Jeff Jensen Band: Press

Call him Mr. Breeze
The Jeff Jensen Band has been holding court this past month at the Mock Crest every Tuesday, and if you haven’t seen them yet, do yourself a favor and hear one of our town’s finer blues bands for free. Jensen is a solid guitarist, phrasing deftly with just enough macho to make the boys happy and just enough lyricism to make the little girls swoon. And vice-versa. It’s actually amazing this guy isn’t like, totally huge, since he has all the vocal and instrumental ingredients any bluesman worth his salt should possess. Not to mention he actually knows how to dress up on stage.

Jeff Jensen Band, 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, Mock Crest Tavern, 3435 N. Lombard St. Free. Info: 503-283-5014

A lot has transpired since I hung out with Jeff Jensen at Hopson’s Commissary. One of the hardest working Bluesmen in Socal, Jeff has gotten engaged, moved to Portland, Oregon and found time to put out a new record, I’m Coming Home. Jeff enlisted the assistance of the Pandis Horns and some other notable LA players to record a very ambitious project that totally reflects Jeff’s tastes as a Bluesman. So let’s hit play and get to it.
The disc opens with Jeff’s version of B.B. King’s “Ask Me No Questions,” and he predictably puts his own spin on it. Jeff’s having trouble with the woman in question and she’s not always agreeable, “you don’t always want to love me…but I think about you all the time…yes, I do!” This one’s probably not going to work and if Jeff doesn’t ask her any questions, there’s a good chance she won’t tell him any lies. Jeff’s telecaster is still going strong and I appreciate the presence of the Pandis Horns.
Our next track is the title track, “I’m Coming Home,” and finds Jeff in a reflective mood as he packs up his gear to head north to Portland. “I’m going to call my baby…in the 503…and tell her…I just can’t wait to see her…I’m going to pack my suitcase…Buy a nice bottle of red…I’m going to get myself a plane ticket…so we can spend a week in bed!” Now that’s the Jeff I know. Going to have to make the trip to Portland someday soon to see what the fuss is all about. The band is very tight and Jeff’s passion is evident…”Now look out baby…cause I’m coming home!”
One of the things I like about Jeff’s writing is his tongue-in-cheek view of the world and “Living in Los Angeles” is a perfect example of that. “Homeless people pushing shopping carts…all the Hollywood folks with the plastic parts…these are some things I learned while growing up in Los Angeles!” I’m sure the move to Portland was an interesting change from what Jeff’s used to in LA.
Riz guests on piano on our next cut, “Worried Life Blues,” and Dan Heffernan’s work on the baritone sax is a nice intro to the song. “You’re on my mind…every place I go…how much I love you…baby, you’ll never know…but someday Babe, I ain’t going to worry my life…anymore!” Jeff’s woman has left him and the pain of her departure has cut him deep. The healing will take time but Jeff’s up to the task. Riz’s keyboard work is excellent and this is one of my favorite cuts on the disc.
Marcy Levy lends her vocal talents on Jeff’s next tune, “Doing the Right Thing.” “You can see it in her eyes…you can feel it in your heart…this woman is for you…but you knew it from the start…you found the girl you want…you found the girl you need…now you’re together…she’s just not the love for me…sometimes doing the right thing….can hurt so bad!” Jeff loved this woman dearly but she just wasn’t the one for him…the memories still cause him pain but he was right to let her go.
“Good Morning Judge” is up next and this could pass for Jeff’s theme song. “Good morning Judge, why you look so mean, sir…now Mr. Judge…what can the charges be…if there’s been trouble…I will plead not guilty….must be someone else…you know it can’t be me!” There’s nothing I could say that would add to the commentary on this song, what happened in Memphis stays in Memphis and I’ll have to plead the 5th on behalf of Jeff.
Jeff is a man who feels deeply and his feelings often catch up with him. A good example is our next tune, “Cocaine Spiked Whiskey.” “Well, I don’t make good decisions…at least as far as I can see…but like cocaine spiked whiskey…maybe you’re just not the buzz for me.” At least he was smart enough in this case to realize that the woman in question was just not the right one. Jamieson Trotter’s B3 work is right on and adds to the feeling of depression we hear in Jeff’s guitar solo.
Of course the mood changes 180 degrees when Jeff discusses his feelings for thin girls in the next tune, “Skinny Girls.” “I need a skinny girl…from her head to her feet…I’m going to find me a woman…a skinny woman just for me….about 98 pounds….standing at 6’3.” That tall and that thin just isn’t a healthy combination, she’s going to need a few more pounds on her bones but I’ll take that up with Jeff next time I see him.
Kyle Culkin is one of Jeff’s good friends and evidently they share some experiences with the same woman that finds both of them needing to get the truth off their chests in “She’s Evil.” “What happened to you, Kyle?” “Well…she said that she loved me but she don’t care…when I’m at work…she spreads her loving everywhere…she’s evil!” Hopefully both of them have learned their lesson and moved on.
Jeff’s version of Muddy’s classic tune “Nineteen Years Old,” is up next and he’s passionately in love with this young woman as George Pandis’ trumpet leads us to the truth. “I’m going to say something to you…and I don’t care…how you feel…you just don’t realize…that you got yourself a good deal…she’s 19 years old…she’s got ways…just like a baby child…Lord, there’s nothing I can do to please this woman…to make this young woman feel…so satisfied!” Jeff’s doing all he can but somehow it just isn’t enough. He’s eventually going to have to let her go and the pain of doing so will be profound.
Appropriately enough, I’m Coming Home closes with “Please Don’t Go.” “Baby please don’t go…please don’t hurt me anymore…baby, please don’t leave me…here all alone…baby, please don’t go…don’t make me chase you out the door!” Love sometimes is fleeting and this one was a good woman for Jeff to love, I just don’t think she’s coming back for him.
I’ve enjoyed this disc by Jeff Jensen and his band. We’ve been good friends a long time now and I’m excited as well to see the growth in the arrangements, the vocals and Jeff’s writing. Portland’s gain is definitely Southern California’s loss. You can grab a copy of this disc from Jeff’s website, www.jeffjensenband.com and I’m sure you’ll appreciate it.
--- Kyle Deibler

Living Blues Magazing

The Jeff Jensen Band has only been around since 2004, but with this literally Self-Titled debut, they seem to suggest that they’ll be sticking around for a while.
The band, fueled by Jeff Jensen’s smooth, downhome vocals and slick Telecaster fretwork, delivers a solid set of 13 tracks, including ten originals that run the gamut of blues styles, accented by appropriate measures of rock, country jazz and soul.
While Jensen is clearly the frontman and focus. Jameson Trotter’s piano stylings punctuate songs like I Fell ad really set the tone for the slow-blues of Damn Fine Woman, enhancing the band’s warm tone throughout.
Throughout Self-Titled, Jensen delivers fluid leads and solos that meld into the rhythms and soars with melodic intent.
The band demonstrates a solid understanding of the blues and whether it’s on the rollicking opening cut, Mel London’s Sugar Sweet, or the Allman Brother’s-influenced Feel Alright, or even the jazzy Can’t We’re Through, blues is always at the heart of the band’s sound. The only clinker in the set is Cat Song.
Self-Titled is a tour-de-force debut release by a band hat breathes new life into the blues scene. The themes may be tried and true, but they are delivered with a fresh dose of enthusiasm form one tight band.

Southbland Blues Mag.

THE JEFF JENSEN BAND Self Titled Self-produced Based in Santa Clarita, the Jeff Jensen Band features blues the way it’s supposed to be: firm in the grasp of tradition while offering a fresh voice that can be enjoyed by any audience. Lead singer Jensen interprets original songs with authority and dishes out several covers convincingly. His band revels in this blues arena with trademark walking bass, rhythmic back beat, fiery guitar licks, piano and organ romps, and the kind of vocals that stick you in the heart. It’s meat and potatoes time, and Jensen makes sure that we get a belly full. Juke Logan guests on “Sugar Sweet” with a poignant harp presence that injects an energetic shot that comes on like adrenaline. George Pandis guests on flugelhorn for “Something About You,” driving with the band on a swinging number that turns a little bit country, a little bit rock & roll. Michael Fell lends his harmonica to “Rock This House,” providing a guest shot that sizzles with a “rock around the clock” jive sensation. Michael Jensen provides a guest shotgun blast to end “Here I Come Again,” reminding us of all the great stories that blues is meant to tell. Jensen’s lead vocals and fiery guitar licks are supported for the most part by partner Nate LaPointe (vocals and guitar), Bill Ruffino (bass), Chuck Gullens (drums) and Jamieson Trotter (piano and organ). This first album is a sure-fire winner, and quite naturally beckons the start of a long and rewarding career that’s steeped in tradition while offering this southern California sound to a wider audience.

Phoenix Blues Society

BlueFor those of you who have never been to the IBC in Memphis, it’s a trip that everyone should make one time. I’ve been a venue coordinator for the Blues Foundation for the last several years in part because of bands like Jeff Jensen’s. The first year they came to compete they checked in early, stayed all night, played their butts off and supported everyone like true gentleman. The energy of IBC is contagious and I’m glad to see that they’ve finally released their first cd, The Jeff Jensen Band (self-titled).

Notes from Jeff’s telecaster kick off the party as he tells us about his latest girlfriend in “Sugar Sweet”. Juke Logan lends his harmonica talents to this song with a wicked harp solo as Jeff extols the virtue of this girl, “Well it aint no surprise…she’ll serve me breakfast in bed…manicure my nails…scratch dandruff from my head…she’s my baby…what a treat!” Its better treatment than Jeff probably deserves but hey, I’m not knocking it. Nate LaPointe takes the vocal lead on the next cut, “I Fell”. It seems all these boys do is fall in and out of love and Nate’s got it bad. “I was holding back on what I felt, all night long…I fell; I fell for that girl”. It ended badly but the boy was definitely in l-o-v-e, love!

“Damn Fine Woman” slows down the tempo while Jeff speaks on the woman in his life. “I got a damnfine woman: we talk at least ten times a day on the phone…if she don’t come back here soon…I’m gonna have to fine that woman and make her place, my new home!” An inspired guitar solo underscores Jeff’s desire to have this woman back soon and it’s obvious what he’ll do if she doesn’t return. I must admit I’m at a loss on the next cut, “Cat Song”, written by Nate LaPointe. I get the fact his wife left him & she took the cat with her but Nate, if it ain’t a dog…it aint worth fighting for!! Nuff said!

“Something About You” speaks to the it factor that’s hard to define some days in the people we might. That definite spark is different for each one we encounter and that’s what Jeff is telling us, “It’s not that you’re irresistible or some kind of tease…it is what it is and baby here’s how it goes…it’s just the way your soul shows!” The flugelhorn solo by George Pandis is appreciated and I like Jamison Trotter’s piano work as well. This is probably my favorite song on the record. The tempo picks back up on the next Jensen original, “Feel Alright”. Jeff’s tele is screaming notes as Nate deftly counters with some excellent guitar work of his own, “Come on baby don’t fuss or fight…you know I’m only gonna to treat your right!”

Nate steps back to the microphone to tell us, “That’s What Love Will Make You Do”. “I don’t want to brag about you too much…giving others ideas…trying hard to express myself…cause baby that’s the way I feel…that’s what love will do for you…that’s what love will make you do!” “Find My Self All Alone” has Jeff in a funk pondering some of the pitfalls life has brought him. “But in the end so many nights, Lord I just find myself…always seem to find myself. Always seem to find myself all alone!” Tom Ryan’s organ work stands out on this cut and the guitar solo by Jeff poignantly underscores the depression he feels. Better days are ahead.

Another relationship gone badly rears its ugly head on, “Can’t Believe We’re Through”. “But you always got one foot out the door…you want to fight…I say what for…the repetition is such a bore…I can’t believe we’re through”. Considering all that’s gone on in this relationship…she’s better off gone and Jeff’s better off alone. Nate’s woman has found another man to run off with and we find him loaded for bear in “Here I Come Again”. “Got a shotgun in my left hand…whiskey bottle in my right…well I’m headed down to New Orleans searching out the man who done me wrong…whiskey bottle empty…shotgun smoking slow and strong”. This ended badly for the man who stole Nate’s woman and the shotgun firing at the end of the song is a nice, emphatic touch to his demise.

“Driving Wheel” is a tribute to everyday partying & playing, something Jeff and most of the band are noted for. “Sometimes I drink…and then I drive…I guess it’s just the Good Lord still keeping me alive!” The band closes out their record with an up tempo version of the Jimmy Rodgers classic, “Rock This House” and end with a self-penned instrumental, “Something in the Water”. “Something in the Water” highlights the other side of the Jeff Jensen Band, these guys are very good musicians who can play a variety of styles and they know how to have a good time.

I’ve known Jeff and the band for going on four years now and I find this record is a good reflection of their tastes and the diversity of their backgrounds. They’ve played together a long time which is evident in how tight this record is and they’re not afraid to take chances, which is good. I ran into Jeff down in the Delta at Hopson’s in May and I appreciated the fact that he took three weeks out of his summer to really explore what Willie Dixon calls “the roots” of the blues. I’m sure some of the lesson’s that Jeff learned will make their presence felt in the next record and all I can say is “bring it on”. I’ll be waiting. This first record is very good and I’m sure the next one will be better!
(Aug 10, 2007)