Top tracks
Other Modern Folk albums
Other California Pop albums
Put your hands on the remote! browse music »The Washington Waltz by Jess Grant
view larger image
fave it Modern Folk | California Pop
11 tracks | 38 minutes
Released Dec 2006
on Bristling Barnacle Music
Click
for a 30-second preview. All tracks are 192kbps high fidelity sound quality. Protected WMA $0.77 or unprotected MP3 $0.88.
listen album 30sec. shuffle buy CD review album promote album
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:26 The Washington Waltz lyrics BUY MP3 03:26 The Washington Waltz lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:26 The Washington Waltz
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:55 Auto Shop lyrics BUY MP3 02:55 Auto Shop lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:55 Auto Shop
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:20 Another Lost Evening lyrics BUY MP3 02:20 Another Lost Evening lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:20 Another Lost Evening
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:23 Buddy the Barnacle lyrics BUY MP3 04:23 Buddy the Barnacle lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:23 Buddy the Barnacle
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:25 For my Foreskin lyrics FREE 03:25 For my Foreskin lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:25 For my Foreskin
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:07 My Birthright lyrics BUY MP3 04:07 My Birthright lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:07 My Birthright
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:53 Jose Caballero lyrics BUY MP3 02:53 Jose Caballero lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:53 Jose Caballero
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:36 Thumbin' Through the Personals lyrics BUY MP3 02:36 Thumbin' Through the Personals lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:36 Thumbin' Through the Personals
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:27 Hands lyrics BUY MP3 03:27 Hands lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:27 Hands
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 06:16 Sailor's Song lyrics BUY MP3 06:16 Sailor's Song lyrics "GIFT MP3" 06:16 Sailor's Song
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:45 Why Don't You Leave Me? lyrics BUY MP3 02:45 Why Don't You Leave Me? lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:45 Why Don't You Leave Me?
"A wealth of fresh, original ideas...one outrageous or innovative idea after another." Victory Music Review
Bio / Background
Jess Grant writes songs that provoke and amuse, fusing lyrical intensity with diverse pop styles and working-class ethics. Raised by a father who’s tone-deaf and a mother who called sheet music “those little black dots with lines,” Jess had to look elsewhere for musical inspiration. He was drawn to the stories sung by folk singers like Ed McCurdy, the Kingston Trio, Harry Belafonte, Joan Baez and the Weavers.
Driving cross-country as a kid, Jess would look forward to hearing rock’n’roll hits like the Rolling Stones’ Satisfaction and Chuck Berry's Memphis. In high school he took up the piano and his imagination was captured by the music of Jethro Tull, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, David Bowie, Paul Simon, early Supertramp and early Genesis.
Jess’ own music has changed over the years, and his songwriting has grown more focused.
↓ more ↓Starting out on piano in high school, he switched to bass for a couple of years before finally settling into his current position of rhythm guitarist and lead singer. Some of Jess’ favorite performing songwriters currently include Graham Parker, Steve Earle, Ani Difranco, Richard Thompson, Bruce Cockburn, Joan Jett, Utah Phillips, Delbert McClinton, Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, and James McMurtry.
Jess tackles topics that would stump a lesser songwriter, and his shows invariably elicit some uncomfortable titters. “For my Foreskin” is a cutting but humorous critique of circumcision; “Oh Victoria” is a lovelorn look at lingerie catalogs and the self-pleasure they can provide; “Elvis and the Magi” recasts the Nativity tale with Elvis Presley in the holy infant’s role; and “Living in the Harem” is told in the voice of a eunuch living among a rich man’s wives. Not songs for the faint of heart – but luckily Jess writes plenty of love songs too.
Career Spotlights:
· "For My Foreskin" -- Best Original Song (TLCTugger Contest, 2006)
· Featured performer at the 9th Int'l Symposium on Circumcision (2006)
· Leader of Jett City (the world’s only tribute to Joan Jett)
· “My Birthright” -- finalist in the Tumbleweed Festival’s song contest (2005)
· Featured performer at the IWW’s 2005 Centenary Celebration (Vancouver BC)
· Appeared at Seattle’s NW Folklife Festival (2005)
· “Auto Shop” -- heard on NPR's Car Talk (2004)
· “Hands” -- title track on Normajean Jacob’s CD (independent release, 2003)
· Studied with Steve Seskin at the Sisters Songwriting Academy (2002)
· Opened for artists Utah Phillips, John Trudell, Jello Biafra, & Penelope Houston
Discography
The Washington Waltz (full-length acoustic CD on Bristling Barnacle Music, 2003)
Oh Victoria (rock EP on Bristling Barnacle Music, 2003)
↑ less ↑




