Jez Graham - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Grew up in New York, Stockbridge Massachusetts, and Berkeley California. Started gigging at age 14, began writing around the same time. Lived in L.A. from 79-88.High points in L.A. included starting and co-leading Section 8 and The Now,auditioning for Frank Zappa, being one of the house pianists at the Comedy Store, playing with Shuggie Otis, Ronnie Specter, Darlene Love, Martha Reeves, The Honey's, and being produced by Tommy Dunbar. I co-wrote Emerald Eyes and Miracle Cure with Tommy.They are on Garage Sale- In 1985/86 Tommy and I spent lots of time in the studio recording my songs as well as playing in a band called Carol and the Dudes. Thanks to Tommy's production,guitar, and vocals along with some help from Jon Rubin, Jason Keene and other friends, I was able to live out my Pop Dream. To hear 5 tracks from these sessions go to-http://www.jezgraham.com/popdream.htmlIn April of 88 my wife and I headed south to raise our family. We love it here.It was here in Atlanta that I re-connected with the spark that got me into playing in the first place. I am filled with gratitude every day for my family life and to be able to play music with so many wonderful musician's. My debut cd-Lovebrain was released in 1994. I wrote it and played and sang most of the parts along with the great Trumpet playing of Matt"Atlanta"Bliss of Prince's Paisley Park Horns and on 2 songs my cohorts from my first Atlanta band True Grits-Cooper Tisdale, Winn Sizemore and Miike Hinton who drummed on several cuts and has played on 5 of my 7 cd's. In 2004 I recorded a solo piano tribute to Brian Wilson called Jez Loves You. In early 2006 I recorded JLY2. They remain my proudest solo piano accomplishments, though they have never been released. June 30th 2006 marked the release of You Can Soar, an album of original songs that I have written with the Poet/Lyricist Stephen Kalinich. 2007 marked the re-issue of my first and most personal cd Lovebrain. It is available on itunes, Rhapsody and other fine digital distribution outlets. I continue to play many gigs in Atlanta and the southeast with Del Baroni's On The Air, Francine Reed, and with my jazz trio's. For more info check my website www.jezgraham.com and/or my blog- http://jezsez.blogspot.com/

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/30/2006
Band Website: JezGraham.com
Band Members: Jez Graham- Wonderful-Written By Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks Feel Flows Written By Carl Wilson/Jack Reilly Bad Moon Rising written by John FogertyThe You Tube clips feature- Jez and Bill Graham at Sacred Tapestry- Jez (me) on Piano-Jerry Fields-Drums and Percussion-Bill Hatcher-6 string electric Bass Guitar-Neal Starkey-Acoustic Bass, Mike Hinton-Drums,PapaMichael World Group-Live at Crossroads-PapaMichael-Guitar/ leader/Sam Skelton-Sax/Joe Reda-Bass/Melvin Baldwin/Drums/Chuck Bithorn/Percussion/Jez Graham/Keys- Written and Arranged by Anthony PapaMichael
Influences: Mindy, Janna, and Bill Graham, My Parent’s, My Brother, My Uncle, My Cousin, The Marx Brother’s, The Beach Boy’s, Buster Keaton, Bill Evan’s, Thelonious Monk, Mike Schiffer, John Sauer, Tommy Mars, Art Lande, Keith Jarret, Martin Luther King, Frank Zappa and all the musicians who played with him, Jimmy Webb, Jimmy Smith, Stephen Kalinich, The Beatle’s, Todd Rundgren, Laura Nyro, Harold Lloyd, Charles Lloyd, Marvin Gaye, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, Richard Rodgers, E.Y. Harburg , Roger Powell, Allaudin Mathieu, Dennis Leiberson, Shakti, Elvis Presley, Stu Goldberg, Benzi Bornshtein, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Sly and The Family Stone, Kenny Aronoff, Irving Berlin, Bob Newman, Prince, Woody Allen, L.Shankar, Ed Mann, Carli Munoz, Jaco Pastorious, Flo and Eddie, Elvis Costello, Ant Bee, The first Ant Bea, Frank Sinatra, Bill Miller, Garth Hudson, Ravi Shankar, John Coates, Mr. Roger’s, Johnny Costa, Nat King Cole, Johnny Miller, Carol Kaye, Billy Cobham, Lenny White, Stanley Clarke, James Jamerson, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Bobby Robles, Vistor Bisetti, Ayurveda, Lenny Bruce, Shuggie Otis, Francine Reed, Tom Grose,Mel Brooks, Rick Nelson,The Ghost and Mr. Chicken,The Incredible Mister Limpet, Deepok Chopra, The Wizard Of Oz, Silver Lake, Candlewood Lake, Gary Lambert, Ann’s Cafe, Billy’s Deli, The first Bill Graham, WGRG, KSAN, Poco, The Kink’s, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, David Sancious, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, J.S.Bach, Elton John, Jerry Lee Lewis, Leon Russell, Stevie Wonder, Hampton Hawes, The Rubinoo’s, The Rainbow Quartet, Alan Alda, Mash, Art Tatum, Randy Newman, George Duke, Duke Ellington, Bill Hatcher, David Steinberg, Fitzhugh Jenkins, Miles Davis and all the musician’s who played with him, Stone Mountain, The Berkshires, The Pacific Ocean, Unity, You
Sounds Like: Please enjoy these selections- Thursday-written by Graham/Pooser/Hinton-Performed by The Trio-Jez-Piano-Ramon Pooser-Bass-Drums-Mike Hinton-From the 1998 cd-ThursdayFrom the 2006 cd-You Can Soar Goodness Music-Jez-Lyrics-Stephen Kalinich c 2006/Jezsongs/Steve Kalinich Music. Jez-Lead and background vocals, Rhodes, Moog Bass,Piano Will Bernard-Guitar Francine Reed-Vocals Jennifer Ferren-Vocals Chuck Bithorn-Conga,Tamborine Bill Graham-Vocals,Horn Arrangment Sam Skelton-Tenor Sax Richard Bell-Tenor Sax Bob Lewis-TrombonePleasure Island-Written by Jez in 1993-This version is from LoveBrain-1994-All Instruments and vocals-Jez, Vocals-Fred CrosbyBillys Deli Written by Jez Graham-Produced by Tommy Dunbar- Jez-Vocals,Keys, Tommy Dunbar-Guitar, Keys,drum programming,, Jason Keene-Bass- recorded in Hollywood by Bill Watson in 1985The Race Card- Written by Jez Graham-Jez-Piano, Rhodes/Steve Mays-Bass/Bill Shirk-Drums
Record Label: Independent
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Currently listening to-

Inara George-An Invitation with Van Dyke ParksThis is the daughter of Little Feat founder and former member of The Mothers-Lowell George. The arrangements by Van Dyke Parks are out of this world.Will ...
Posted by Jez Graham on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:02:00 PST

Recent Transcendent Gig Moments

One of the highest musical moments of recent days fro me occurred yesterday at a barbecue that we played on the porch at St. Dunston's. It was when Rick Burgess played and sang the Robert Johnson song...
Posted by Jez Graham on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:46:00 PST

Trip to Charleston

Actually the gig was on Kiawah Island, we played a beautiful wedding with our backs to the coast. It was so nice to be near the water.On the way there and back I heard some great tunes on my trusty mp...
Posted by Jez Graham on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:30:00 PST

Jazz Piano Summit

On October 19th it will be my honor to participate again in the 2nd annual GSU Jazz Piano Summit. Last year I played in a Piano duo with the great Tyrone Jackson who you can hear most Tuesday's at Twa...
Posted by Jez Graham on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:19:00 PST

Great Drum instructional DVD

Okay, one last thing on TLOS. Just keep listening to it, It will make you happy, The vibe is so great and the sound is pure timeless Brian Wilson. I do want to make one correction to my earlier blog. ...
Posted by Jez Graham on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:37:00 PST

More on TLOS

Listening to the physical CD was a real treat. I highly recommend this disc for anyone who has ever been moved by the music of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. It's almost like the record I was always...
Posted by Jez Graham on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:30:00 PST

That Lucky Old Sun

That Lucky Old Sun is the new Brian Wilson album. It will be released on Sept 2nd on Capital records.Here's my take on TLOS. I have been listening to the stream on and off for several days and I have ...
Posted by Jez Graham on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:44:00 PST

Musicians In Small Spaces

So it's the first day of school , traditionally a good day for blogging so here goes. Summer is so much fun, As I have said before this was the best Band Camp ever. My amazing wife does the best job o...
Posted by Jez Graham on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:15:00 PST

Catching Up

Band Camp 08 was the best one yet. That means we have one more next year(our 7th year) and we will retire as our raising High School kids era will be over. So we are really enjoying it. It's fun to se...
Posted by Jez Graham on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:41:00 PST

Band Camp

It's Band Camp season again and time to water the band, See you in August.
Posted by Jez Graham on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:06:00 PST