Jupiter Ray Project
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Jupiter Ray Project

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Press


"*"

"Taking his cue from Young and Harris, Pelletier, along with fellow Jupiter Ray core member Shannon Ross, creates country-rock music incredibly rich in feeling and lyrical quality..."
—S. Flood - Ottawa Express - Ottawa Xpress


"*"

"...That sound is decidedly laid back, acoustic-based and steeped in country and folk-rock charm. And on Morrison Heights, it is everywhere -- from the mid-tempo shuffle of Pelletier's Wrote You a Song to the mournful 'interlude' that comprises an a cappella excerpt from a live performance of I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, that finds Ross' siren voice all but drowned out by audience chatter...."
Allan Wigney - Ottawa Sun - Ottawa Sun


"*"

"...That sound is decidedly laid back, acoustic-based and steeped in country and folk-rock charm. And on Morrison Heights, it is everywhere -- from the mid-tempo shuffle of Pelletier's Wrote You a Song to the mournful 'interlude' that comprises an a cappella excerpt from a live performance of I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, that finds Ross' siren voice all but drowned out by audience chatter...."
Allan Wigney - Ottawa Sun - Ottawa Sun


"*"

"...It's a smooth ride. Ross sings most of the songs, with a few hits from Pelletier, who produced the album. Both are stunning vocalists who've judiciously arranged each song with just the right hint of soul. Peter von Althen, Michael Ball (Ball & Chain), Pierre Chretien (Souljazz Orchestra), Al Bragg (Amos the Transparent) and lead accompanist Chris Breitner are a solid ensemble.

There's a welcome flutter of horns on The Park and the wheezy blush of organs on Occasional Snowflake. The weepy fiddle on Wrote You A Song adds a subtle touch to the sleepy duet. The disc culminates in Fight Your Way Out, the swelling rock track on a beautifully realized disc. This is for fans of Jenny Lewis or Dean & Britta -- if they were on a country retreat -- and an early contender for disc of the year..."
-Fateema Sayani

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/arts/story.html?id=9c8e8be4-bfb5-4617-a7f6-2b871f2c5f2c&k=93089 - Ottawa Citizen


"*"

"...It's a smooth ride. Ross sings most of the songs, with a few hits from Pelletier, who produced the album. Both are stunning vocalists who've judiciously arranged each song with just the right hint of soul. Peter von Althen, Michael Ball (Ball & Chain), Pierre Chretien (Souljazz Orchestra), Al Bragg (Amos the Transparent) and lead accompanist Chris Breitner are a solid ensemble.

There's a welcome flutter of horns on The Park and the wheezy blush of organs on Occasional Snowflake. The weepy fiddle on Wrote You A Song adds a subtle touch to the sleepy duet. The disc culminates in Fight Your Way Out, the swelling rock track on a beautifully realized disc. This is for fans of Jenny Lewis or Dean & Britta -- if they were on a country retreat -- and an early contender for disc of the year..."
-Fateema Sayani

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/arts/story.html?id=9c8e8be4-bfb5-4617-a7f6-2b871f2c5f2c&k=93089 - Ottawa Citizen


"Official CD Review"

Morrison Heights (4 1/2 stars out of 5)
Jupiter Ray Project (Independent)

With each listen you become more aware of the subtleties of Morrison Heights - the crickets, the woodstoves, the barking dog, all the sounds of the country where this album was made by husband-and-wife songwriting duo Jack Pelletier and Shannon Ross.

There's a painstaking attention to detail and a strong ability to say more with less. Ross's soulful vocal is an instrument all on its own (Jenny Lewis meets Angela Desveaux).

Pelletier stays in the background for the most part as producer/guitarist, save for two lazy-day tales called Wrote You A Song and Every Corner.

Ball and Chain's Michael Ball (fiddle), Souljazz Orchestra's Pierre Chretien (Hammond, Rhodes), Paul Christian (trombone), Jason Jaknunas (electric bass), Peter von Althen (percussion) and Chris Breitner (bass) add texture.

The whole disc culminates in the six-minute, swelling rock gem called Fight Your Way Out, adding guts to a fine country album. An early contender for disc of the year.
- Fateema Sayani
Ottawa Citizen, March 3/2007 Page K4 (Style Weekly) - Ottawa Citizen


"Official CD Review"

Morrison Heights (4 1/2 stars out of 5)
Jupiter Ray Project (Independent)

With each listen you become more aware of the subtleties of Morrison Heights - the crickets, the woodstoves, the barking dog, all the sounds of the country where this album was made by husband-and-wife songwriting duo Jack Pelletier and Shannon Ross.

There's a painstaking attention to detail and a strong ability to say more with less. Ross's soulful vocal is an instrument all on its own (Jenny Lewis meets Angela Desveaux).

Pelletier stays in the background for the most part as producer/guitarist, save for two lazy-day tales called Wrote You A Song and Every Corner.

Ball and Chain's Michael Ball (fiddle), Souljazz Orchestra's Pierre Chretien (Hammond, Rhodes), Paul Christian (trombone), Jason Jaknunas (electric bass), Peter von Althen (percussion) and Chris Breitner (bass) add texture.

The whole disc culminates in the six-minute, swelling rock gem called Fight Your Way Out, adding guts to a fine country album. An early contender for disc of the year.
- Fateema Sayani
Ottawa Citizen, March 3/2007 Page K4 (Style Weekly) - Ottawa Citizen


Discography

Albums:

1. Grassfire (2002)
2. Morrison Heights (2006)

Contributors/co-producers for:

1. Songs from the Couch (Jeff Meleras, 2006)
2. Cottage Sessions (Jeff Meleras, 2007)

Photos

Bio

Jupiter Ray Project writes songs to the sound of snowshoes crunching through packed snow and crickets scratching in an old abandoned quarry. Listen for pine forest wind-sighs, the slow tin drip of maple buckets, lots of fine-tuned heartstrings, a throbbing rhythmic heart, and many stories besides.

This primarily acoustic trio writes and performs original 'Canadian roots' music that is compared to classic Canadian roots influences like Neil Young and the Cowboy Junkies, and their influences include these greats as well as many others from a range of genres: Bob Dylan, Ricky Lee Jones, The Rolling Stones, Jenny Lewis, Fleetwood Mac, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois, Greg Keelor, Neil Diamond, Burt Bacharach, and many others.

The core of the Jupiter Ray Project is husband-wife team and co-singer/songwriters Jack Pelletier and Shannon Ross, along with bassist and multi-instrumentalist Chris Breitner. They are also joined from time to time by some of Ottawa's most talented musicians, including pedal-steel player Al Bragg (The Family Brown, Michelle Wright), drummers Peter Von Althen (Starling, Skydiggers) and Peter Hammond (LoudLove), fiddler Michael Ball (Ball and Chain), and keyboardist and composer Pierre Chretien (The Souljazz Orchestra).

Jupiter Ray Project's live performances aim to be honest and compelling, and are noted for their strong three-part harmonies. They pare the music down to the bare bones, trying to create an atmosphere of shared feeling with the audience.

The group's most recent album, Morrison Heights, was recorded almost entirely at their little studio in the Gatineau Hills near Wakefield, Quebec. They aimed to capture the mood and the rhythm of that place, which has such a powerful influence on the songwriting and is too beautiful not to share. Keep your ears open for little clips and sounds from that world throughout the album. Morrison Heights explores an internal landscape using the language their world in the Hills.

Media inquiries:
Shannon Ross
Tel.: 819-459-3704
Cell: 613-447-7814
e-Mail: info@jrpmusic.com
press kit high-res photo: http://www.jrpmusic.com/images/media/JRP_media_promo.jpg

Visit Jupiter Ray Project online at www.jrpmusic.com.