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Jesse's Song
a review by Chris
The Jars are showing up on all kinds of compilation albums lately. They're all over the City on a Hill series of discs, they are starting to become a mainstay on the WoW worship series, and now they make their second appearance on the wonderful Sounds of Wood & Steel series from Windham Hill.
The track that they contribute to this album is the long unreleased instrumental "Jesse's Song" that had it's genesis during the If I Left the Zoo sessions. Other than the prominence of the keyboard work by Charlie Lowell, this song really doesn't sound much like the other songs that came from the Zoo sessions. Also, the percussion work is handled very well by Jeremy Ruckstaetter, in what I belive is his only appearance on a Jars record. There's a nice repeated guitar lick that Matt Odmark came up with, and the rest of the band (minus Dan) builds up a nice soundscape around that lick. "Jesse's Song" is a peaceful tune that would make nice driving music in the appalachian mountains. This song is really understated, and nice to just relax to.
The rest of the compilation is also very well done. Phil Keaggy dazzles us with his amazing acoustic guitar work on "Cajon Pass." Chris Proctor's "Ozymandias" very successfully establishes a mysterious mood, and Susanna Hoffs contributes a very memorable and melodic peice in "I Will Take Care of you." If you have an appreciation for the acoustic guitar, I recommend picking this one up.
The Jars are showing up on all kinds of compilation albums lately. They're all over the City on a Hill series of discs, they are starting to become a mainstay on the WoW worship series, and now they make their second appearance on the wonderful Sounds of Wood & Steel series from Windham Hill.
The track that they contribute to this album is the long unreleased instrumental "Jesse's Song" that had it's genesis during the If I Left the Zoo sessions. Other than the prominence of the keyboard work by Charlie Lowell, this song really doesn't sound much like the other songs that came from the Zoo sessions. Also, the percussion work is handled very well by Jeremy Ruckstaetter, in what I belive is his only appearance on a Jars record. There's a nice repeated guitar lick that Matt Odmark came up with, and the rest of the band (minus Dan) builds up a nice soundscape around that lick. "Jesse's Song" is a peaceful tune that would make nice driving music in the appalachian mountains. This song is really understated, and nice to just relax to.
The rest of the compilation is also very well done. Phil Keaggy dazzles us with his amazing acoustic guitar work on "Cajon Pass." Chris Proctor's "Ozymandias" very successfully establishes a mysterious mood, and Susanna Hoffs contributes a very memorable and melodic peice in "I Will Take Care of you." If you have an appreciation for the acoustic guitar, I recommend picking this one up.
