Great Story by Jefferson Jay

"Dragonberath" calls for personal accountability and communal responsibility. It is also and affirmation of faith, culminating with the picturesque call to action, "Your world, it's you it needs, so like a dragon, breathe."

Track 4, Molasses Man is by far the most Zappa reminiscent song on the "Great Story." This is according to many people, including Great Story mastering engineer John Golden who worked with Frank Zappa himself in Zappa's studio. Molasses Man is an anthem for procrastination.

Track 5, Rex the Tune is a tribute to nature and the inspiration that the river, the mountains, the sunset, a fire and ultimately a reunion with God provides us with daily. Rex the Tune is a funky, bass-driven groove and also provides an arc over the entire concept, in the same manner that the title track does.

Track 6, BRAINjam, is a 10 minute extended funk jam with wild and vivid imagery throughout the lyrics and a dramatic and final conclusion. Cheetahs, lions, gnomes, skeletons, and wizards wind through the dark hallways within a human mind before sprouting wings and arriving at the ultimate destination.

Track 7, Love Won't Hold Back is a soft jazz ballad and the love theme of the "Great Story". Sung with a guitar on the beach in the aftermath of ecstacial bliss, the story's hero serenades the woman who he is in love with just before the story's two heroes arrive at the pivotal moment of their life together.

Track 8, Shhhh... is probably the hardest tune to describe on the album musically because it is unlike anything else. "Shhhh..." is Jefferson Jay at his most original and thriving. The mantra, "I know I like to ride my bike right into the bushes" is a comment about the blatant trouble people often compulsively seek. Within the context of the album it is a conversation between two people from different parts of the world meeting and establishing common ground,

Track 9, Simple Song is a long, slow funk jam, the continuation (after a good night's sleep) of the conversation in "Shhhh..." This explosive song is set in a teach-in that grows exponentially. The harmonica solo by Richie Blue is unquestionably one of the album's musical high points. It is transcendent and one of the finest harmonica solos available anywhere, a climactic moment that punctuates the album perfectly.

Track 10, Wooden Boats, is a story about the way things once were. Wooden boats became largely obsolete yet they were arguably far superior and certainly more organic than the litany of plastic boats that replaced them. Wooden Boats is soft like the calm at the center of the sea with heavier changes that crash decks like violent wave. Another of the album's most unique compositions, a classical guitar solo and ringing trumpets take the listener back.

Track 11, Love Song 64 is a metal song with two powerful funky changes. The album's final song is its second love song, but it is anything but a ballad. It is by far the heaviest song on the "Great Story." Musically, the farewell is a raging duel guitar solo panned hard left and right. Lyrically, "I love you," are the last words that ring as the story ends.

Jefferson Jay - Vocals, Guitars - Tracks 1-11 - Belly - Track 6 - Keys - Track 8

Damon Stoll - Bass - Tracks 1-11

Phillip Palmejar - Drums - Tracks 1-6 and 8-11

Jane Lui - Vocals - Tracks 1-3 and 7

Kevin "Baby" Hewett - Keyboards - Track 1

Conga Mas - Congas - Tracks 1, 4, 6 and 8-11 - Vocals - Tracks 3 and 9

Simeon Flick - Lead Guitar - Tracks 1, 7-9 and 11

Sir Peter Nairn - Tracks 2, 3 and 7

Soul Man - Guiro - Tracks 2-5 and 9 - Shaker - Tracks 7 and 10

Carlos Vasquez - Drums - Track 7

Mark Cavanugh - Congas - Track 2 - Tambourine - Track 3 - Vocals - Tracks 2 and 3

Pete Kelly - Lead Guitar - Tracks 5, 6 and 11

Richie Blue - Harmonica - Tracks 6 and 9

Johnny Ciccolella - Keyboards - Tracks 3, 7, 9 and 10 - Flamenco Guitars - Track 10

Isaac Tubb - Trumpets - Track 10

Produced by Jefferson Jay

All songs written by Jefferson Jay except "Running Out of Time" by Jefferson Jay/Peter Nairn

Average Customer Review: