JEFF ROSS:
A restless soul from the very start, singer/songwriter Jeff Ross wandered from the pastures and potato fields of his childhood to the narrow streets of New York City. The soundtrack to the journey was a medley of Bluegrass and Folk, Motown and British rockers. Inspiration might have come from Roger Miller or, just as easily, Dave Clark but it was always clear that music was the best method of expression.
As lead guitarist for Lou Reed in the mid 1970’s Ross was embedded in the New York underground. Picking up tricks along the way from guitar greats like Mick Ronson and Rick Derringer he has acquired his skills playing and recording with the likes of Eddie Kendricks, The Wailers, and others. In virtually every iconic studio from New York City to Berlin, he has worked with hit producers Dennis Ferrante, Jack Douglas and John Jansen. A seasoned live performer, Ross practices his craft at countless shows from New York to Hamburg, Nantucket to Berlin, the Caribbean and back. He says, “It doesn’t matter if there are five, 50 or 5,000 people, you play each show like it might be your last.” That is the spirit that informs “Only Your Voice”. Take the journey and enjoy.
ONLY YOUR VOICE:
Recorded at Nashville’s Sound Emporium and co-produced with lifelong friend and Americana Music cognoscente Robertson Stokes, Jeff’s new album features some of Music City’s finest players – including luminaries Jerry Douglas (14x Grammy winner, Union Station, Earl Of Leicester), mandolin wizard and 'King of Telluride' Sam Bush (Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Tony Rice, David Grisman) and fiddle player Luke Bulla (Lyle Lovett, Ricky Scaggs, Coral Creek). The band, comprised of Guthrie Trapp on electric guitar (Garth Brooks, Allison Kraus, John Oates), keyboardist John Deaderick (The Dixie Chicks, James Taylor, Michael McDonald), Steve Mackey on bass (Trisha Yearwood, Delbert McClinton, Wallflowers), mando and high string guitarist Todd Lombardo (Taylor Swift, Vince Gill, Zach Brown) and tracking drummer Pete Abbott (AWB, Keb Mo', Will Lee) brought every ounce of talent and experience to the sessions. Drummers Tommy Diehl, Wes Little and Chris Brown each left their magical mark. Trombonist Roy Agee of Prince fame blew everyone's mind and Angel Snow lent her voice for some angelic harmonies. Mixed by 4x Grammy winner Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton) at Sputnik Sound and by Stokes (Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas) at The Sound Emporium, the album captures both the Yin and the Yang of Jeff's gemini-anima.
The self-penned songs represent Ross’ irrepressible, face-forward attitude toward the trials and tribulation of a life spent as a musician, a loner, a lover, a parent, a child, but most importantly, a performer, who has traveled the world, guitar in hand. Only Your Voice is a journal of relationships in all their promise; the cozy warm bubble of new love (“Trippin”), the peaks and valleys (“Payphone” and “Blinded Again”, signs of trouble (“Morgan Square”), the end (“Let You Go”). The musical styles too, range. Positive and catchy, “Rainbows” sets the tone for this assemblage, a deep hopeful intake of breath. Cool exuberant reggae (“Wanna Love”), poppy heartland rock (“Payphone”), Beatlesque overtones “Fading Is a Time”), irresistible Americana harmonies (“Blinded Again”). The songs are a reflex of the experience.
