Jason Yates to release album

The go-to keyboard player for Ben Harper, Natalie Merchant (Tigerlily), Macy Gray, Michael Franti, G. Love and others is releasing his self-titled album via Vapor Records on October 6.

It might be the rich experience with these other artists, it might be personal influences, or it might be an old soul, but in combination, they have led to a new collection of songs from Jason Yates that truly represent his artistic voice, a voice that is reflective, vulnerable and earnest.

The years working with Ben Harper as a part of the seminal Innocent Criminals line-up taught him the finer points of songwriting, plus, it gave him a confidence in his own music.

“There were times with Ben that I would give him pieces of songs, and wait for him to hopefully add his parts to finish them,” Yates says. “But then one day I realized that was a bit of a cop-out. Even he told me that I should finish my own songs. “

The sound of the songs on Jason Yates has elements of the best soul music from the ‘60s and early ‘70s – easy and fluid - but with the clarity and smooth edges of modern production. Yates’ Hammond B3 organ has a timeless sound, full of the swells and fills that make the instrument so distinctive. Yates called on his L.A-based nucleus of Mark Lightcap (Acetone, Matmos), Oliver Charles (Ben Harper & Relentless7, Common, De La Soul) and Gary Mallaber (Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Miller Band) to play on the sessions, with C.C. Nite on guest vocals and Marc Ford (The Black Crowes, Ben Harper, Gov’t Mule) on guitar. They recorded live with virtually no overdubs at Manuel Nieto’s Estudio in East Los Angeles.

From songs like “My Way Out” and “To Chance” that recall the songwriting effervescence of Van Morrison and Warren Zevon to the rich Gospel feel of “Nobody’so Far,” to the emotional honesty of “Paper Tents” and “Teardrops,” Jason Yates is a deep album that sounds like someone just returning from a fantastic journey, and starting over back home.

“When we finished, and all listened back, we knew we’d done what we set out to do,” Yates says proudly. “I spent a long time thinking about this and trying to find a way to do what I wanted. And I finally did.”

Yates and a collective of hand-picked musicians will engage in a weekly residency leading up to the album’s release before embarking on select fall tour dates, all to be announced soon.

http://www.myspace.com/jasonyatesofficial

JASON YATES
Jason Yates
1) My Way Out
2) Nobody'so Far
3) Coming On Back
4) Paper Tents
5) I Run
6) To Reason
7) To Chance
8) Teardrops
9) Song For You