This anthology collects my favorite songs from my original music catalog,it includes songs from both of my Lovebrain albums, my favorite jazz/funk/improv jams and compositions, the best of my 80’s L. A. Pop Dream recordings produced by Tommy Dunbar of The Rubinoos, 5 collaborations from the mid-2000s with lyricist/poet Stephen Kalinich, and music I composed and recorded in 2021 and 2022 for my brother Jeff’s Photowalks YouTube show. www.jeffersongraham.com

The earliest recording is a 1966 promo from my 7-year-old self and the most recent is “ One Hit Wonder” a 2022 outtake from my last release “Percolate”.

Cover photo by Michael Ansell
instagram.com/michaelansellphotography?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Thanks to my amazing wife Mindy and our awesome offspring Bill and Janna. This collection is dedicated to them. Thanks also to all of the musicians, vocalists, and engineers. I couldn't have done it without you.

The opening track’s title Good Day Don’t You is a phrase uttered to me on a phone call by my good friend, (Composer) David Steinberg and it seemed like a good way to start this collection. It was recorded in 1996 by Trio Jez(Steve Mays and Bill Shirk). A portion of this song and several others are featured on my brother Jeff’s Photowalk series available on YouTube and Tubi.

Partly Cloudy is from my debut album “Lovebrain” and features former Prince trumpet player extraordinaire Matt” Atlanta' Bliss who greatly assisted and encouraged my first album when I was playing in his Jazz Quartet in Atlanta in the early 90s. He is a great guy and player and is also featured on the track “Meditation”. I’m Dreaming” is from the Gardena sessions of 1983 featuring The Now which was a power-pop/trio band featuring magnificent guitarist Bob Robles, friend of mankind and phenomenal drummer/percussionist Victor Bisetti and myself on Bass and lead vocals, Another selection by the Now, co-written by with Bob, “The Politics Of Life” appears on this collection as well.

A couple of months out of Berkeley High School in the fall of 1976 I co-led an original jazz group with my dear pal who I met the first day of my senior year in the fall of 75. Will Bernard and our brother drummer Donald Rowlands called the group The Rainbow Quartet. Three songs from our 1978 demo appear in this collection, First up is a medley of sorts. “An Artichoke and His Sister" and "Elephant Disco”. Both titles are based on true experiences in The Bay Area around that time. The group was rounded out by two great Chuck’s, Chuck Clark on Saxophone and Chuck Sher on Acoustic Bass.

It’s A Wonderful Life also has a Berkeley connection. it was produced by the brilliant pop meister Tommy Dunbar and features Tommy and his partner Jon Rubin from The Rubinoos on background vocals. It was a thrill to work with them, I became a big Rubinoos fan when Don and Will turned me on to them in 1978. I met Tommy and Jon in L.A. sometime in the mid-’80s while I was playing a jazz gig at an unlikely place, The Coconut Teaszer on the Sunset Strip. Tommy produced an album's worth of tracks for me and added guitar, keyboards, and wonderful arrangements and vocals,

Also featured in the latter part of this collection from those sessions is “The Boat” which is my tribute to The Captain, Doc, Issac, Julie, Gopher, and some of the guests as well. I always loved working with Tommy and really enjoyed co-writing Miracle Cure and Emerald Eyes with him, both are featured on The Rubinoos "Garage Sale". We also wrote several songs for Carol and the Dudes which can be experienced on my YouTube channel. youtube.com/user/jezgraham

"Pleasure Island" which I wrote in 1993 is another one from "Lovebrain". It’s based on the Pinocchio fable framed as a modern anti-hard drug song. Background vocals are by my great friend Fred Crosby who shares the lead vocals with me on the next song, an R and B ballad called “I’m Coming Home”. This version was recorded live at Sambuca Jazz Cafe in 2000 as was “Penelope which Fred also sings lead on. The first song I ever played for Fred was "Penelope" when we were touring Japan in 1979 with Between The Two. It's one of the first songs I wrote with lyrics back in 1977 and is a true story based on someone not named 'Penelope".

“The Intro” is from a batch of songs I wrote around the turn of the century for a funk/jazz collective called The Atlanta Jam Company which later morphed into Jez Graham and The Combination, We recorded it along with “Freedom Parkway”, ”The Great One”, and “Wonderful Utensil Of Serenity” in 2000 for the now out of print album all-instrumental jazz album “Restrooms For Restaurant Customers Only”. These tracks and others from those sessions feature the fantastic Sam Skelton on Reeds.

“Morro Bay” is my favorite of the songs that my brother Jeff commissioned me to write for his Photowalks show and it features one of my favorite drummers and people Peter Grant. Playing together is always extra special being that we are cousins and feel and hear music in a similar way.

“Sunrise Over The Strip” is a little techno exercise that is a tribute to the city that means so much to us we got married there. It’s featured on the Las Vegas episode of Photowalks.

Fred sings “Restrooms For Restaurant Customers Only", featuring a fantastic Alto Sax solo by Sam Skelton and in this newly discovered non-edited version we get to hear the marvelous Trombone improvisations of the brilliant multi-instrumentalist Bob Lewis

“Summer Is Over” is a theme song to a movie that I envisioned in my head as sort of a 60’s beach film with a bridge sort of borrowed from “Body And Soul". Tommy Dunbar produced and played guitar. David Steinberg is on drums and Michael Dempsey plays the fretless bass. It was part of the final Hollywood Pop Dream sessions in 1986. Engineered by Rink.

“Granowsky Street” features my cousin Peter Grant. We recorded it on my 40th birthday back in 1999 here in Atlanta at 800 East Studios. I wrote it in memory of our grandparents Dave and Lil and now it also goes out to the family tree of our Fathers and Uncles who have left us)Jerry, Hal, and Leonard and to my brother Jeff for always keeping the Granowsky flame going. It’s a Jazz waltz and also features the late Gary Land on Acoustic Bass who “The Great One is dedicated to along with Jackie Gleason.

“Waldo” was written for a great drummer and friend in L.A. named Derek “Waldo” Roberts. We played together in a great band in the early 80's called the Relievers. I’ve played it with nearly every one of my bands in Atlanta and this is my favorite version, featuring the Monday Trio, The brilliant Bill Hatcher on his own invention, the 6 string Electric Bass Guitar, The impeccable Joel Morris on Drums and recording, and me on piano, Keys and Key Bass. When Hatcher plays the upper register of his instrument I take up the bass function and vice versa. I love this trio. It was recorded in 2003 Live at Sambuca as was “Jubilee”. It was Joel’s idea to record us and it happened to be our first gig.

“Disgruntled Postal Worker” is a slow Monk-influenced blues in Gb featuring Sam Skelton, check out how effortlessly and perfectly he delivers the head in Gb and his solo which is still one of my all-time favorite saxophone solos.

“Dan Rather Sings The Blues” was written in 1981 and recorded in 2014. I’m on Guitar, Electric Bass, Keyboards, Drums, and Vocals.

Farmers Market” is a co-write with my long-time partner in time Mike Hinton. Try counting it 12 12 123 12 123 12 123.

Winter Walk is from 2014 and features a good friend and one of my favorite improvising guitarists David Marks who is also featured on the next song “Surrender” which I wrote based on Stephen Kalinich’s poem as a song for Francine Reed, it was also recorded by Col. Bruce Hampton. I loved playing on both versions.

”For A Reason” was the closing number on Lovebrain. I’m on all instruments and vocals and there is a nod to Rodgers and Hammerstein in the moving harmony and in the lyrics as well.

“Starving In A Mansion” is based on my house-sitting days in 1981 before I met Mindy.

“Sunset” is a collaboration with Drummer extraordinaire Mike Haid and we recorded it up at his house in the mountains overlooking a beautiful Sunset. We improvised it together and then I added some synth overdubs.”

“1968 Homecoming Queen Rides” again was my single on Rockaway Records from 1985. It was inspired by Mindy’s sister Thea and features Victor and Fitzhugh as the rhythm section. We recorded it at Studio A in North Hollywood in 1984. Engineered by Woody.

“Sheriff Without A Gun” is a 4 track cassette version of a song inspired by The Andy Griffith Show and us wanting to leave L.A. to start a new life with our young family, which we did, coming to Atlanta shortly after that song's completion in 1988.

“Mindy #16” is a live version of a favorite of the Mindy songs which go up to #22.

“One Hit Wonder” is presented here in its first official release although I wrote it in the 90s. I’m a No-Hit Wonder so this non-sensical pop song is not directed at anyone in particular, just a fun title and a bit of commentary about Show Biz. This version is an outtake from the Percolate sessions of 2022 and is recorded by the amazing Shalom Aberle whose Live Stereo mix brings out the best in me.

“Let’s Make Everyday Like Christmas” was written by me in 1986 and released on sideB music’s Rockin The Mistletoe” compilation in 2008. This is a slightly different mix and features both of our kids playing the music with me. In 2019 it was recorded by Puddles Pity Party for his Holiday album and show. I had a gas playing on his version as well.

Next up are a series of songs from Lovebrain and a few of my favorite co-writes with Stephen Kalinich including the funky “Goodness”(Feat. Will Bernard on Guitar) , “Smoke This” (feat. Bob Robles on Guitar), and “ Life Against The Wind” which is a solo track.

A 1987 improvisation recorded on Effie street with Fitzhugh and Jon Westfall is presented here for the first time “Beyond The Shadow Of A Doubt”.

“Anytown U.S.A./Hobo Jungle features one of my favorite drummers Freddie Anderson who Fred Crosby and I toured Japan with in the band Between The Two back in 1979.

Longtime friend and collaborator Fitzhugh Jenkins is on Bass, it was part of a longer suite that was never finished.

”Parachute” another song inspired by The Andy Griffith Show features the original True Grits, Winn Sizemore formerly known as Stone Masterson( The Man who used to hate Disco)on Bass, Mike Hinton on Drums, and me on Guitar. On Tongue Tied we add Cooper Tisdale who also played in a version of The Grits on guitar playing the excellent solo. Check out his great music at coopertisdale.com

Enjoy Each Leaf was written in my head during a walk in Stone Mountain in the fall of 2008. Janna is on percussion.

"Meditation is a funk jam with me on all the instruments except Trumpet/Flugelhorn which are played by the great Matt "Atlanta" Bliss. Fred helps me sing the chorus.

“Partly Cloudy#2” is from Lovebrain and is inspired by my muse Mindy. It’s an upbeat doo-wop 7/4 version of the same song featured in a dreamy version on track 2.

“ Lovebrain” from “Lovebrain 2”) is a solo track that is a tribute to my wife and kids as well as a bit of My Philosophy.

“Out Of Bed Is This Reality” is another one by The Rainbow Quartet. I wrote this one back in 1976 as part of a longer suite and performed it regularly in Lenox Ma. at Alice Brock's Alices at Avaloch with my Quartet in the summer of 76. I am forever indebted to Alice for giving me some of my first jazz gigs in The Berkshires and I'll always remember the joy of playing at her place and digging her amazing cheesecake and Gazpacho soup. Those gigs at Alice's made me realize what I wanted to do for the rest of my life and thankfully I'm still doing it. The song developed into this version during rehearsals in Oakland Autumn 1978 and was recorded at 1750 Arch Street studios around the same time we played gigs at Larry Blake’s in Berkeley and The Precita Park Cafe and the Bart Station in San Francisco.

The final selection is a brief conversation between one of the regulars named Salvadore and me on a break at Skippy’s Golden Gopher in Monterey Park Ca. (one of my all-time favorite steady gigs) in 1985. Behind the brief conversation, you can hear the great Johnny Miller bass player for The Nat King Cole Trio 1943-1948. It was such a pleasure to play that gig with Johnny, Lee Van Stone, Victor Bisetti, and Jon Westfall and I always say that I learned everything there that prepared me for the gigs I have played for the last 34 years here in Atlanta.

Thanks for Listening.