You Will Find Yourself Loving The Music Jane St. Clair Creates

By Ida Dorsey


There really are quite a few gem albums you will enjoy discovering on the Internet. Issued in 2007, the poignant album "Stories" is brought to you by the US musician, Jane St. Clair. The melodies and lyrics are all composed and written by her, and she also plays the acoustic guitar and sings her own words on all these songs. Jane's discs are obtainable via CD Baby, Inc, one of the Internet's premier music stores focused on the promotion of the works of independent performers.

Jane is based in California, USA. The tunes she fashions are a fusion of atmospherics and lyricism, fabricating a sound which should appeal to people who enjoy adult contemporary rock, jazz and jazz-pop. Anyone who likes the musical styles of Diana Krall, Steely Dan or Feist could well appreciate this gifted artist too.

Inspirations that are revealed in this youthful woman's repertoire embrace James Taylor, Sting and Burt Bacharach. Jane has furthermore been understood to feel the influence of stars such as Carole King, Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell. The words bring to light a zeal for story-telling and free verse in the manner of Todd Rundgren, Carlos Jobim and Tom Waits.

An upbringing that starts with an education in writing from the University of North Carolina is unmistakable in the eminence of language evident in Jane's refrains. Following Chapel Hill, Jane went to Boston to study composition at the Berklee College of Music. She broadened her musical instruction at CalArts, benefiting from tutors such as James Newton, Jon Bergamo, Paul Novros and David Roitstein.

There are many outstanding collaborators to "Stories", notably Ken Lasaine who helped to compose the emotional "Shower Into Gray" (a song devoted to those killed in the tragic events of 9/11), but also plays electric and classic guitar and the E-Bow. Other celebrated contributors on this album include Paul Litteral on horns and trumpet, Alan Pasqua on the keyboards, Danny Frankel on percussion and drums, Nedra Wheeler on the upright bass and Michael Manning on fretless bass. These instrumentalists have recorded and toured with top names with the status of Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, James Brown, Santana, kd lang and the B-52s.

Commentators on "Stories" speak of the lilting vocals, smooth gracefulness of voice and passionate efficiency. People refer to the songs being like poems set to harmonies. Inventiveness and individuality are characteristics often ascribed to St. Clair's ideas. The overall envelope delivers a crystal-clear, unique quality which stimulates the soul.

The uniqueness is improved by the arts of Dan Garcia who was responsible for engineering and mixing the LP besides adding supplementary percussion, guitar and trumpet as well as the final vocals. Jane's profound foundation in language and compositional education has given her the ability to construct sincere ballads combining Latin American grooves, intuitive instrumentation, intelligent phrasings and jazz influences. The supplementation of a redolent, supple and attractive voice on top of this mixture creates a sure-fire recipe for chart success.

Whether you want to find the soulful music she creates, or many other genres from World music to Avant Garde, CD Baby is an excellent source. Recordings start from only $5 and one can also acquire vinyl here. Many aspiring bands and up-and-coming artists start out by marketing their material on the web.




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