Jesse Dee ~ Songwriter with a whole lot of soul

Words and Photos by Joe Koch

The long awaited full-length debut, Bittersweet Batch, from Jesse Dee, is set to be released September 9.
He's ecstatic when he talks about the sound of his new record. "We recorded it all live and then to analog tape. It just has a very warm analog sound," he says.
A producer from the Boston area by the name of Jack Younger was an essential part in helping Jesse achieve that classic soul sound. "Soul music has always resonated the deepest with me," says Jesse. "I can remember being in the second grade and all I'd listen to was the oldies station."
Jesse started playing guitar and writing songs because of Bob Dylan. He also lists Tom Waits, Sam Cooke, Smoky Robinson and most recently James Hunter as major influences on his music.
Jesse describes this record is very diverse, but it all fits together. "I'd say it definitely falls into the soul category with a rootsy vibe– pop-singer songwriter without getting too folky sounding.”
On Bittersweet Batch, Jesse used his current line-up of Jim Larkin (bass,) Matthew Jay (guitar) and Matt "Pie" Beaulieu (drums.) He also recruited some special guests for his debut — Kevin Barry on guitar (Paula Cole, Dennis Brenna) and his all-star horn section of Scott and John Aruda and Paul Alstrand, who has played with Susan Tedeschi. Keeping in tradition with some of the other modern twenty-something soul revivalists, Jesse is committed to turning a new audience onto that classic sound that has molded so many artists and influenced an endless array of musicians.
In his words, "Just wait and see the best is yet to come."

For more info go to: www.myspace.com/jessedee