John Lester profile picture

John Lester

...so many reasons

About Me

REVIEWS- SO MANY REASONS:
The new CD, SO MANY REASONS, has just been released in the United Kingdom with distribution by Proper Music .
The US release will be on September 4, 2007, followed by The Netherlands in December. UK, US, and European tours are now being booked for summer and fall.
Here's what the Brits have to say about "So Many Reasons"...
“Whether you regard him as an acoustic singer/songwriter,
a soulful vocalist, or a superb and innovative bassist,
his talent is undeniable.”
-Ray’s Jazz CDs
”His trademark voice sounds like it has been crafted from
silk and granite, all at the same time!”
-Maverick Magazine (feature article), UK
“…life pondering lyrics and a cosmopolitan sense of humor.”
-Americana-uk.com
“A gifted double bass player… and fine singer-songwriter,
with a rich smokey voice …excellent!”
-Time Out London
“Lester’s USP is his supreme mastery of all possible varieties
of bass guitar and his use of them as lead instruments
…his understated virtuosity demands attention.”
-Maverick Magazine (CD review), UK
“Lester has assembled a stellar cast of musicians to help bring his songs to life and it is here that the album stands out from allot of other ‘bass’ albums”
-Bass Guitar Magazine, UK
“…whatever he's singing he brings conviction and swing to it,
…wonderfully entertaining.”
-www.vortexjazz.co.uk
“…he can even work minor miracles and make a bass solo sound interesting!”
-Jazzwise Magazine (UK)
"A unique blend of jazz and original material from a world class singer/songwriter whose talent and experience make every gig special.
One of the finest exponents of this art form on the scene today
-Steve Rubie, venue owner, The 606 Club, London
REVIEWS- BIG DREAMS AND THE BOTTOM LINE:
BIG DREAMS AND THE BOTTOM LINE was released in 2003 in the US and 2004 in Europe. It features four solo tunes and seven band tracks. Here's a bit of what was said about my first studio CD...
“A bassist and singer extraordinaire, Lester is a rare talent who mixes fine songwriting skills with a husky voice that communicates wisdom far
beyond his years”.
-Good Times Magazine (USA)
“That Lester is doing it on his own is remarkable, that he can stand in the company of Ben Harper and Sting, often outshining them both, is nothing short of a revelation…biting lyricism that cuts quick and deep.”
-Logo Magazine (UK)
“Best lyrical commentary of 2003.” [‘Out of the Clear Blue Sky’]
-Radioio.com/acoustic
“John Lester doesn't just have a great voice, he is a voice!
Great songs that really communicate.”
-KPFA, Berkeley, California
“No, he is not - you might be relieved to know - yet another guitarist
armed with three chords and (their version of) the truth.”
-Folkworld Magazine (GERMANY)
“The music of John Lester has it’s own unmistakable style,
drawing from the best of jazz, folk, and blues.”
-3VOOR12 (THE NETHERLANDS)
"His bass/vocal approach is intriguing and innovative but never gets in the way of the song itself. Genre-defying music."
-Gretchen Peters, Grammy nominated Nashville songwriter
“There is a relaxed riff running through everything, like a jazzy Van Morrison stripped down to the essentials, and the primarily bass accompaniment eases you in, settles you down and gently tells you a poetic story.”
-Ace (UK)
“…a very powerful voice, the sound of absolute clarity.”
-Cinema Musique (FRANCE)
“John Lester evokes comparison to such modern minded contemporaries as Seal, Ben Harper, and Sting with his strong melodies and deep harmonies accented by the bassist's bright overtones and jazz inspired counterpoint.”
-musicworkz.co.uk/jamm
"It's a real treat to hear such a fresh take on the singer-songwriter concept."
-Michael Manring, award winning solo bassist
“A voice like a 2am top shelf scotch.”
-venue owner, Portland, Oregon

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 7/31/2006
Band Website: johnlestermusic.com
Band Members: When I play SOLO, it's me, Sarah my upright bass, and a collection of bass guitars, a loop recorder, and sometimes my Spanish nylon string acoustic guitar (if I can carry it all).

The SAN FRANCISCO TRIO is myself with Bob Johnson on sax and either Steve Rossi or Celso Alberti on drums.

My LONDON TRIO is with Theo Travis on sax/flute and Davide Giovannini or Roy Dodds on drums.

My AMSTERDAM QUARTET features pianist Bas Van Lier.
Influences:
Sounds Like: Make sure to press stop on the music player above before starting video

Solo performance of "Beware La Merde" at the Rochefort en Accords Festival (August 2006):Playing "So Many Reasons" at the Rochefort en Accords Festival in France (August 2006) with guest guitarists Paul Tiernan and Darden Smith:

SOLO BASS/VOCAL/SONGWRITER PERFOMANCES:

When I was in my mid-thirties I discovered, quite by accident, my solo bass and vocal ‘show’. At the heart of the music is my 90 year old upright bass, Sarah. The first time I ever sang and played one of my songs with just her at my side was at a little club in San Francisco called the Hotel Utah around 1995. I sang a simple blues number at an open mic and the enthusiastic reaction from the audience became the catalyst for my continuing to pursue my solo performance career.

Sarah and I have now played throughout the US west coast, New York City, and recently throughout England, France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany. I have played solo support shows for some artists whom I respect very much including Patti Smith, Gretchen Peters, and Jools Holland. I was a featured artist at European Bass Day 2004, played on an all bass UK tour with Michael Manring and Steve Lawson, and was featured at UK Bass Day in 2005.

2006 was my busiest year ever with four UK tours and shows throughout Europe. I debuted my jazz quartet at Londons famous 606 Club as well as playing solo shows at festivals and acoustic music venues.

In early 2007 I released my third CD "So Many Reasons" in the UK. The new disc will be released in the US on September 4th with East and West Coast dates being booked for a September tour. I will play two San Francisco double bill shows with the amazing solo bassist Michael Manring and start the East Coast shows with an in-the-round show at the world famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville with Gretchen Peters, Craig Caruthers, and Don Henry. Cities now being booked inlude Austin, Atlanta, Boston, and New York.

I'll also return to Germany as well as booking more shows in The Netherlands, where I now live.

All 3 of my CDs are available at CDbaby:
SO MANY REASONS
BIG DREAMS and the BOTTOM LINE
LIVE at THE FREIGHT at SALVAGE

My 2 studio CDs are available for download at iTunes:
SO MANY REASONS
BIG DREAMS and the BOTTOM LINE

Each recording features a few solo pieces in the way that a singer-songwriter-guitarist might have a few ‘acoustic’ tunes. For me, it’s just my vocal and one of my basses.

Besides Sarah, I play 4, 5, and 6 string electric fretted and fretless basses, as well as acoustic bass guitar and acoustic guitar. My live performances also include using loop recorders to create live tracks using only my instruments and voice.

JAZZ TRIO:

In the late 90’s I put together a jazz trio featuring saxophonist Bob Johnson and drummer Steve Rossi for gigs in the San Francisco Bay Area. As well as my more jazz oriented songs, we performed instrumental jazz compositions ranging from choice standards to progressive modern instrumental compositions. The bass/vocal, sax, and drums format allowed me to make the trio an extension of my solo bass/vocal show with a strong emphasis on improvisation.

I still work with Bob and Steve when I return for San Francisco Bay Area shows and they are both featured on my new CD release “So Many Reasons”. In Europe, I now work with London sax/flutist Theo Travis, also featured on the new CD, and drummers Davide Giovannini or Roy Dodds.

For more info, please visit: JohnLesterMusic.com
Record Label: Midnight Café Records/Proper Distribution
Type of Label: Indie