Greetings,
I hope this email finds you well!
I know it’s been a long time since I’ve sent out a message from my website. Sorry for the delay.
I’m excited to announce the digital release of my first album, “Rising from the Vault”. I recorded this album in 1995 at Fantasy Studios in Berkley, CA with the late Bob Matthews, producer and ‘recordist’ of The Grateful Dead (Working Man’s Dead, Aoxomoxoa) and the late John Kahn, Bammie nominated arranger and bassist of the Jerry Garcia Band.
I was twenty-five years old, gigging heavily in the Bay Area, Ca. and through some very fun connections, got to know the late Rock Scully ( longtime manager of The Dead). Rock introduced me to Bob and the project started to take shape. Jerry Garcia had died the year before we made this album and I think that sparked the creative juices. I brought in ten of my best original songs and we pulled in some fantastic Bay Area rock musicians. The players on this album include Pete Sears on keys (Hot Tuna, Moon Alice, Jefferson Starship), Mario Cippolina on bass ( Huey Lewis and The News), Donny Baldwin on drums (Jefferson Starship, Lydia Penske and Cold Blood), Ho Young on guitar ( The John Kahn Band), as well as a Dixieland horn section and string and wind ensemble.
Shortly after we finished recording the album, I got a call from Bob and he told me to sit down. He then let me know that John Kahn had passed away. He told me that they were in the studio together listening to the final mix for the first time and after it was finished, John said to Bob, that he used everything he’d ever learned as an arranger on this album and he could die happily now. John Kahn died the next week. He died one year after Jerry Garcia, joining him for some fantastic music, I’m certain. This album was played at John Kahn’s wake, as it was his last work.
You may notice that three of the song on this album are also on my album ‘Dragon’s Lair’ which was my first release back in 1999.
Years and people have passed but I feel this album is timeless and deserves to be heard and shared. The musicianship is gorgeous and needs to be enjoyed.
The digital release is scheduled for October 16th, 2022. You can stream it on Spotify and buy a physical copy from my website.
Spotify digital release of ‘Rising From The Vault’
This link goes to my Spotify channel- I hope you listen, enjoy, and share this album!
Thank you for your support!
Jessica Star