Jeff Oussoren
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | SELF
Music
Press
"Always something in the songs to delight and surprise. We're all looking forward to this new record."
-Noah Zacharin, Acoustic Roots, CKLN 88.1 - CKLN
"Not only does he make music, he's a writer and an artist as well. Best of all he's actually pretty darn good at all three. If you visit his website, or look at his album cover, you'll see his paintings are lovely, moody, evocative pieces that combine a slightly impressionistic touch with (a) keen sense of atmosphere to create a memorable whole. But why talk about paintings in a CD review? Because Oussoren's music can be described in much the same way.
'Troublesome's Lullaby' is an eight-song affair that Oussoren (presumably) recorded entirely on his own dime. The production is surprisingly top-notch..
The songs...depend an awful lot on the personality of the songwriter who's singing them. Fortunately, Oussoren's not short on character; couple that fact with his above-average lyricism, and you've got a pretty winning recipe for moody, folky goodness."
- Chris Watson, The Hamilton View, June 17, 2004 - The Hamilton View
Discography
Grey Skies, 1997
Troublesome's Lullaby, 2003
Photos
Bio
Jeff is one of the more literate practitioners of the folk idiom to come shuffling down the pike in a while. He hones his material with a rigour and ruthlessness that few writers can muster. The payoff is in the songs: they have the lean, tough beauty of time-worn classics. His first CD "Troublesome's Lullaby", produced by Jocelyne Lanois and Kevin Quain, takes the listener from the factory to the bowery, from the farm to the graveyard and beyond.
Jeff did his best growing up in the Eastern Townships in Quebec, and later moved to southern Ontario. Playing music since before he can remember, Jeff began writing songs early, inspired by stories he heard hitch-hiking the great expanse of North America, volunteer work in the tropics, and later working an abundance of temporary, minimum-wage jobs.
These days he spends a lot of time working and driving in the wilds of northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Back in Toronto, he continues to write and paint, performing and recording whenever he can.
A stalwart of the open mic and smaller club circuit for many, many years, Jeff's performances, delivery, musicianship, songs, and general goodwill caught the eyes and ears of some very decent and well-respected musicians on the local scene.
"I Gambled Everything On Milk And Honey"
"A brilliant songwriter and a gentle artist I have known for many years. A beautiful man."
-Lori Cullen
"&%@*in' fantastic"
- Scott B Sympathy
"Of song and paint, you are an artist of the first order. Canadian culture needs you to celebrate as many birthdays as possible."
-Jon Brooks
“When I first met Jeff he had a piano in his kitchen at the top of a fire escape. You could reach into the fridge for a cold one while one hand kept playing. In those days, drinking was at least as important as playing music, and that setup struck me as pure genius.”
-Kevin Quain
"Always something in the songs to delight and surprise. We're all looking forward to this new record."
-Noah Zacharin, Acoustic Roots, CKLN 88.1
"Lovely, moody, evocative pieces that combine a slightly impressionistic touch with a keen sense of atmosphere."
- Chris Watson, The Hamilton View
Links
