Jackie Greene

Upon seeing Jackie Green for the first time you might expect him to play punk or grunge instead of the great mix of rock, folk, blues, and Americana we’re treated to on his stellar new CD Giving Up the Ghost, just released on 429 Records. Although possession of artistic talent has no specific physical blueprint, his somewhat sunken eyes and black bouffant “’do” on first look might lead some to be surprised by the monster talent and charisma this guy possesses. At the tender age of 22 his debut CD Gone Wonderin’ landed him on the list of Rolling Stones 2003 Top 10 Critics Choice albums. Of the time since his musical start the Northern Californian says, “I’ve been writing, recording and performing non-stop. I’ve lived in cars, hotels, basements…slept on floors, couches, strange girl’s beds. I wrote lots of songs in those places. Some I’ll never remember, but that’s all part of it, I guess.” His CDs have varied their feel over the years as Jackie has progressed as an artist. His earlier work was on the country, blues and folksier side. More recently his sound has turned more to rock and roll.  A 2006 performance by Greene wowed Phil Lesh who was catching the set between sets of his own. Lesh contacted Greene then and invited him to join his band as lead vocalist, a gig he is still enjoying while also touring in support of the new CD. (Portions of some of these gigs can be seen on YouTube.)

Giving Up the Ghost is sprinkled with all the genres of music Greene has explored; evidence of which can be found in the list of instruments played on the CD. Included are piano, “many guitars,” organ, bass, “a whole lot of guitars,” pedal steel, baritone and tenor sax, trumpet, accordion, violin and mandolin. The disc opens with the moody “Shaken” and immediately we are introduced to Greene’s fine voice. The following tune, “Animal,” is a more bluesy number laced with organ. My favorite tune on the CD is “Like a Ball and Chain,” which echoes of mid-‘70s Stones, Greene sounding not unlike the Mick. “Uphill Mountain” reveals some of the young songwriters earliest influences; “Big Joe Turner, Elmore James, street survivors selling walking canes.” “Don’t Let the Devil Take Your Mind” is a great horn and organ backed blues number that reminds us “You can go through Hell and come out pure, if you don’t let the devil take your mind.” Jackie shows he can also serve up the slow tune with the beautiful tune “Prayer For Spanish Harlem.” The Grateful Dead influence comes out on “Another Love Gone Bad,” which it could have easily come from a Dead CD. Pedal steel and accordion with the soft harmony vocals probably have Jerry Garcia bobbing his head and smiling somewhere. Greene co-produced this LP with Steve Berlin of Los Lobos. I imagine that someday Jackie Greene will be very big. I suggest you get this CD now, especially if you are not familiar with him. Then you’ll be able to tell your friends, “I was listening to Jackie Greene way back when Giving Up the Ghost came out...!”