It’s January 26, 1994. I’m doing my usual Luna Park gig, so I get there early for my sound check. The guy that’s checking has this beautiful guitar tone. It’s electric and chimes with an extraordinary clarity. I’m in love with this sound. I’d been doing the acoustic thing, more out of expectation and convenience, but I missed the sustain and volume, so this was a revelation. Then the guy starts to sing “Lilac Wine.” I’d been doing “Black Is the Color (Of My True Love’s Hair)” for a while – it was my Nina Simone vocal workout and a song to still the room. But this guy’s voice floored me and his presence in it was astounding. He’d put out his EP a couple months before the show. Mine had come out that summer. My mom was out of town, but his mom, Mary, was there was a sweet family feeling in the room. Jeff was from Orange County but had been living in New York and gave me a few suggestions of places to play and names of people to contact. So I played at 1st Street Café and Sin-é later that next summer. He was a beautiful guy.
I didn’t stay in touch, though. I didn’t buy Grace until a few years ago. I’d thought the cover photo was lame, and was like, “What are you doing, Jeff?” I was a little envious when he took off so dramatically, and Lord knows I never need to hear another singer reach for his or her inner Jeff by singing “Hallelujah.” (Though he sang it wonderfully and pretty much took ownership from Leonard Cohen.)
But I saw the expanded “Live At Sin-é” EP on emusic yesterday for 6 bucks, so I downloaded it. It took me back. Two and a half hours of this beautiful artist. And it starts off with another Nina Simone cover of “Be Your (My) Husband.” He was a magical mess. His voice gets really pretentious at times, but I recently found a 1994 show of my own on tape, and maybe that was the thing! (Smile) He was courageous. Download it and feel the moment. It was a beautiful time. And he was a rare talent, but also just a guy whose mom came out to support his gigs. (Though there was something in the genes, too, ’cause his dad’s Happy Sad kills me!)
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