Jason and the Beast (is back in the studio)

Bio:

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For booking, press, and more call or email Jason: 314-852-5725, jason.lee.braun@gmail.com

"Few would have predicted Jason Braun's evolution from ne'er-do-well barfly and open-mic hipster into a full-blown spoken-word beat maestro. As leader of Jason and the Beast, he more than dabbles in hyper-literary, name-check science, declaiming his rhymes over heady hip-hop arrangements, courtesy of Jerry Hill and Mic Boshans (among others), who proudly claim to use "no stolen samples." Braun's heroes remain the Beats, Bukowski and the Bard; his own voice is getting tougher and more musical with every performance. (RK)." -The Riverfront Times

"Sometimes you gamble and lose, but let it be known that Jason Braun played the odds and won. Birth of the Beast is in some ways a spiritual successor to his former outfit Jupiter Jazz, and in other ways a blurring of lines that will draw praise and criticism with the same fluidity. With a plethora of local musicians behind him and a mini comic book inked by Matt Kindt, Braun has fathered one of least wack releases to come from the St. Louis scene in some time. Concepts always have the potential to weigh down an album, and cynics will say that choosing the sonnet form comes off as a fast grab in the nearly empty bag of hip-hop gimmicks, but it's hard to objectively hate what's going on here. Rarely, if ever, does the structure cause a lyrical obstruction, and it's a good thing because with the "man versus self" element and the mini comic also at play, it's not hard to imagine things becoming inaccessible. Thankfully, they're kept in check. To some, they'll be enthralling and to others framework and garnish. It's refreshing Braun didn't let things get out of hand. Braun enlisted members of Arts and Sciences and DJ Uptown, among others, to provide the beats, and the result is somewhere between Blackalicious and Atmosphere. Braun's flow is strong and the production isn't Saturday morning hip-hop; there are no songs about ill vacations but five introspective tracks that are definitely inspired. For a first release, Birth of the Beast is more than what anyone would expect. With an LP release due sometime in 2009, Jason and the Beast have set themselves up to catch ears and minds alike. The only thing missing are the beat poet segments that pepper their live performances...but that's not calling Birth of the Beast a table with one short leg by any means." Bryan J. Sutter, Playback Magazine

"Jason Braun fancies himself more of a poet than a rapper; he makes that much clear with the references found on his debut EP's opening track, "The Beast in the Bookhouse." By beginning with a Samuel Johnson quote and name-checking Ken Kesey and the Beat poets, Braun posits his project as an effort to bring literary sensibilities to hip-hop rhymes. Not a bad idea, though mixing a lit major's fever dreams with hip-hop's palette is a little like giving the Decemberists a drum machine and a sampler. At times he comes off more like Soul Coughing's M. Doughty than a member of the Anticon collective, but the boho poetry mixes well with auxiliary instrumentalists (which include the Floating City's drummer, Mic Boshans, and ex-Ghost in Light drummer/RFT clubs editor Shae Moseley). The slowed-down, spoken-word "Letter to Brooklyn" is the best of the bunch — Braun's lyrics are given space to breathe, and the kitchen-sink mix of turntable scratches, vintage keys and bang-on-a-can percussion fits the hodgepodge aesthetic of the EP. This vibe carries through to the disc's packaging, which includes a visual complement to the music: a comic book created by Braun and artist Matt Kindt." Christian Schaeffer, The Riverfront Times

"Shakespeare could groove to modern poet's hip-hop beat." Teri Maddox, Belleville News Democrat

"Braun boasts a rap resume that includes a run with the popular jazz/hip-hop group Jupiter Jazz, a gig that landed him opening spots for B.B. King, The Black Crowes, and others. Though that group disbanded a few years back, Braun says Jason and the Beast is the creative outlet he's been craving and he's more committed than ever to showing young audiences that poets like Shakespeare can still entertain with the best of them." Chris Files/ Toastedrav.com

"Jason and the Beast have one goal, to prove that hip-hop is poetry. With an impressive collective of musicians behind him, the titular Jason employs a man vs. self approach that evokes not only Shakespeare but Sage Francis and Saul Williams." Bryan J. Sutter, Playback STL

"The crowd that gathered as Jason and the Beast took the stage Thursday night expressed intrigue and anticipation. Once the show began, the audience was impressed and it remained that way for the duration of the performance. By the end of the show, all in attendance appeared to be blown away."
Suzanne M. Rogers, The Current

"While the novelty and uniqueness of Birth of a Beast are sometimes a bit much, the band does a good job of making a name for itself, setting it apart from other generic hip-hop. Braun's lyrics are also hipster-esque at times, but will be appreciated by the right audience. Overall, the band has done a successful job with its first EP and will find its niche in due time." Katie Currid, The Maneater

"...Jason Braun incorporates references to English author Samuel Johnson and American novelist Ken Kesey, he keeps things from getting too highbrow with lyrics that detail hipster angst and wheat beer on the group's debut EP The Birth of the Beast. Musically, the Beast relies on Atari synthesizers and turntable scratches for a modern, though weighty, mood. Braun declares that "there are no stolen samples." Instead, a growing cadre of musicians generates the unique and rhythmic sound that includes drums, horns, vocals, and vibes."
Susan L. Small, 88.1 KDHX



Click here to view the Birth of the Beast EP comic book and lyrics.

Interview on ToastedRav.com


The Riverfront Times describes Jason's poetry as "bluesy syncopation and hallucinations of grace triggered by lust and liquor."

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About the musicians collaborating with Jason:

“First Flight Records flagshippers The Floating City call their sound "baroque-rock." With guitar squalls and layers of strings and keys, the band's moody, languorous post-rock builds like early Radiohead and emotes like the cream of the now-defunct Rockville Records (i.e., Uncle Tupelo) at its heyday.” Julie Seabaugh, The Riverfront Times

"Since reconfiguring itself as a trio, Ghost in Light has become quite comfortable (and more adept) at integrating doses of throttling post-rock and dynamic volume shifts with its quieter moments. Buzzing keyboards, harmonic latticework and spidery riffs abound." — Annie Zaleski, The Riverfront Times

“The St. Louis ensemble Jupiter Jazz offers one of the more intriguing and experimental musical blends on the contemporary scene, blending rap and spoken word inserts with funk, fusion and jazz-based instrumentals. The results are something that truly doesn’t sound remotely like anything you’ll hear on either the traditional acoustic music front or the established hip-hop scene.” Ron Wynn, Nashville City Paper

"With apologies to our musical friends in Hair, this is the dawning of the age of Jupiter. Ju-pi-ter! Jupiter Jazz performs its own fusion of live hip-hop and spoken-word poetry. JJ has played with B.B. King, the Black Crowes, the Wallflowers, 4th Avenue Jones and Robert Randolph, so it's shocking that this is the group's very first CD...The stars have aligned!" Kristyn Pomranz, The Riverfront Times

About Matt Kindt, the artist/designer:

"Matt has worn just about every hat in comics: writing, drawing, and designing his own Super Spy graphic novels like 2 Sisters and Pistolwhip, which earned Harvey Nominations for both Best Graphic Novel and Best New Talent and made it onto Time magazine's Top 10 graphic novels of 2001." Nick Main, Playback STL

Member Since:

January 23, 2008

Members:

There are no stolen samples here. The team producing and co-producing beats with Jason Braun is growing daily, but as of June 26th it is:

Jerry Hill/ DJ Uptown (Produced a number of tracks)
Mic Boshans (Drums, Found Object Percussion)
Elaine Holtz (Keys)
Dan Meehan (Guitar, Keys, Bass)
Dan McKenzie (Fife, Bass, Vibes, Atari)
Emily Sudholt (Vocals)
Josh Evans (Engineering/ Bass/ Guitar)
Shae Moseley (Drums, Bass, Backing Vocals)
Will Jones (Producing/ Engineering)
Dustin Sendejas (French Horn)
Jon Weiss (Trombone, Tuba)
Matt Kindt (Design and Illustration)

Sounds Like:

Webster's definition of Hip-Hop:

1: a subculture especially of inner-city youths who are typically devotees of rap music
2: the stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rap; also: rap together with this music— hip–hop adjective


Webster's definition of Sonnet:

a fixed verse form of Italian origin consisting of 14 lines that are typically 5-foot iambics rhyming according to a prescribed scheme; also: a poem in this pattern

Record Label:

Unsigned