0000 Jon Waterman
Singer and songwriter Jon Waterman writes and
performs an earthy, gospel tinged blend of blues,
roots rock and old time jazz. His lyrics often feature
storytelling, and his music has a retro quality,
influenced by the styles and sounds of artists such as
the Rolling Stones, Gram Parsons, Hank Williams Sr.,
Johnny Cash, and CCR. His 2010 CD Waterman
received praise from critics and was rated as one
of the top ten New England CD releases of 2010
in The Noise Magazine.
For the CD Waterman, Jon teamed up with
classic country producer John Penny and Dawn Frost to record a CD with
an edgy classic country feel that
unabashedly displays his influences. On the CD, Jon
showcases 12 of his original songs and one
by Hank
Williams Sr.
In autumn of 2010, Jon collaborated with Steve Rapson and Dawn Frost to produce a double CD of seasonal
music titled Our Finest Gifts: Happy Holidays from the Greater Boston Music Scene
to benefit the charity
SmallCanBeBig.org. The CD features 30 performers
from eastern MA, performing original and traditional
songs for Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years and the
season. To support the CD, four concerts were put
together featuring various performers from the set.
For more on Our Finest Gifts visit New Roots Records. For more on SmallCanBeBig.org, visit
www.smallcanbebig.org.
Waterman and Our Finest Gifts are available through New Roots Records.
Reviews & Press
JON WATERMAN
New Roots Records
Waterman
13-song CD
There is something incredibly refreshing about a singer-songwriter who, despite being subjected to the fabricated, overly synthesized music of his peers, remains true to good ol’ Americana roots. It is this “retro” quality that transports the listener to a simpler time, one of Gram Parsons, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash. A good-hearted, God-fearing Christian (“Baptize Me in the Mississippi River”), the protagonist of Waterman’s saga is continuously led astray by the Devil. His beliefs and perceptions are challenged by the lure of moonshine (“Satan’s Own Still”), the promise of fame and fortune (“Jersey Blues”), and a torrid love affair (“Error of My Ways”) in which he sings, “And she was what I thought I wanted/ Calling out for me/ And I got lost in that sultry, smoky haze/ And now too late, I see the error of my ways.” A natural-born storyteller, one can easily envision Waterman crooning these songs by a blazing campfire, interjecting every now and then personal anecdotes and historical tales similar to those told throughout “Radiator Booze” and “Sultana,” the Civil War steamship. Of the do-it-yourself approach in every sense of the word, Waterman has put forth an edgy, bluesy, and compelling creation that is every bit heartfelt. (Julia R. DeStefano) - The Noise October 2010
FROM THE WALTHAM NEWS TRIBUNE
Waltham charity website raising money with holiday CD
By Jen Judson
Dec 08, 2010
Waltham — The volunteer and holiday spirit has brought area musicians together for a holiday CD aimed at raising money for Waltham-based SmallCanBeBig.org, a website that combines the missions of 11 different charities.
The website brings the charities together to help families with specific financial needs under $1,500, from helping them make rent, covering a heating bill or paying for unexpected medical costs. The organization is the brainchild of John Connors, CEO of Waltham-based advertising agency Boathouse Group Inc., and other agency employees.
Jon Waterman, one of the producers of the album, “Our Finest Gifts – Happy Holidays from the Greater Boston Music Scene,” said he was familiar with SmallCanBeBig.org through a friend of a friend who received services through the site.
Having already written a couple of Christmas songs, Waterman thought developing the album and selling it to raise money for the organization would be a great way to help out.
Waterman has written songs and played guitar for a number of years, especially American country blues, making a living performing in nursing homes and senior centers as well as coffee houses and bars. He teamed up with Steve Rapson and Dawn Frost to produce the CD.
Rapson is known for his instrumental guitar playing and is also a producer. Frost is a singer/songwriter who regularly performs with Waterman.
The producers put out a request for song submissions through Craigslist and Facebook, said Waterman.
“Any performing musician that wanted to be a part of it could,” he said.
The submission parameters asked that each song be under five minutes and not be offensive, vulgar or demeaning toward any traditions involved, said Waterman.
Waterman said they received enough submissions for 35 songs – good for a two-part CD.
Not wanting to turn away any musician who submitted music, Waterman said it was important to include everything, which would “represent the inclusive nature of the project.”
Typically in the entertainment world, said Waterman, “you have a lot of judgment.
“My feeling as a performer is that the best judge of music should be the listening audience,” he said.
The $20 CD features songs with the obvious themes such as Christmas and Hanukkah as well as welcoming the New Year, peace, goodwill and winter themes such as sledding, said Waterman. Nearly all the songs are originals, with a few traditional tunes thrown in.
“I would like to think there would be something for everybody,” said Waterman, who listened to each song about 20 times during production.
“I have recorded CDs before, you do get tired of stuff after a while. … We didn’t get tired of it.”
In keeping with the “no judgments” principal, Waterman said they decided to avoid labeling the two CDs as the first or the second. One CD is called “Happy Holidays” and the other “Seasons Greetings.”
Waterman said he has written three songs for the CD. One of his songs, “When Santa Hit the Bar,” which he wrote a few years ago, is about Santa Claus showing up at a rundown neighborhood bar. In the song, the people in the bar all receive what they want from Santa, whether the gift is scotch or getting one’s childhood back, he said.
Another song Waterman wrote for the CD is about Hanukkah, and what “it meant to me growing up.
“It’s not a statement about organized religion, it’s a statement about how holidays have a meaning that’s relative to the times, and the places, and the people that celebrate them and about people coming together,” said Waterman.
Rapson, who also wrote songs for the album, donated studio time to those who needed it in order to record submissions. All of the artists, who gave their talent and time for free, said Waterman, also donated blank CDs toward the project.
Eileen Kenneally, who wrote the lyrics to one of the songs on the CD, also designed the album cover.
Waterman said one of the performers got her company to sponsor a family on the SmallCanBeBig.org website.
Songs from the CD will be performed at four concerts. The first was held on Sunday in Framingham at Amazing Things Art Center with 20 performers. The second show will be held on Thursday at the First Church of Cambridge from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Twelve artists will perform two songs each, said Waterman. Tickets are $3 along with a donation of a men’s hygiene product for the shelter affiliated with the church.
The third concert will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday at King Hooper Mansion in Marblehead. Tickets are $7. The final concert will be at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Norwood at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19.
All of the CD’s profits, will go to SmallCanBeBig.org. The CDs will be sold individually at concerts and on the website, with discounts for multiple purchases
For more information regarding the concerts and CD sales, go to the "Our Finest Gifts" Facebook page, or go to the Store page on the SmallCanBeBig.org website.
The Green at Lexington
1 track with illustrated booklet
Now this I like. A simple DIY illustrated booklet with tale of a Revolutionary battle and a folk song to match. S.F. Salmon drew the illustrations that look like something out of Mad magazine, though the content is serious: men dying in battle. The song is simple but real with instrumentation that gives it a slightly older period flavor, probably because of the use of a citern (I would have guessed it was an autoharp) accompanying a guitar, flute, and light drums. Jon Waterman’s easy-going voice takes you though this folk tale that reminds me of “The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down”—the version by Joan Baez. The whole project has a nice innocent homemade quality to. (T Max)
0000000000000Waterman on the radio
The CD Waterman is receiving airplay on these radio stations and programs. Please show your support for these stations by checking out their websites or tuning in to them if you are in their broadcast area!
WXIN 90.7 FM - Providence, RI. "Folk River"
WNEC 91.7 FM - Henniker, NH. "Out of the Woods"
WRUR 88.5 FM - Rochester, NY. "A Variety of Folk"
WXXI 1370 AM - Rochester, NY. "A Variety of Folk"
WEFT 90.1 FM - Champaign, IL.
WRFG 89.3 FM - Atlanta, GA. "Fox's Minstrel Show"