Tom Waits, Dan Hicks, Randy Newman, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Jolie Holland, Django Reinhardt, The Mills Brothers, Duke Ellington, Bonnie Raitt, Mama Cass, Bessie Smith, Jimi Hendrix, Memphis Minnie, Ella Fitzgerald, Dr. John, The Stray Cats, Chet Baker, Bob Dylan, Sarah Vaughn, Elvis, Hank Williams, Charlie Christian, The Pixies, Miles Davis, The Lunachicks, Joni Mitchell...
Named by the Boston Globe as a "Local on the Verge" for 2008, Miss Tess is a young, Boston-based performing songwriter. Aptly naming her style “Modern Vintage” , her music bridges eras and genres. Miss Tess is celebrating being named “Outstanding Folk Artist of the Year” at the December Boston Music Awards. The Folk part was a surprise but the award is much appreciated. She has been nominated for another BMA this year, this time in the jazz category
Miss Tess has just released her fifth album, "Darling, Oh Darling", a collection of original songs, drawing inspiration from many roots genres including swing, blues, jazz, country, and folk.
Brian Tucker of Bootleg Magazine on the new album:
"Miss Tess has grace, and the chops, to deliver an album of new material brimming with ‘30’s era jazz and swing or bouncing energy of the 1950’s. Tess sounds transported from decades past without ending up a caricature. She’s sultry, sassy, fun, and all heart. While steeped in the era that spawned Fats Waller or Bessie Smith she’s completely her own voice, capable of stepping outside traditional sounds altogether.
She’s grown leaps and bounds since the 2007’s Modern Vintage - her voice warmer and more lighthearted, and variety on Darling, Oh Darling is abundant. All of the songs are written by Miss Tess, no covers or standards here, the material ranging from steamy jazz to swing and country rave-ups. Her voice is what the word romantic means; the sound easily a soundtrack to relationships at their best or a little rocky. It’s uplifting and caressing; imagine Sade or Linda Ronstadt performing in the Jazz Age.. The band is tight, the playing sharp and steadfastly inspired.
‘Oh No’ sonically informs the ear to what’s at work here. It begins monotone, as if pouring out from an old radio, then comes forward in stereo, how we’re used to hearing music. It’s fuller, richer, and regardless, it still sounds timeless and effervescent. Miss Tess doesn’t stick to a single period, from the country stroll of ‘Love’ to the on-fire swagger of ‘That Oo Oo Oo,’ the rockabilly showstopper ‘I Don’t Want to See You Anymore’ or the carnival feel of ‘Time Can Take the Pain Away.’ Parts of Darling, Oh Darling are downright sexy, like moments of new love and candlelit rooms, notably the heavy horns and easy tempo of ‘Riding Home,’ where her low voice accompanies them, singing “Ridin, Ridin, Ridin home to you/There’s nothing I’d rather do.” It doesn’t get any better, more exemplary, than that. It’s the sound of love, of longing, of someone dug in deep. But Miss Tess illuminates the sadder side with similar strength and earnestness. The title track is a heartbreaker, in which the narrator sings to their lover of not worrying about them leaving, that their love is true. It’s bittersweet, yet tender regardless of its austerity.
What’s imperative, and fantastic, about an artist like Miss Tess is that she sounds real, the music equally real. Her singing is like someone looking you in the eye, the feeling genuine and meaningful. Miss Tess doesn’t attempt to borrow an old style; she exudes a breathy style of performing that’s both timeless and new."
Miss Tess continues to tour around around the country with her backing band, The Bon Ton Parade: Alec Spiegelman (sax & clarinet), Ben Davis (upright bass), Matt Meyer (drums), bringing her sound to theaters, nightclubs, bars, and coffeeshops.
Thanks for the friendship! If you have any favorite Chili pepper songs you would like to hear live we are taking requests. Keep posted for upcoming shows and events soon!!
That was fun last night, and again a very good, very well executed, and good sounding set with some nice, nice songs. Kudos. I posted a vid of "I don't wanna see you anymore" on my MelodyMatters YouTube channel -- some lighting issues, but not bad.... -Bernie
HELLO AND THANX FOR THE NEW CD CASH WILL BE ON THE WAY SOON.GREAT SHOW AS ALWAYS. MANY HAPPY HOLIDAY BLESSINGS. I LOVE WHAT YOU DO TESS. YOUR ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS. I WISH YOU ALL THE SUCESS YOU DESERVE. I PRAY THAT ONE DAY YOU WILL BRING HOME A GRAMMY FOR ALL YOUR HARD AND VALUEABLE WORK-FROSTING ON THE CAKE.....PEACE..CRAZY PETE
How's it going? Wanted to drop you a line to see how life was treating you. I got some new songs that I've posted on my page and I'd love for you to come check them out and let me know what you think. Music is my life but even more important to me is starting new friendships or building on the friendships that I already have. To me, that's what it's all about. So feel free to leave me a comment at anytime and I will always answer back. Hope to hear from you soon!