Jann Klose

Artist Information

Biography

Jann Klose's album REVERIE has already become a critical favorite in regional America and is – as the LA Weekly states – becoming "a minor hit," heard on over 120 radio stations worldwide, including Sirius XM Radio in the U.S., the BBC in the U.K. and most recently, Prambors Radio in Indonesia. Coupled with his dynamic live performances, Jann is steadily building a loyal following.

Since the release of REVERIE, Jann and his band have been on the road almost non-stop both in the U.S. and Europe, supporting Renaissance on its nine-date, 40th anniversary tour that included shows in prestigious venues including Atlantic City’s Trump Taj Mahal, The Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia, The Birchmere in Alexandria, and NYC’s Concert Hall. Jann and members of his band have now opened for Elliott Murphy on tours of the East and West Coast on more than 25 dates.

Other opening slots include Marshall Crenshaw (Sellersville Theater), Pete Seeger, Jonathan Edwards (Fairfield Theatre), The Strawbs and Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root. He collaborated on stage at New York City’s B.B. King Blues Club with members of the Rolling Stones’ horn section, Alan Parsons Project, and Dire Straits for its third annual salute to George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh, raising funds to fight cancer. In September of 2008 Jann and his bassist Chris Marolf performed with Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart and Roger McGuinn at the Martin Guitar 175th anniversary concert at The State Theatre in Pennsylvania.

Born in Germany, raised in Nairobi, Kenya and Johannesburg, South Africa, Jann spent his teenage years in Hamburg, Germany before coming to Cleveland, Ohio as an exchange student. He returned to Germany, to fulfill mandatory civil service, and then relocated to Northeast Ohio, where he studied voice with Emmy winner David Gooding, sang in the Cleveland Opera Chorus, and released two CDs on local label G21 Records.

In 2000 Jann relocated to New York. He has since performed in Broadway touring companies of JEKYLL & HYDE and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR as well as a regional production of The Who’s TOMMY (NJPAC). Songs from his 2003 EP BLACK BOX, produced by Grammy winner Marlon Graves, were licensed to the Warner Bros. DVD “Dead Broke,” featuring Paul Sorvino, car maker SAAB’s 60th Anniversary CD in France and Prambors Hits in Indonesia.

In addition to radio airplay and extensive touring in the U.S. and Europe – over 200 shows since 2008 – Jann and his band have been receiving positive press for REVERIE:

“The first thing that's totally unmistakable about Jann Klose is that voice – which is just light years beyond that of the typical singer/songwriter … a sound that is classy, distinctive and often irresistible.” – Advance Newspaper Wire Service, MassLive.com

“Klose wins over the listener with his soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come.” – The Washington Post

“Gorgeous, autumnal album laced with stand-out tracks … he has the talent and the material to become a major artist on the world stage.” – NetRhythms, U.K.

CONTACT:
Anne Leighton
Media & Music Services
718-881-8183
LeightonMedia@aol.com
www.anneleighton.com

Instrumentation

Jann Klose: Lead Vocals, Guitars
Chris Marolf: Upright Bass, Backup Vocals
Lars Potteiger: Keyboards, Accordion, Backup Vocals
Patrick Carmichael: Drums, Percussion
Leah Potteiger: Violin, Backup Vocals
Megan Marolf: Oboe

Discography

Enough Said
The Strangest Thing
Black Box EP
Live At The Bitter End, NYC
(Digital EP)
Beautiful Dream/Hold Me Down (Single)
Reverie

Links

• Jann Klose | MySpace
• Jann Klose | Facebook + iLike
• Jann Klose | YouTube
• Jann Klose | Blog

Audio

• Beautiful Dream
  Listen  
• Hold Me Down
  Listen  
• Doing Time
  Listen  
• Give In To This Life
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Beautiful Dream
• Hold Me Down
• Doing Time
• Give In To This Life

Video

On NBC's 10! Show (Philadelphia)

Photo Gallery

Press

• The Washington Post [+ Show ]
  

  "Blessed with a melodious voice, he tends toward exuberance whatever the lyric. Klose was born in Ge..."Blessed with a melodious voice, he tends toward exuberance whatever the lyric. Klose was born in Germany and raised in Africa, and he's based in New York. His songs' immaculately tasteful orchestration sounds like Eric Matthews crossed with Nick Drake, best of all on the waltz "Doing Time." The arrangements on "Reverie" are by turns jazzy and classical, with frequent piano parts and a dedicated oboist and violinist in the band.
  
  His lyrics tend toward the sort of world-weary, lovesick ennui typical of poets in their mid-20s, and the lush instrumentation only swings, never rocks. Still, Klose overcomes the boredom and wins over the listener with his soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come."

• Performing Songwriter [+ Show ]
  

  "Born in Germany and raised in Africa, Jann Klose brings an element of world music to his adult-cont..."Born in Germany and raised in Africa, Jann Klose brings an element of world music to his adult-contemporary pop-rock. His latest record Reverie offers songs of thoughtful introspection and longing. Rich arrangements feature orchestral strings, jazzy horns and old-world accordion in addition to the standard bass, drums and guitar. Highlights include the melancholy 'Mother Said, Father Said' and Latin-flavored 'Clouds.'"

• New Music Weekly [+ Show ]
  

  "I just got a copy of Jann Klose and his Reverie project. This is an amazing collection to great mus..."I just got a copy of Jann Klose and his Reverie project. This is an amazing collection to great music and every track has something special in it. My favorite cut is "Give In To This Life" that could end up becoming a radio anthem."

• Blurt Online [+ Show ]
  

  "There are wonderfully atmospheric folk pop moments reminiscent of the most accessible work of David..."There are wonderfully atmospheric folk pop moments reminiscent of the most accessible work of David Gray and Francis Dunnery ("Beautiful Dream," "Mother Said, Father Said") and others that shimmer like Sting's latterday jazz leanings via a contemporary Kurt Weill songwriting angle ("Doing Time") and still others that hint at his African connection ("Watching You Go"). Klose doesn't fit comfortably in any particular genre, with jazz and pop and folk elements woven tightly into his sonic textures in a way that guarantees a relatively broad appeal across stylistic lines."

• Philadelphia Daily News [+ Show ]
  

  "Ear-grabbing pop singer-songwriter has a confident yet gentle voice, with tints if sould gospel and..."Ear-grabbing pop singer-songwriter has a confident yet gentle voice, with tints if sould gospel and Afropop rhythms. The latter reflects his childhood in Nairobi, Kenya and South Africa."

• Cleveland Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  "This German-born singer-songwriter launched his music career here a decade ago (after first being e..."This German-born singer-songwriter launched his music career here a decade ago (after first being exposed to Cleveland as a 16-year-old exchange student) and has spent the years since the 2003 release of his well-received “Black Box EP” writing and refining these 12 songs. Everything about “Reverie” showcases the current New Yorker’s wide-ranging voice. His lyrics are elementally human, measured and sincere. He’s the sort of musician who can build a song around the lyric “I don’t want to wake up this beautiful dream” without sounding trite. And while the songs are at times colored with accordion, violin or horns, Klose’s wise restraint makes each composition feel wonderfully fragile."

• Blogcritics.org [+ Show ]
  

  "Jann Klose makes complex but accessible chamber pop with intelligent lyrics and contagious rhythms...."Jann Klose makes complex but accessible chamber pop with intelligent lyrics and contagious rhythms. Songs like "Doing Time" and "Clouds" have a European and sometimes Beatlesque sensibility. (It doesn't hurt that Klose's voice sounds a bit like Paul McCartney's.) The German-born, South African-raised singer-songwriter, now based in the Bronx, has been a theatrical performer, and he has a fine feel for how to arrange his songs with "stageworthy" effectiveness, easily slipping in horns, strings, reeds, and more unusual instruments. The touch is light; a song like "All These Rivers" may remind you of some of Sting's solo work, while the gentle "Remember Your Name" could have come out of southern California in the 1970s. Overall, a sweet salve for troubled times."

• TheCelebrityCafe.com [+ Show ]
  

  "If you lived in Germany, Kenya and then the United States, you’d have some interesting things to sa..."If you lived in Germany, Kenya and then the United States, you’d have some interesting things to say. For Jann Klose, his album Reverie is his expression that conveys his worldly sensibilities. Very insightful and somewhat ethereal, this album is an easy listen that will sweep you away with a moving orchestra backing the folk-pop melodies composed by Klose. The most striking thing about this album is the use of unusual instruments that may seem out of place, a Portuguese guitar and an accordion for example, but they inexplicably work. Vocally, Jann doesn’t have an especially impressive voice, but his forcefully sincere delivery makes up for it. If it’s at all possible, this album is both spiritual, tender and funky at the same time. It may seem like an odd combination, but the pairing of things that don’t seem like they’d work, but do – is a big part of what sets this album apart from others."

• Aced Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  "Jann Klose’s new album, Reverie, is a musical masterpiece with an ensemble of easy-listening sounds..."Jann Klose’s new album, Reverie, is a musical masterpiece with an ensemble of easy-listening sounds that invites the listener to explore their own imagination. The instrumental collaboration for Reverie includes everything from an upright bass, an accordion, drums, violin, oboe, trumpet, and a Portuguese guitar, making Jann’s music truly unique. Integrating Jann’s hypnotic voice with lush easy-listening sounds makes Reverie a harmonious success. Songs such as “Beautiful Dream”, “Hold Me Down”, “All These Rivers” and “Remember Your Name” will resonate in the deepest recesses of the listener’s mind, thus creating a mystical experience of melodious pleasure. Reverie is one beautiful dream you may not want to wake up from."

• Boston Phoenix [+ Show ]
  

  Review of MOONLIGHT INTERIOR: "The soulful and exciting Jann Klose with an incredible three piece ba...Review of MOONLIGHT INTERIOR: "The soulful and exciting Jann Klose with an incredible three piece band featuring Roberta Piket, Chris Marolf and Patrick Carmichael anchor the images, treating Mr. Klose as a narrator who connects these separate but relatable images through the music he composed. His music works magically well with the choreography guiding the viewers to a world of enrichment. The music wonderfully so, never outshines the choreography but rather supports it with great strength. This is savvy because the commercial side of Mr. Cassell allows the audience to be invited by those who may appreciate music that is inviting to all. While this show reminded me of Twyla Tharp’s MOVIN' OUT, it totally has no relation ... Mr. Cassell and Mr. Klose have created a world that is accessible but at the same time artistic, dramatic, humorous, moving, transporting and best of all, self revealing. While it was seen Off Broadway, the show definitely puts to shame any show that is seen on Broadway now-a-days."

Setlist

Selected Original Material:

Black Box
It's Not The Way
Fever In My Heart
Walk Through The River
One Little Chance
You Belong Here
The Strangest Thing
Eye Of The Needle
Mother Said, Father Said
Doing Time
Beautiful Dream
Clouds
This Sacrifice
Question Of The Heart
Through These Windows
The Beginning
All These Rivers
Waiting For The Wave
Everybody Wants It
Remember Your Name
Hold Me Down
Give In To This LIfe
Ithaca
Watching You Go
Wicked Spell

Some Covers:

Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Mackie Messer (Mac the Knife - Weill/Brecht)
Everyday I Have The Blues (B.B. King)
Thousand Roads (David Crosby)
Summertime (Gershwin)
Washing Of The Water (Peter Gabriel)
Stormy Monday Blues (T-Bone Walker)

Basic Requirements

Calendar