J.C.Spires: News

In March 2012 photographer Vic Iorillo took some amazing photographs of the J.C.Spires Band onstage and after the show. Please take some time and enjoy the work of this talented photographer now featured on the jcspires.com photo page. Thank you for a great job Victor!!

". . . a deeply personal style. . ." John Sollenberger, Pasadena weekly, May 5, 2012

The J.C.Spires Band would like to invite you to come out for our last gig of the year this Wed. night Dec.28th @ Jax in Glendale. We'll be onstage from 7 to 11. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for all the great support you have given us this year. It has been a great period for the band. In 2011 we took major strides forward in the recording project we have been working on. We also welcomed in the talent, grace and beauty of Jessica Chanse on vocals, and added some new originals to our live show. We will continue to bring to the stage and the studio a "spare, dramatic, and understated" sound by sticking to our core principles of "time, tone, passion and silence". As we blast into the year of 2012 we pray for all of God's blessings to be with each and every one of you!

The J.C.Spires Band would like to officially welcome Jessica Chanse to our band. Jessica joins us with her incredible talent as a backing and lead vocalist both onstage and in the recording studio. We encourage all of our fans and supporters to come and hear this beautiful and amazing singer pour her heart and soul into "Rollin and Tumblin" or "You Got to Move". Truly one of the best and most natural blues singers to show up on the scene in a long long time!

We have recently posted 6 videos online. Log into www.youtube.com and search J.C.Spires to see them all.

Beginning on Sunday Dec. 28th J.C. began a 3 day stint at L.A.'s premier recording facility. With Tyler "the rock" Pedersen on acoustic bass, Craig Pilo on drum, and John Molino producing, we set about the task of bringing the songs to life.

Conway Recording has been the birthplace of many legendary sessions over the years and it's not hard to see why. It's an absolutely first class studio designed to bring out the best in anyone whose serious about their art.

We thank God for His generous blessing in helping this fortuitous opportunity come our way. We also thank our friends who have prayed for our endeavor, and John Molino whose hard work made this possible. Last but not least a special thanks to our Executive Producer, without whom much of this would not have happened.

Los Angeles studio veteran John Molino has joined J.C. at the creative helm in working on the new album.
We were fortunate to catch John on the heels of his departure from Capital Records and the timing couldn't have been more perfect.
In addition to 27 years of experience working as a studio engineer with some of the biggest names in the industry, John has brought a great work ethic
and an intuitive perception
for capturing the essence of J.C.'s unique artistry. We look forward to a long and productive creative relationship.

Amazing jazz and pop singer Angela Carole Brown was called from the audience to sing a number with us at the March 6th show. The song we did together was the old folk standard "Motherless Child" and Angela, you moved the crowd with your creative, soulful rendition. Come back anytime.
As if that wasn't enough we then had Margaret Love, with her gregarious personality, and powerful R & B pipes come up and croon on the great Leiber- Stoller rock and roll composition "Kansas City".
It was a special night for all who were there.

A regular feature lately at J.C.Spires Band shows has been the immensely talented Dan Graziani. Poetic phrasing, lightening speed, and a big heart are ever-present in Dan's performing, and a wonderful blessing for us as we continue to bring our dark, tender, and bluesy sound to fruition.

Thank you to Brophy Dale, the great roots guitarist for joining us onstage at our Janurary gig at Jax. If you haven't seen or heard Brophy play, put it on your "to do" list. Imagination, taste, and soul are just a few of the qualities he brings to the stage. You're always welcome Broph!

Seven long months have passed since the band laid down the basic rythym and vocal tracks for our new album, but with the successful transfer of all those audio files from Dan McCoy's studio to my new home studio we're finally moving forward.
Began the first guitar over-dubs today on a new track titled "Bring Her Down Boogie" and it's the hottest, rockingest song we've ever done.
Have begun pre-production work with the great cellist, Peggy Baldwin ( E.L.O.), and of course Dan Graziani on violin.
One final note, the new working title for this dynamic upcoming album is now "Barstow".

Creative decisions, backing vocals, solo's, and arrangements are slowly developing on the new album. The working title, for those interested in such things, is "Farewell to a Rose"

Ruer Michel, disc jockey for Radio Aria's "Pulsions 70"
blues program in Longwy, France, and Przemek Draheim of American Blues program in Poland, have both recently contacted me with much enthusiasm about playing "Deep" on their shows. These broadcasts together are heard in Eastern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, South Germany, and Poland.
Also have seen sales of "Deep" in Engalnd and on the East Coast of the USA. Encouraging signs as we work to complete the new record!

My deepest gratitude to you Dennis, for the "Shot". That brilliant and amazing photograph that graces the home page of this website, as well as the cover of my first cd release titled "Deep". Working with so little, you captured so much.

Four years after completing my first album we've finally begun the work of making a follow up record.
From the results of the initial tracks we've laid down, all I can say is it was worth the wait.
With Tyler Pedersen on acoustic bass, Ron Felton on drums and percussion, and myself on acoustic guitar we tracked ten songs in one long session.
Recording at the home studio of my dear friend, and sound engineer extraordinaire, Daniel McCoy, turned out to be a revelatory experience.
We recorded live, acoustically, in a home living room, with no headphones. Just a whole lot of soul, and more than a liitle yankee ingenuity.
Yes, there's alot of work still to be done, but if life has taught me anything so far, it's that patience is a virtue. Stay tuned for updates as things progress!