On the AZALEA album:
Rob Ickes-Dobro;
Jenee Fleenor-Fiddle;
Chuck Fields-Drums and percussion;
Gene Rabbai-Keyboards;
Tiffany Goss-Harmony vocals;
Lisa McCallum-Harmony vocals;
Jefferson Ross-Guitars, bass, harmonica, mandolin, lead vocals, harmony vocals and assorted bells and whistles
Influences
Vintage Van Morrison, Dave Loggins, Merle Haggard, Jonathan Edwards, Nanci Griffith, Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, Bob McDill, Harlan Howard, Guy Clark, Pete Seeger, Buck Owens, Blind Willie McTell, Carter & Ralph Stanley, The Happy Goodman Family, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Reed, James Brown, Dexter Gordon, Jerry Jeff Walker, Townes Van Zandt, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, Clarence White, Steve Goodman, Don McLean, Emmylou Harris, John Starling, Carl Jackson, Oscar Peterson, Larry Sparks, Mahalia Jackson, Billy Preston, Tony Rice, John Hartford, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Lloyd Green, Lyle Lovett, Kenny Hinson, Little Walter, Dan Reeder, John Prine, Nick Drake, Steve Forbert, Bob Dylan, Maura O'Connell, Jerry Douglas, James Jamerson, Bernard Purty, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Tim O'Brien, Al Green, The Allman Brothers, Paul Simon, Muddy Waters, Bill Evans, The Beatles, Otis Redding, Tom Robbins, Walt Whitman, George Whitman, Sylvia Beach, Rodney Crowell, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jack Kerouac, Thomas Wolfe, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Mark Rothko, Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, Jay Odum, Tami Ross and Peyton Ross.
In the spirit of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, Jefferson’s story driven songs paint musical portraits and textures that you will not forget.
Inspired by the people who are devoted to quality and putting in the love, experience and special stuff that sets them apart from the pack, Jefferson, aspiring to inspire has created an album in Azalea that says I’m a southern boy who loves to travel and experience all the world has to offer, but I’m home where the dogwoods and azaleas bloom.
By 16 Jefferson was touring with various Gospel acts. It was during this time he landed a band position with Jimmy Swaggart. He was told, “You’re hired. Get a passport. We’re leaving for Australia next week.” Although gaining invaluable experience as a stage musician, Jefferson identified himself as a songwriter. He’d been writing songs for his church band so it seemed fitting when Jimmy Swaggart cut “Unworthy of The Blood”. “When I found out that people actually make money writing songs, that was it for me!”
Inspired by his Grandaddy’s 8 tracks of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, and his own rootsy musical collection, Jefferson set his sights on Music City. He admits the genre has changed quite a bit since he moved to Nashville but its hard not to love an “excellent lyric married to an organic melody.”
Jeff and his Martin D-18 spent the early part of the 90’s living in Berlin, Germany. “The wall had just come down and the East and West were in a honeymoon period. I have a piece of The Wall I chiseled off myself and it sits on my bookshelf at home.” A few years later he toured with Sam and Annie Tate, Mark Ortmann (of the Bottle Rockets), and Gene Rabbai through Czechoslovakia as Foot Hill Train.
After a cut on Bryan White’s Between Now and Forever album, (On Any Given Night), Jefferson headed out on a weekend gig with Grand Ole Opry member Terri Clark that lasted 10 years and gave him the opportunity to share the stage with Reba, George Strait, Brooks and Dunn, and Toby Keith.
Jefferson came off the road in 2005 to commit to writing full time and give voice to all these stories. Within a few months he landed a staff writing contract with Curb Publishing and 300 songs later is debuting his first studio album, Azalea.
Many thanks for your concern and warm comments - am please to say that, following an unexpected call from the hospital yesterday, resulting in a quick dash and a 26 minute spell in the operating theatre, I am now home, feeling great with everything health wise as it should be!!!! Will be celebrating this weekend - fancy joining me??
Come March I will be fit and ready for anything (I hope!!!!) Expect to have visit to the hospital this Friday and after that everything should be back to normal. Looking forward to your trip across the Pond. Peter.
Enjoyed your show at the Frog & Hummingbird and swappin' stories with ya! It was surely worth the drive! I hope you found the room and the crowd to be as good as I said it was.
Let me know the next time you're in my part of the world & we'll get together for some music, whiskey & hookers (or if your wife reads this we'll get together for some hymns, bible study & a prayer meeting)!
You build good music my brother. Tight lyrics, good imagery, excellent emotive combinations of chord patterns. I'd love to sit and swap some ideas & techniques over a glass or three of Kentucky Cough Medicine! Keep on!
Hi Jeff - I am planning my trip this january (to Nashville) so I guess I'll see you soon! I'll give you a copy of the record as soon as it's done! I love your album by the way!!
Bonjour jefferson Thanks for the friendly add I really appreciate your good sound and music Best wishes from France (Follow me on twitter.com/pascal95 ) Pascal
Any place GOOD in Nashville is fine with me/us! Michele Mei outta Portland, Oregon is booking us as we are coming over for SxSW. Can I send you her details?
Beautiful new song. Well, not completely new...but new again to me. Your songs have a habit of reaching me fresh wherever I am. Very proud to know you and call you friend. Keep inspiring.
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