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Jason Crigler

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Released: Jan 1, 2007
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General Info

  • Genre: Classic Rock / Indie / Rock

    Location CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, US

    Profile Views: 66728

    Last Login: 6/13/2011

    Member Since 8/13/2006

    Website www.thefirmrecords.com

    Record Label The Firm Records

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    Persevering through hard times is one of the greatest and most eternal themes of blues and soul music. Jason Crigler, a New York based singer/songwriter and highly sought out guitarist has always found inspiration in that music, but little did he know how that he would endure and win a battle for his life that would give the toughest bluesman a run for his money. His new album, Down Like Hail, is a riveting document of a musician playing for the sheer love of it, but it also is the testament of someone who has played for the biggest stakes of all – his own life. .. Jason made his reputation as one of the most sought after guitarists in New York through his work in the band Goats in Trees (which he formed with his wife Monica) and by playing with such luminaries as Linda Thompson, John Cale, Marshall Crenshaw, Teddy Thompson, Juliana Nash and Edison Woods. In 2003, Jason began to play under his own name, and began the process of recording what would become Down Like Hail. By the middle of 2004, Jason was excited about upcoming plans for recording and touring, and was even more thrilled about becoming a father, as Monica was expecting their first child... Then things took a drastic turn. Jason recounts:.. “It was August 4, 2004. I was playing a gig and after the first couple of songs all of a sudden things got really weird – everything sounded and felt very distant. It got so freaky I had to leave the stage. Thank God Monica was there. I couldn’t hear anything. I finally lay down on the ground and that’s the last thing I remember for a year and a half.” .. What Jason had was an AVM, which stands for Arterio-Venous Malformation. It is a collection of abnormal blood vessels in the brain, which then burst, like an aneurysm. The threat to Jason’s life was very real, and initially, the doctors didn’t give Jason much, if any chance to recover. (“They made a lot of doomsday predictions that turned out to be wrong,” says Jason.) He went through three different hospitals, various surgeries and even when it became apparent that Jason would survive, there was no guarantee that he’d ever walk again, let alone be a working musician. .. It was a grim prognosis for Jason, both medically and financially, but it was then that his friends stepped in. In January of 2005, Norah Jones, who Jason had met and played with for years when they were both sitting in night after night at the Living Room, announced that she was headlining a benefit show for Jason at Irving Plaza, a show that raised over $50,000 for Jason’s medical expenses. Norah said about Jason in announcing the show, "Everyone who has ever had the pleasure of playing with Jason will know how special he can make it feel and sound, and what a magical cast he helps to create within all the music he plays.”.. With support from family and friends, Jason was on his long journey back. And after almost 18 months of intense physical therapy in which he had to struggle to relearn such basic actions as walking and talking, in early of January 2006, Jason was well enough to begin playing guitar again – but that was an immense challenge. As Jason recounts, “Because of the bleeding I had, initially I could barely get my fingers to play. After 10 minutes I would have to stop. I saw a physical therapist, which helped, and by April, I sat in with Teddy Thompson. I played one song – it was tiring, but I did it. And then, on my birthday, May 27th, I was playing with Rachel Loshak, and it all came together. I was overjoyed.”.. Now, in 2007, Jason has readied the release of Down Like Hail, an album that he recorded prior to his illness, but one that with it’s blues spirit, portends much of what Jason endured with his illness. He explains, “To me, it’s an album about the blues. There aren’t any actual blues songs, but the approach to the album and the influences come out from my love of blues and old soul. It was all recorded live – no overdubs. Me and my guys (Paul Bryan on bass and Dan Rieser on drums) just walked in and put it down.” .. The album showcases Jason’s melodic sensibility and versatility as a player, arranger and singer. There’s the punchiness of “Bush and the Tree Song, Part One,” and the loping rhythms and laconic feel of the hooky “She Waits For An Answer.” Jason’s love of American music is present in his version of “Swing Down Sweet Chariot” (“I got it from Elvis’s gospel sessions – I don’t do it nearly as well as him.”) and “What I May Love,” which was inspired by Jason trying a Skip James guitar tuning and then writing a song around it... With the appreciation and hard earned knowledge of how fragile and lucky he is, Jason has now tapped into something previously unavailable to him. He explains, “I feel like I’m playing from a much more authentic place now – I’m a better player now then I was before.” As a musician dedicated to constant growth, improvement and communication, Jason Crigler is unique even beyond his considerable skills, for his playing now comes from a struggle and journey that few ever take, let alone emerge from. But after all he’s been through, his goals are simpler and perhaps more profound. “I want to play good music continually do it better,” he explains, “And I want to hang out with my daughter Ellie J.” .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. JASON CRIGLER BAND "DOWN LIKE HAIL" IS AVAILABLE HERE --> ......
  • Members

    Jason Crigler - Vocals and Guitar .. Paul Bryan - Bass .. Dan Rieser - Drums ..
  • Influences

  • Sounds Like

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  • Richard Harris


    LOVE PASSIONATELY AND WITHOUT FEAR Jason!
     

    "JACKSON'S LOVE - FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD" - MY BRAND NEW CD - HAS JUST BEEN RECORDED - WATCH FOR IT SOON @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT PASSIONATE LOVE ...

    "The PLEASURE OF LOVE is in LOVING;

    and we are HAPPIER by the PASSION WE FEEL;

    than by that we INSPIRE."

    ~ François Duc De La Rochefoucauld, French writer
       and moralist
      
    THE LOVE BETWEEN MAN AND WOMAN IS THE

    GREATEST AND MOST COMPLETE PASSION

    THE WORLD WILL EVER SEE!

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    Please take a minute and give my music a listen!

    MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    6 months ago
  • Christian Lamitschka

    Country Music News International want YOU as volunteer writer for the magazine  when:

    You like Country Music! You like to write CD reviews!  You like to write CONCERT reviews! You can write in English or German, as Country Music News International is published in German and English.

    Build yourself a name by writing for one of the fastest growing Country Music Magazines in Germany and Europe. We offer You: Music for review! Credentials that you write for Country Music News International, which open you the door for many Country Events!

    For more information contact me at CountryMusicNewsInternational@googlemail.com

    Thanks

    Christian Lamitschka

    Country Music News International
    Editor / Publisher
    Christian Lamitschka
    An der Pfingstweide 28
    61118 Bad Vilbel
    Germany
    www.CountryMusicNewsInternational.blogspot.com

    6 months ago
  • Richard Harris


    No act of KINDNESS is ever wasted Jason!
     

    "JACKSON'S LOVE - FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD" - MY BRAND NEW CD - HAS JUST BEEN RECORDED - WATCH FOR IT SOON @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT KINDNESS ...

    "A TREE is known by its FRUIT;

    a MAN by his DEEDS.

    A GOOD DEED is never lost;

    he who sows COURTESY reaps FRIENDSHIP,

    and he who plants KINDNESS gathers LOVE."

    ~ Saint Basil

    KINDNESS, I'VE DISCOVERED, IS EVERYTHING

    IN LIFE!

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    Please take a minute and give my music a listen!

    MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    7 months ago
  • Richard Harris


    Feel the PASSION Jason!
     

    "JACKSON'S LOVE - FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD" - MY BRAND NEW CD - HAS JUST BEEN RECORDED - WATCH FOR IT SOON @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT LOVE AND PASSION ...

    "The LOVE between man and woman

    is the GREATEST and MOST COMPLETE PASSION

    the world will ever see."

    ~ D.H. Lawrence

    PASSION IS THE FIRE THAT BURNS FROM

    A HEART IN LOVE!

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE, my friend

    Richard

    www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    Please take a minute and give my music a listen!

    MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    7 months ago
  • Richard Harris


    Have a SWEET WEEKEND Jason!
     

    "JACKSON'S LOVE - FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD" -  MY BRAND NEW CD - HAS JUST BEEN RECORDED - WATCH FOR IT SOON @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT CHOCOLATE ...

    "All you need is LOVE

    But a little CHOCOLATE

    now and then doesn't hurt."

    ~ Charles M. Schulz

    CHOCOLATE IS NATURE'S WAY OF

    MAKING UP FOR MONDAYS!

     With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE, my friend

    Richard

    www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    Please take a minute and give my music a listen!

    MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    8 months ago
  • Richard Harris


    The SECRET TO HUMOR is SURPRISE Jason!
     

    "JACKSON'S LOVE - FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD" -  MY BRAND NEW CD - HAS JUST BEEN RECORDED - WATCH FOR IT @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT SURPRISES ...

    "LIFE is FULL

    of CHALLENGES and SURPRISES."

    ~ Jil Sander

    SURPRISES ARE FOOLISH THINGS.  THE PLEASURE

    IS NOT ENHANCED, AND THE INCOVENIENCE IS

    OFTEN CONSIDERABLE.

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    Please take a minute and give my music a listen!

    MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    8 months ago
  • Richard Harris


    You Think YOUR JOB IS TOUGH Jason?
     

    I AM RECORDING A NEW ALBUM THIS SUMMER - WATCH FOR IT @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT LIFE ...

    "The BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE is the one on which you decide YOUR LIFE is your own. No APOLOGIES or EXCUSES. No one to LEAN ON, RELY ON, or BLAME.

    The GIFT OF LIFE is YOURS; it is an AMAZING JOURNEY; and YOU ALONE are responsible for the quality of it. ”

     ~ Dan Zadra

    IF YOU DON'T LIKE BEING A DOORMAT ~ THEN

    GET OFF THE FLOOR!  YOU ARE TOUGHER AND

    STRONGER THAN YOU THINK!

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    Please take a minute and give my music a listen!

    MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    9 months ago
  • Christian Lamitschka

    Are you on Twitter? Yes! Than please add me ( https://twitter.com/Lamitschka ) to your Twitter buddy list, so I can keep you up to date when I publish News at Country Music News International ( www.CountryMusicNewsInternational.blogspot.com ). By the way, everybody who add me to his buddy list have the chance to win. So please inform your friends about it. For more information and what you can win follow link: http://countrymusicnewsinternational.blogspot.com/2012/02/ein-jahr-country-music-news.html Warm regards Christian Lamitschka

    9 months ago
  • Richard Harris


    Would you like to BUY AN AD on the Baby Jason?
     

    I AM RECORDING A NEW ALBUM THIS SUMMER - WATCH FOR IT @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT ADVERTISING ...

    "Honey, I finally figured out how we could make

    ends meet with the new baby arriving ~ so I

    sold some ad space to help cover our costs!

    It didn't turn out too bad did it?"

    ADVERTISING IS THE ART OF CONVINCING PEOPLE

    TO SPEND MONEY THEY DON'T HAVE ~ FOR

    THINGS THEY DON'T NEED!

    HAVE A LAUGH TODAY!

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.myspace.com/richardharrislive

    Please take a minute and give my music a listen!

    MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    9 months ago
  • Richard Harris


    Have an AWESOME WEEKEND Jason!
     
      Talk Show Host Rush Limbaugh

    I AM RECORDING A NEW ALBUM THIS SUMMER - WATCH FOR IT @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    TODAY'S THOUGHT IS ABOUT DOUBLE TALK FROM RUSH ...

    “I know that you believe you understand

    what you THINK I said, but I'm not sure you REALIZE

    that what you HEARD

    is not WHAT I MEANT.”

    WISE MEN TALK BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING

    TO SAY ~ FOOLS TALK BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO

    SAY SOMETHING!

    With LOVE, RESPECT, and PEACE my friend,

    Richard

    www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    Please take a minute and give my music a listen!

    MY ALBUM "LOVE'S SWEET SONG" HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR A WAMMIE AWARD AS JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! LISTEN TO SOME SWEET SOUNDS - AVAILABLE @ www.RichardHarrisLive.com

    10 months ago
10 of 294More

Bio:

Persevering through hard times is one of the greatest and most eternal themes of blues and soul music. Jason Crigler, a New York based singer/songwriter and highly sought out guitarist has always found inspiration in that music, but little did he know how that he would endure and win a battle for his life that would give the toughest bluesman a run for his money. His new album, Down Like Hail, is a riveting document of a musician playing for the sheer love of it, but it also is the testament of someone who has played for the biggest stakes of all – his own life.

Jason made his reputation as one of the most sought after guitarists in New York through his work in the band Goats in Trees (which he formed with his wife Monica) and by playing with such luminaries as Linda Thompson, John Cale, Marshall Crenshaw, Teddy Thompson, Juliana Nash and Edison Woods. In 2003, Jason began to play under his own name, and began the process of recording what would become Down Like Hail. By the middle of 2004, Jason was excited about upcoming plans for recording and touring, and was even more thrilled about becoming a father, as Monica was expecting their first child.

Then things took a drastic turn. Jason recounts:

“It was August 4, 2004. I was playing a gig and after the first couple of songs all of a sudden things got really weird – everything sounded and felt very distant. It got so freaky I had to leave the stage. Thank God Monica was there. I couldn’t hear anything. I finally lay down on the ground and that’s the last thing I remember for a year and a half.”

What Jason had was an AVM, which stands for Arterio-Venous Malformation. It is a collection of abnormal blood vessels in the brain, which then burst, like an aneurysm. The threat to Jason’s life was very real, and initially, the doctors didn’t give Jason much, if any chance to recover. (“They made a lot of doomsday predictions that turned out to be wrong,” says Jason.) He went through three different hospitals, various surgeries and even when it became apparent that Jason would survive, there was no guarantee that he’d ever walk again, let alone be a working musician.

It was a grim prognosis for Jason, both medically and financially, but it was then that his friends stepped in. In January of 2005, Norah Jones, who Jason had met and played with for years when they were both sitting in night after night at the Living Room, announced that she was headlining a benefit show for Jason at Irving Plaza, a show that raised over $50,000 for Jason’s medical expenses. Norah said about Jason in announcing the show, "Everyone who has ever had the pleasure of playing with Jason will know how special he can make it feel and sound, and what a magical cast he helps to create within all the music he plays.”

With support from family and friends, Jason was on his long journey back. And after almost 18 months of intense physical therapy in which he had to struggle to relearn such basic actions as walking and talking, in early of January 2006, Jason was well enough to begin playing guitar again – but that was an immense challenge. As Jason recounts, “Because of the bleeding I had, initially I could barely get my fingers to play. After 10 minutes I would have to stop. I saw a physical therapist, which helped, and by April, I sat in with Teddy Thompson. I played one song – it was tiring, but I did it. And then, on my birthday, May 27th, I was playing with Rachel Loshak, and it all came together. I was overjoyed.”

Now, in 2007, Jason has readied the release of Down Like Hail, an album that he recorded prior to his illness, but one that with it’s blues spirit, portends much of what Jason endured with his illness. He explains, “To me, it’s an album about the blues. There aren’t any actual blues songs, but the approach to the album and the influences come out from my love of blues and old soul. It was all recorded live – no overdubs. Me and my guys (Paul Bryan on bass and Dan Rieser on drums) just walked in and put it down.”

The album showcases Jason’s melodic sensibility and versatility as a player, arranger and singer. There’s the punchiness of “Bush and the Tree Song, Part One,” and the loping rhythms and laconic feel of the hooky “She Waits For An Answer.” Jason’s love of American music is present in his version of “Swing Down Sweet Chariot” (“I got it from Elvis’s gospel sessions – I don’t do it nearly as well as him.”) and “What I May Love,” which was inspired by Jason trying a Skip James guitar tuning and then writing a song around it.

With the appreciation and hard earned knowledge of how fragile and lucky he is, Jason has now tapped into something previously unavailable to him. He explains, “I feel like I’m playing from a much more authentic place now – I’m a better player now then I was before.” As a musician dedicated to constant growth, improvement and communication, Jason Crigler is unique even beyond his considerable skills, for his playing now comes from a struggle and journey that few ever take, let alone emerge from. But after all he’s been through, his goals are simpler and perhaps more profound. “I want to play good music continually do it better,” he explains, “And I want to hang out with my daughter Ellie J.”

..

.. JASON CRIGLER BAND "DOWN LIKE HAIL" IS AVAILABLE HERE --> Buy the CD

Member Since:

August 13, 2006

Members:

Jason Crigler - Vocals and Guitar

Paul Bryan - Bass

Dan Rieser - Drums

Record Label:

The Firm Records

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