"I
don't write my music for Sony. I write it for the people who are
screaming down the road crying to a full blast stereo. There is
also music I'll make that will never-ever-ever be for sale. This
is my music alone, this is my true home; from which all things
are born and from which all my life will spring untainted and
unworried, fully of my own body. "
Jeff was always reserved about his music. Having a father who was a popular musician, Jeff saw the kind of life that could lead into and wanted to make sure that he had control of his music. His philosophy was to be a good songwriter and develop his career slowly. While he knew that his voice would get him places own its own, he didn't want to be known as "just a singer". He spent 2 years at the LA Musician's Institute, learning to be proficient on guitar so that he could create music that came from his own heart, and so he would be taken seriously as a musician.
Jeff's musical
influences are many and varied. His mother, Mary, cites Led
Zeppelins "Physical Grafitti" as the first music to
have a deep impact on him in his early years.
While Jeff was honing his skills, he played music as varied as
Reggae and Folk music. His biggest influences included Led
Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Edith Piaf, Nina Simone, Patti Smith &
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
JEFF'S BAND -
One of the things that Jeff always counted himself lucky for was
the quality of his band members, and the friendship they
developed together. The three original band members (whom Jeff
referred to as the "Three M's") were Michael Tighe
(guitar), Mick Grondahl (Bass) and Matt Johnson (drums). Matt
left the band in 1996, replaced by Parker Kindred who lay down
most of the drum tracks for Sketches.
Jeff once said something to the effect that he never felt
comfortable as a musician until he was in a band. Being in a band
gave Jeff a sense of direction and purpose that he may not have
had if he had decided on solo performing. They also surrounded
him with love and kindness that was very important to Jeff, being
a social person. His band were always happy to be a little in his
shadow, because they respected Jeff as both a performer and as an
individual. Jeff was very lucky to have had them; and they were
lucky to be a part of Jeff's life.
Jeff with Micheal Tighe (left)
COMING SOON....
MP3 samples of some of Jeff's best work