November 2009
November sees the release of Only Time Will Tell, a duet project with Ian Gomm. The record is initially released only in Japan but is available in the UK through Lacey's Jam and on iangomm.com. The record features songs by Bobby Womack, Curtis Mayfield, Jim Ford, Garnett Mimms and originals by both Ian and Jeb.
Tuesday, 16 Jun 2009, 20:00
at The Vortex, 11 Gillet Square, London, N16 8JH
An exhibition of Jeb's new print collection - of jazz pioneers old and new. Stay on for a preview of music from his forthcoming CD ‘Strange Faith and Practice’ (Impossible Ark / Tru Thoughts). Innovative ‘Twelves Trio’ complete the evening.
Update: 12 January 2009
“His music is, as it has always been, an intimate fusion of country and soul.” - MOJO
Jeb's new album, ‘PARISH BAR’, was made at home, over the past couple years, in-between other projects. “Some of the tracks came quickly, other tracks crawled into being, a layer at a time,” explains Jeb. “It all started because I was involved in doing a series of wood-cuts entitled ‘Ghost Yard’. Ghost Yard was a public park in the Bronx where Afrika Bambaataa birthed Zulu Nation and helped bring about the age of hip-hop. When I lived in NYC in 1979-83, I went to the parties that Bambaataa threw there. Like the music, the parties were grass roots affairs, a collection of sounds and influences that said: what you see is what you get! This is who we are and that’s what I wanted to say with Parish Bar - “This who I was and who I am!” No big deal—just relax and have a good time. The first song, ‘COUNTRYMUSICDISCO45’ was based on a real happening - I was at a dance and we were all dancing to great disco grooves when out of nowhere the DJ dropped a Charlie Rich record. It was a great moment. It reminded me of being in Jamaica and going to the local parish bar and listening to a dub session that lasted all night. Finally, as the sun was coming up, they put on some country tracks. It's all roots music. So I've included some covers, some jazz, some country, some soul - all the stuff that matters. It's an in-between time record - this is what it sounds like at my house.”
Parish Bar (Compass Records 4497). North American release: January 13 2009, UK release: January 12 2009. See discography page for more information.
Update: 7 October 2008
Jeb Loy Nichols' eagerly-awaited first novel, ‘The Untogether’, is published on October 1st by Alcemi. Copies are available at Amazon.com. A short interview with Jeb and a description of the book can be found at www.alcemi.eu
Some advance praise :
“Venturing briskly through what is not said, ‘The Untogether’ demonstrates a proper ‘allegiance to the peripheries’. The waiting times. Remaindered dreams. In stance and style, Jeb Loy Nichols summons the vagrant spirit of Douglas Woolf, that great master of going-with-your-fate. Here is a supple intelligence in play. A sprightly and welcome voice.” - Iain Sinclair, author of ‘Lights Out For The Territory’
“This is not a love story. With this haunting, modernist account of lives struck by loss and threatened by love, Jeb Loy Nichols emerges as a singular voice.” - John Williams, author of ‘Cardiff Dead’
There will be a launch party and reading at Ryantown, 126 Columbia Road, London, E2 7RG on October 29th - for more information call 0207 613 1510.
Update: 1 April 2008
2008 is going to be a busy year. Jeb Loy's book of art, entitled ‘I Need You To Tell Me Something Different’, is currently in the shops and getting rave reviews. The book, an abstract evocation of his life in the Welsh hills, is available here at a reduced price.
His latest CD, ‘Days Are Mighty’, is being released in America on Nashville-based Compass Records. Look out for more details.
There will be shows both in America and Europe in the summer.
Also being released on 1965 Records is the first record in 30 years by legendary country soul man Larry Jon Wilson. The record was produced by Jeb Loy and Jerry DeCicca.
Look out for two limited-edition prints on the gallery space - Amuti Gallery online
Later in the year will see the publication of Jeb Loy's first novel entitled ‘The Untogether’. Keep posted for details.
Update: 10 Nov. 2006
Jeb will be playing a one-off show with Lucinda Williams on the 12th. November at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. For further info contact: Bridgewater Hallon 0161 907 9000
Update: 7 Oct. 2006
A major exhibition of new art work by Jeb Loy Nichols is opening at Capsule Gallery, Cardiff, Wales, on the 19th. of October. The exhibition will include a new series of prints entitled ‘The Ghost Yard’. These are portraits of early hip-hop pioneers. “It was”, says Jeb, “an exciting time - great music, great clubs, great people. Kool Moe Dee (from The Treacherous Three), DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Crazy Legs (from The Rocksteady Crew), Kurtis Blow - it was all so inspiring.”
The exhibition will be up from the 19th. October to the second week of December. For further information contact: Capsule Gallery, 48 Charles Street, Cardiff, CF10 2GF. 0044 (0)2920 382 882 / capsule / www.acidcasuals.com
This month sees the release by Zane Records of ‘TAKE A RIDE’ by George Soule. The CD was put together and supervised by Jeb. Recorded in Nashville and produced by Mark Nevers (who produced Jeb's ‘NOW THEN’), it's a vintage collection of southern soul classics. “George is someone I've admired for years and it was a thrill being involved with this record”, says Jeb. “It's absolutely brilliant - the songs, the singing, the playing, everything.” George Soule is a legend in the southern soul world, and Take A Ride is an instant classic. For more info: zanerecords.com / zanerecords
Update: 6 May 2006
Jeb will be joining southern soul legends Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham for a one off gig! The gig is on June 1st in London at St. James Church, Piccadilly. For information call 0207 734 5547. Seating is limited so book now!
Look out for the north American release of ‘Now Then’ in May on the Canadian label Bongo Beat! It has an extra track and slightly altered artwork. Info about the release can be found on Bongobeat.
Update: 17 September 2005
NOW THEN : The release date of Jeb's eagerly awaited new CD, NOW THEN, is October 24th. Recorded in Nashville with producer Mark Nevers, the CD features legendary Muscle Shoal men Dan Penn and Clayton Ivey, together with members of Lampchop, Wayne Nunes and Shaila Prospere.
There will be extensive touring, starting in October when Jeb will be touring with the Go-Betweens in Germany and Switzerland.
Volume two of the successful COUNTRY GOT SOUL compilations is in the shops and selling well. Jeb compiled both volumes and is currently putting together volume three.
Also available is TESTIFYING by THE COUNTRY SOUL REVUE, on which Jeb was executive producer. The CD brings together many of the artists from the first two volumes of COUNTRY GOT SOUL for a contemporary journey through the soulful south. Recorded in Nashville at Dan Penn's studio with Dan producing, it's a worthy successor to their earlier work and an instant classic.
Soon to be released : The debut CD from Warrior Charge. Warrior Charge is the work of the production team of Wayne Nunes and Perry Melius. Wayne has been a long time collaborator with Jeb, co-producing two of Jeb's CDs and playing bass. Jeb features on the new CD. Wayne Nunes and Perry Melius are one of the most indemand rhythm sections in England, having played with Tricky, African Head Charge, Aswad, and many others.
Update: 15 October 2003
• October 27, 2003 sees the release of a new EP by Jeb Loy Nichols on Green Tea Records. Entitled 'The October EP', it includes four great new songs including 'Don't Dance With Me', 'Ring The Bells', 'Mother Your Son' and 'Carrying This Weight'. Jeb Loy says: “They were all recorded at home in my place in Wales. I wrote 'em, I produced 'em, and I played 'em. Barry, who sells tires in a shop down the road, came and played Hammond on Don¹t Dance. I love 'em, best thing I¹ve done in years. This is what I've always wanted to do, a little southern groove, some reggae, a whole lotta country”.
The release, on 7-inch vinyl only, features a beautiful hand printed cover by Jeb Loy. Each one is different, with 8 different colour combinations available. Each one is signed by Jeb Loy. An unmissable collectors item!
Also available, on Casual Records, is the CD 'Country Got Soul', compiled by Jeb, a collection of over-looked gems from the golden era of country / southern soul, featuring Tony Joe White, Dan Penn, Larry Jon Wilson, Donnie Fritts, Razzy, George Soule and many others. Time Out calls it “scorched earth stuff, unreservedly recommended”. Volume 2 will be out early in 2004.
Look out too for the last release by dub / hip hop beat-masters Sofa Surfers - the CD is called 'Encounters' and features a track written and performed by Jeb Loy entitled 'River Blues'.
And finally check out the latest edition of the 'Beyond Nashville' CDs. The new CD, the third in the series, is called 'Way Beyond Nashville' and features Steve Earle, Laura Cantrell, Erin Mckeown and Merle Haggard. It also features a track from Jeb Loy's 'October EP', 'Ring The Bells'.
Keep an eye out and check the website for new gigs.