JPR: vocals, acoustic guitars, bass, cajón, Strumstick, tenor banjo, frame drum, snare, and the percussion bag o’ tricks
Andy Rodgers: tenor ukulele, eight-string baritone ukulele, backing vocals
Hanna Richardson: backing vocals
Jesse Collins: saxophone
Lisa Gentile: duet and backing vocals
Joe Cleveland: five-string banjo
Linda Stout: backing vocals
Lila Rodgers: violin
David Hamburger: slide guitar
Phil Robertson: drums
Influences
As a kid, the classic singer-songwriters, from James Taylor to Paul Simon to Neil Young...great groove music from Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind, and Fire...Beatles, natch...and plenty of Grateful Dead through high school and college. Other inspirations: Tom Waits, Bruce Cockburn, Ani DiFranco, David Grisman, Gillian Welch, Elliott Smith, Chris Whitley, Kelly Joe Phelps, A.R. Rahman... Music with passion and creativity and a real point of view.
Sounds Like
Winner of the 2008 Lennon Award--and a grand prize--in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
"Folk music with a serrated edge...a magical blend of storytelling and driving flattop guitar.
--Andy Ellis, music journalist (Guitar Player, Frets)
"Songs that fill the senses..."
--Mark Bialczak, The Post-Standard
"Dangerously close to genius without the bad aftertaste... Amazing set of songs."
--Dusty Pas'cal
"Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers balances solemnity with an almost-hidden playfulness in this music. The melodies are spare and direct, and three strings are seldom used when only one is called for. Give him a listen."
--Peter Mulvey
"Original, varied, and engaging."
--David Cantor, GoodSound!
"Beautiful original songs...Humming My Way Back Home is an album to listen to when you want to contemplate the everyday things of life."
--Rootstime (Belgium)
The new CD, Humming My Way Back Home, is here! Featuring "Fly," winner of the 2008 Lennon Award--and a grand prize--in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Join the email list to hear all the songs online and download free tracks.
More about the CD, including printable lyrics, here.
I've been writing and playing original songs since I was a teenager. Along the way I have performed at San Francisco clubs with the quartet Heavy Wood, released the solo CD Traveling Songs, scored a rock musical...and played tabla in a TV commercial in India.
I really enjoyed listening to your songs and your guitar work was great. I'm glad we had a chance to talk, and hopefully I can get down for the Showcase tomorrow. Charles
Finally got a chance to listen to all the songs! And They're all super'b! Great production too. Need to get my hands on a CD now! Good to see you're performing as well...will hope to catch up with you sometime later this year..hope and pray for all the best! The best is yet to come... meanwhile you can check some of TAAQ's new music up at thermalandaquarter dot in
We announced 77 performers for the Utica Music Fest! For a list of bands and their profiles please visit us at www. uticamusicfest. com or check out our blogs.
Bands::: Interested in playing the festival?? Click the link!
Early Bird tickets are now on sale! See 150 bands for only $10! Click the link!
