WERS 88.9 fm - Performance Wrap-Up: Jesse Dee

November 6^th, 2009

Jesse Dee plays soul music. He loves it and he believes in it. However, his respect and genuine adoration for soul has left Dee free of subtlety. On the contrary, his sheer effort and enthusiasm account for anything critics may deem "left out," or "missing." The Arlington-raised Dee came through WERS to give the station's listeners a taste of his sound, banging out three unreleased tracks that cannot on his debut record, Bittersweet Batch (7not/Munich Records). In studio, tunes like "Sweet Tooth," and "Tell Me Before it's Too Late," showcased the tight ferocity of the musicians and one little attribute that most big-time acts can only fantasize over: Dee's vocals sound at least equal to, if not better than they do on record.

Anybody who witnessed Jesse Dee and his six-man band perform at WERS will tell you that it's in Dee's excitement that you find a songwriter whose goal is more about story-telling and convey a personal message than about preach morals or tackling some elaborate topic—which isn't far off the mark of Sam Cooke or any number of other soul masters.

Similarly, there isn't a pretentious bone in Dee's body. When asked to define himself, didn't hesitate, saying he's a "human being." But he's more than just that—he's a man whose enraptured and encapsulating melodies are displayed through a true understanding of music. He's simple, not simple-minded, and that's tough to find in any artistic arena. And he's got a humble attitude to top it off. His long-term career aspirations: "I wanna keep it going. I want to just be able to keep making music. I wanna get better at it."

As a boy, Dee, now 29, was brought up listening to music. "When I was a young kid," he says, "I listened to Oldies 103.3, when I was in 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th grade." He listened to Doo-wop on the radio while his father brought him up listening to The Beatles, The Stones and Van Morrison. Like many of us, Dee says he "listens to everything," but older music, Doo-wop for instance, is "Just the stuff that I like the most." Currently, Dee says he's been listening to Lee Fields' June-released record, My World, as well as a slew of guys, like Spencer Wiggins, from the famous soul label, Goldwax Records.

Dee also says most of his songs are inspired by true events from his own life, and that "Remember Me," a Bittersweet tune with a slow, smooth build, is indeed about somebody specific. Perhaps you can imagine what lyrics like, "Mountains of money could never buy you another me," are about. He's also got "Alive & Kickin'," a song he wrote during his stay at the emergency room after a car accident roughly four years ago.

Jesse Dee's sound is refreshingly vintage, without sounding a bit outdated or obsolete. He's not trying to be anyone but himself, and with writing as precise and descriptive as his, coupled with a voice so naturally soulful, it might make you tear up with an ear-to-ear grin on your face. He's establishing himself as a genuine figure whose reviving that sweet soul music we thought was done for when they pulled Otis Redding's plane out of Lake Monona.

-By David Padula

-Photos by Fernanda Gomez