Jeff Larson
San Francisco, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
The cover shot of the 101 creeping through the San Fernando Valley is a visual indication of the sunkissed Southern Californian soft-rock on Jeff Larson’s Heart of the Valley. Larson achieves that vibe with the assistance of Gerry Beckley, one of the architects of the sound during his days with America. Heart of the Valley isn’t a strict collaboration and it’s something of a departure for singer/songwriter Larson, who usually pens his own material. Here, Larson devotes himself to interpreting a set of new songs from Beckley, giving them richly sensitive readings that evoke America’s ‘70s heyday while still sounding contemporary and faithful to Larson’s own work. It’s a tricky move but it’s performed with considerable grace here, largely because everybody involved plays with a light, easy touch that brings out Beckley’s rich melodicism. What Larson winds up with is a record that feels classically Californian in its spirit and sound, yet its appeal extends far beyond the West Coast as its sweet, mellow tunes have an appeal that transcends geography or even time, as this winds up straddling the past and present quite fetchingly. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine - All Music Guide
"Larson obviously has a lot on his mind, and he's able to express it in literate, lyrical ways that require repeated listening." - Performing Songwriter
- Performing Songwriter
Comes with a Smile #20 (February 2006)
Despite a personal creed that I should never trust anyone who sings that they are "looking at december like a friend of mine" I find myself oddly attracted to this record. It's almost a happy song, despite the month in question, skittering along in its hummable, acoustic groove. Maybe Cascade Idaho soon shook me from that , the guitar ripping in like Peter Buck decided to Begin the Begin all over again. So far so good and A Better Day keeps the mood going... There's a mellower tone for The Way Outside and it allows Larson's voice to come through strongly. Play Through has an inkling of open-top driving about it, but just fails, thankfully, to follow up on that promise and decides to take a Dinosaur Jr. ending rather than drift along longer. That leaves the closer Only Green to wander around in a dreamy dance of its own, strobed by the lazy passing of headlights as the end of the road nears. One the basis of part one of the confession, the priest might find himself very crowded in the little box by the time of part two. -- Laurence Arnold - Comes with a Smile (UK)
Comes with a Smile #20 (February 2006)
Despite a personal creed that I should never trust anyone who sings that they are "looking at december like a friend of mine" I find myself oddly attracted to this record. It's almost a happy song, despite the month in question, skittering along in its hummable, acoustic groove. Maybe Cascade Idaho soon shook me from that , the guitar ripping in like Peter Buck decided to Begin the Begin all over again. So far so good and A Better Day keeps the mood going... There's a mellower tone for The Way Outside and it allows Larson's voice to come through strongly. Play Through has an inkling of open-top driving about it, but just fails, thankfully, to follow up on that promise and decides to take a Dinosaur Jr. ending rather than drift along longer. That leaves the closer Only Green to wander around in a dreamy dance of its own, strobed by the lazy passing of headlights as the end of the road nears. One the basis of part one of the confession, the priest might find himself very crowded in the little box by the time of part two. -- Laurence Arnold - Comes with a Smile (UK)
Northern California singer/songwriter/guitarist Jeff Larson, held in high esteem by peers, offers an outstanding new acoustic album. With a soothing voice, honest lyrics and engaging melodies, Larson recalls the heyday of folk-country-rock, when artists such as Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne and Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band reigned. America's Gerry Beckley is featured on the Neil Young-esque opener "Hapless Sky." This album quietly commands attention. It will bring a reverential hush to the room. - Palo Alto Daily News
Northern California singer/songwriter/guitarist Jeff Larson, held in high esteem by peers, offers an outstanding new acoustic album. With a soothing voice, honest lyrics and engaging melodies, Larson recalls the heyday of folk-country-rock, when artists such as Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne and Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band reigned. America's Gerry Beckley is featured on the Neil Young-esque opener "Hapless Sky." This album quietly commands attention. It will bring a reverential hush to the room. - Palo Alto Daily News
"Grown-up rock music that never shies away from lyrical erudition and musical excellence - rarities in the modern rock landscape" - Bucketfull of Brains (UK)
- Bucketful of Brains
"Grown-up rock music that never shies away from lyrical erudition and musical excellence - rarities in the modern rock landscape" - Bucketfull of Brains (UK)
- Bucketful of Brains
"A classic combination of sound and sensibilities" - Wood & Steel (Taylor Guitars) - Taylor Guitars "Wood & Steel"
"A classic combination of sound and sensibilities" - Wood & Steel (Taylor Guitars) - Taylor Guitars "Wood & Steel"
Discography
2009 Heart Of The Valley (Human Nature) w/Gerry Beckley
2008 Left Of A Dream (Red Bell)
2007 New Antiques (new surf north)
2006 Swimming in the Make Believe (JVC Victor) Japan
2005 Two Part Confessional-1 EP (new surf north)
2004 Sepia (JVC Victor) Japan
2002 Fragile Sunrise (JVC Victor) Japan
Photos
Bio
www.jefflarson-music.com/main.html
www.jefflarson-music.com/promo.html
"Singer-songwriter Jeff Larson can claim some formidable musical associatesmembers of America, Chicago and Brian Wilsons band included. But theres no need for name-droppingLarsons tunes are so unceasingly melodic, those previously mentioned aggregates might find themselves blushing with envy. The latest in a string of exceptional efforts, New Antiques provides another striking example of his creative craft via easy, breezy pop.
Larsons West Coast sensibilities are summed up in the affable refrain accompanying Hapless SkyIm moving, Im moving on / Counting changes, song to song. The wistful embrace of Waiting for the Mail, the gentle sway of Morning til Noon, the delicate yet determined resolve of Force of a Smile and, for that matter, every track included on this alluring album affirm hes progressing quite ably."
-- Performing Songwriter JAN/FEB 2008
Jeff Larson San Francisco, CA based singer/songwriter. A veteran of the bay area music scene who had performed locally and abroad over the years playing the usual assortment of coffeehouse gigs, cafe's, festivals, and as an opener for various acts. After a stint of three recordings and tours with a small European label, DayFaze-Musicnet, in the mid-90s, Larson focused mainly on recording projects in Los Angeles based studios with a close circle of friends at the close of the decade.
From these sessions, a flurry of activity and a deal with JVC Japan resulted in the release of several projects, including Fragile Sunrise (2002), Sepia (2004), and Swimming in the Make Believe (2006) all produced by Hank Linderman (America, Eagles). These releases contained an elevated view of the past, present, and future of what is sometimes known as the California sound. These releases also contained contributions from some of the originators of that sound - Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of the band America, Timothy B Schmit (Eagles), Steuart Smith (Shawn Colvin, Eagles), Jeff Foskett (Brian Wilson band) and Robert Lamm (Chicago).
"Larson's melodies sparkle, rise, and fall, not a note wasted or a phrase out of place A classic combination of sound and sensibilities, and Larson gives it his own contemporary spin -- Wood & Steel (Taylor Guitars)
In 2006 a return to a more stripped down, acoustic based, singer/songwriter project was sought which came to fruition in the 2006 EP Two Part Confessional. From the release notes: There is no doubt a need was felt to try and grow a new branch and since I had been tracking for five years non-stop, I needed to carve out something different and start to grow in another genre. I also felt the music needed a visual make-over so I enlisted bay area graphic designer Jason Munn (Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie, others) to help on that end. Two Part was a project mostly originated in my home studio and then beefed up in L.A. I needed to get away somewhat from the more breezy cycle that I seemed to settle in with the JVC Japan releases so I took the advance money and bought some (home) studio gear and was off.
In 2007, the album New Antiques, was released. This was a re-connect to older songs, misfits and new material to further the direction started with Two Part Confessional. Reviews have been strong in both U.S. and UK in noted music publications such as Rock'n'Reel, Acoustic, Performing Songwriter, CBS Watch Magazine, among others....
If there was any justice in this world, Jeff Larson would be a radio constant. Never mind that members of Chicago and America are among his cohorts, Larson does just fine on his own, thank you, via songs imbued with richly textured arrangements and instantly embracing melodies. As its title implies, New Antiques provides classic pop perfection with echoes of an earlier era. From morning until noon, I hear a great song, he sings. So do we. CBS Watch Magazine, Dec 2007)
2009 brought "Heart Of The Valley" a collaborative effort with America's Gerry Beckley (Sister Golden Hair, Horse With No Name, etc) was released on Human Nature. The response continues to be very strong with Airplay in U.S. and Europe, BBC, RTL France for the title track. See www.jefflarson-music.com for details and news on this release.
2009 also found the track "Ghost of San Miguel" chosen for the best of the bay area KFOG radio local scene CD/download. Consistent airplay through 2008-2009.
2010 - The track "This Morning in Amsterdam" is featured on "Music from Home" compilation out of Sweden w/Jackson Browne, CrosbyNash, Joel Rafael, and others (Hemifran).
Writing and recording continues towards a new release in early 2011 with live performances to support.
Band Members
Links
