Taylor, Leonard Cohen etc. Taylor was the first artist signed to Apple. He had written his song “Something In The Way She Moves” which is a beautiful song that caught the Beatle’s attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_fdGk2ICak&feature=related

I never took hold of the US/Canadian artists, I was always for the Brits (Beatles, Zepplin, Floyd, Gabriel, Winwood, WHO, etc.), with the notable exception of the first real Progressive Alternate ROCK band, RUSH (Truly, a Canadian treasure...along with William Shatner .). RUSH will be in Wichita on Aug 20. I have 3 tickets. Sweeeeet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7DFsBcVMDA

However, there is no question that those folks you mention are talented, great artists, of whom I have allot of respect for their ability. James Taylor is a great songwriter.

Mr. B, I would bet that your favorite Beatles album is Rubber Soul. Am I right?

Man--I love music. Thank God for having created it in the first place!!!

I always had Abbey Road in my collection, and Sgt. Pepper too. For the life of me, I don't know why I never went out and bought more of their stuff.

Some artists just went by me - like Steve Winwood, who I know now thanks to a BBC documentary on his career that was shown here recently. The white guy with the black voice!

Same with Rush - I never heard them either for some strange reason.

Still, where there's life, there's catch-up time!

And, wow yes, music is a gift from God!!!