Jess Klein
Encyclopedia
Jess Klein is an American singer/songwriter. A native of Rochester, NY, Klein picked up the acoustic guitar and started writing songs while living in Kingston, Jamaica in her late teens. On a whim, she auditioned for a guest slot at a local weekly dub poetry and music session. Upon hearing the first song Klein had written, the host Lady Elean Thomas declared "She have soul, mon." Klein returned home, moved to Boston, and began performing locally. After independently releasing her first two albums, winning the Telluride Troubador Songwriting Contest, and garnering several Boston Music Award nominations, she was signed to Rykodisc
in 2000 by then-president George Howard. Her first release for Ryko, Draw Them Near [which received 3½ out of four stars from USA Today], launched Klein on a worldwide tour where she performed before 70,000 attendees at the Fuji Rock Festival
in Japan. Returning to the U.S., Klein joined the songwriter collective Voices on the Verge
, along with Erin McKeown, Rose Polenzani, and Beth Amsel. The foursome performed Klein's song 'Little White Dove' on Good Morning America
. Klein's second solo effort for Ryko, Strawberry Lover, produced by RCA recording artist Marc Copely
, debuted as the number 1 most added album at triple A radio a week before its release, was given four stars by MOJO
, and received a plug from the nearly 80 million readership Parade. In 2005, Nerdcore Rapper MC Frontalot
posted on his website a rap breakdown using the beat from the Jess Klein song "Soda Water." Klein's sixth album, City Garden [Five Stars, MOJO Magazine] caused the Boston Globe to describe her as "Quite simply one of the most gifted performers this area has produced."
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
in 2000 by then-president George Howard. Her first release for Ryko, Draw Them Near [which received 3½ out of four stars from USA Today], launched Klein on a worldwide tour where she performed before 70,000 attendees at the Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival
Fuji Rock Festival is an annual rock festival held in Naeba Ski Resort, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The 3 day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians, making it the largest outdoor music event in Japan...
in Japan. Returning to the U.S., Klein joined the songwriter collective Voices on the Verge
Voices on the Verge
Voices on the Verge was a folk, country, and rock band formed as a collaboration between four young, formerly-independent, female musicians: Jess Klein, Erin McKeown, Rose Polenzani, and Beth Amsel....
, along with Erin McKeown, Rose Polenzani, and Beth Amsel. The foursome performed Klein's song 'Little White Dove' on Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
. Klein's second solo effort for Ryko, Strawberry Lover, produced by RCA recording artist Marc Copely
Marc Copely
Marc Copely is an American rock and blues guitarist and songwriter.Described as "...a working-class hero of stadium-sized potential", Copely has been performing since the age of 19. The Worcester, Massachusetts born musician, launched his professional career by performing with B.B...
, debuted as the number 1 most added album at triple A radio a week before its release, was given four stars by MOJO
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
, and received a plug from the nearly 80 million readership Parade. In 2005, Nerdcore Rapper MC Frontalot
MC Frontalot
Damian Hess , better known by stage name MC Frontalot, is a Brooklyn-based hip hop musician and self-proclaimed "world's 579th greatest rapper". He is best known in nerdcore hip hop and video game culture, for naming the nerdcore subgenre, and performing at Penny Arcades annual Penny Arcade Expo...
posted on his website a rap breakdown using the beat from the Jess Klein song "Soda Water." Klein's sixth album, City Garden [Five Stars, MOJO Magazine] caused the Boston Globe to describe her as "Quite simply one of the most gifted performers this area has produced."
Discography
- Wishes Well Disguised (1998)
- Draw Them Near (2000)
- Flattery (re-released in 2003)
- Strawberry Lover (2005)
- City Garden (2006)
- House of Satisfaction (2007)
- Bound to Love (2009)