found this endorsement on A.P news, even the president wants you to click here to buy the record
Influences
Hunger, Dennis Kucinich, Coltrane, Dimi Mint Abba, Hubert Sumlin, Howlin' Wolf, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ani Difranco, Woody Guthrie, Steve Earle, Fela Kuti, Tom Petty, Backyard Tire Fire, Samba Mapangala, Chris Potter, Dave Holland, Amy Winehouse, Miles Davis, The Last Poets, Hank I & III, Marvin Gaye, Kurt Rosenwinkel, The Misfits, Patty Griffin, Stevie Wonder, Eric Nassau, Lucinda Williams, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Guns N Roses, Rachel Ries, Chicago Farmer, Bjork, Dylan Bob, Mahatma Ghandi, Leon Czolgosz
Sounds Like
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ani Difranco, Woody Guthrie, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Steve Earle, Fela Kuti, Samba Mapangala, Chris Potter, Dave Holland, Miles Davis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Patty Griffin, The Misfits, Bjork, Bob Dylan, Keller Williams, Marvin Gaye, Xavier Rudd, Wilco, Bright Eyes, John Coltrane, Dimi Mint Abba, Gillian Welch, Joni Mitchell, early Buddy Guy, early Michael Jackson, Bobby McFerrin, Skip James, Robert Johnson, Kurt Elling, Music Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ani Difranco, Woody Guthrie, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Steve Earle, Fela Kuti, Samba Mapangala, Chris Potter, Dave Holland, Miles Davis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Patty Griffin, The Misfits, Bjork, Bob Dylan, Keller Williams, Marvin Gaye, Xavier Rudd, Wilco, Bright Eyes, John Coltrane, Dimi Mint Abba, Gillian Welch, Joni Mitchell, early Buddy Guy, early Michael Jackson, Bobby McFerrin, Skip James, Robert Johnson, Kurt Elling, Music
He has a most unique soaring falsetto and a wild
eyes rolled in the back of his head fierce guitar style. He writes
original songs, including a fantastic song about Freedom (the gas
station). Jaik's sound is somewhere between Anti-Folk and The Band
and it is unlike anything I've heard from anyone else. His energy is
fierce, his vocal range is inhuman, his beard is long. You've gotta
check this guy out. - ( Independent Media Center )
when you hear his voice with his music, it works. His talent on the acoustic flying V guitar and mandolin is something to behold. He stood alone on the stage, sounding like a full band. The crowd at IBC loved him... The crowd danced to every song and sang along. - (Wilma, Rearview Reviews )
Jaik is a hardcore troubador somewhere inbetween Steve Earle and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He has wandered around the USA like a modern minstrel, surfing sofas, car camping, and paying dues to sing the blues. It is a high energy solo show featuring Jaik's horn-like voice darting around a blistering broken-string approach to his acoustic flying V guitar, with original songs that are accessible, and message driven
- (Chicago Jams)
"You a bad motherfucker" - (Billy Branch, 11/08)
Jaik is a nationally touring independent performer based in the Chicago area. He has shared bills with artists such as Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, Ani Difranco, Wilco, Bela Fleck, MMW, Del McCoury, NIN, Big Brother & the Holding Company, the Drovers, Leftover Salmon, Merl Saunders, Justin Townes Earle, Drop Q (Kris Meyers of Umphrey’s McGee, Kalyan Pathak of Fareed Haque Group), Digital Underground, Blueground Undergrass, Garaj Mahal, EOTO (members of String Cheese Incident), The Schwag, Ekoostik Hookah, Tea Leaf Green, Split Lip Rayfield, Devon Allman & Honeytribe, Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, and Victor Wooten; and performed on stage with acoustic blues dynamo, Corey Harris, and Chicago blues legend Billy Branch as well. He has toured through IL, MI, WI, MO, IN, TN, NJ, NY, CT, GA, OH, MN, AZ, TX, IA, NE, CO, SD, ND, WY, UT, MT, CA, OR, WA, and BC. He maintains a long mailing list from these regions and schedules at least 100 shows a year. He has performed at many festivals around the country and major venues from coast to coast including the House of Blues Chicago main-stage, the Mishawaka Amphitheatre in Colorado, Camp Zoe in Missouri, Summer Camp in Illinois and Horning’s Hideout Amphitheatre in Oregon. Summer of 2008 he was featured at 15 music festivals around the country. Summer of 2009 looks to be even bigger, having already played prime-time main stage slots at Cavefest and Chicago's Metronome Celebration street festival, along with 8(!) appearances at this year's Summer Camp Festival on a bill with Willie Nelson, Los Lobos, Umphreys McGee, Moe, Les Claypool, Keller Williams, John Scofield, Cornmeal, etc. He was also featured at the 2009 Bonnaroo festival with an hour long 10pm friday set in the gap between the Beastie Boys & Phish.
Jaik has moved well over 15,000 CDs by hand with no outside assistance, one by one, hand to fan. His song “Leaving Vancouver” was featured on the front page of the Chicago Sun Times website accompanying an article and a 2 page photograph in the paper itself. His song Checks & Balances was featured on Neil Young's website for over a year. He is featured on the Mo’ Phunk Records compilation “Re-Fuel Your Soul” along with groups like Stroke 9 (top 10 hit “Little Black Backpack”) and Lucky Boys Confusion (Elektra records). A new album is in the works for 2009.
Jaiks 4-octave voice stretches out in vocal solos and scatting over his high-energy acoustic guitar work on original songs that are accessible and lyrically intriguing. The focus is on keeping the show fun for the audience.
Jaik is an educated musician, having trained at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Illinois and California State Universities' music departments, and in Hollywood's Musician's Institute as their youngest student when he was 16 years-old. He spent all of his teen-age years practicing 10-16 hours per day. After studying jazz and Euro-classical music, Jaik received an ethno-musicology/ anthropology degree with a thesis on microtonal guitar music from Mauritania. He is always seeking performance opportunities and new avenues forward for his music.
Thanks for coming out this past weekend to JelEniz in Mattoon ! Loved your music, hope to see you again real soon !! Until Then, Work Hard & Rock On !!!
you look like your going to have a great weekend....chicago farmer and American Taxi!! enjoy your time spent with those fantastic musicians...I am looking foreward to hangin out with you next week...be well brother...
havent seen you or ur beard n a few....rweady for miles miles (prairie ccrossroads) grand opening on Halloween.....u n its gonna be an easy ridin sushi vince willis taxi night.....and im lookin forward to it....peace and safe travelin bro...
man i havent been to chicago...ever. we have been wanting to make it up there. i will most definitely let you know if we do. it would be good to see you again.
So good to meet you finally in person...I hope your weekend in stl was good...I had to work the Taste of St. Louis after cave and I was wore out by the end....I will send those pics soon and I have a show in Matoon on the 6 of nov...You want to Join? Send me a message and we can figure it out I dont know what you need for $$$ so think about it...be well....
ahh.. damn. i just spent a whole day learning something else. whatever now i;ll know 2 ways. good night sir. and sweet sweet heavenly dreams. dreams of frosted unicorn horns and golden delights of never ending happiness and glee that goes on forever and ever reaching a point of bursting, into a million tiny smiley faces that sing songs about the greatness of life.
hey, what chords do you have for lonesome when you go. A C#m D. that sound right? and once again you are such an inspiration, i've been practicing new songs for hours on end lately. hope to catch you soon man. have fun. peace.
crazy good show at down on the river. you should come kick it at my crib in chilli the next time you're down here. we always got a spare room for you. peace and love
What's up Jaik, Waldemere Revival says, "hey, and thanks for slipping the CD in my pocket." Hope we get a chance to hang out again." Later. TWR- Johnny, Steve, Corey, Justin, Baker
