Christy Jefferson & Vogon Poetry

"It’s no wonder Christy Jefferson was able to sing her way out of a speeding ticket…. The fourth CD of this…singer/songwriter…is a testament not only to her chameleonic range of vocal color, but her playful, often whimsical lyrics and her competent guitar and piano playing. Jefferson…covers a range of styles, from pop-rock to folk-rock to blues, and does it all with a voice that is lush but never heavy, sweet but never cloying. Her voice affects a feathery, sensual edge in the bluesy “Air I Breath,” perfectly complemented by her honky-tonk piano work. It becomes hauntingly exotic in the ballad “Lost All Sweetness,” and whisperingly sexy in the cabaret-like “Lipstick Tease.” Her lyrics are clever and contemplative - “Meghan’s Pet Bee” is a dark, bizarre ballad evocative of Hendrix’ “Hey Joe” - but can also be quite serious, as in “Dance Everyday,” a soulful tribute to a lost friend, or the folk-rock “Love Song for the Human Race,” written upon her brother’s safe return from Iraq. In every track, Jefferson’s rich vocals are the star."

There’s some great work by her back-up band: Adam Clymer’s electric guitar in the pop-rock “Natural” recalls classic Stones riffs, and Mel Rake’s drums on “Lost All Sweetness” have the provocative complexity of Indian tabla. - September 8, 2007 — The Morning Call

"A crowd usually tries to avoid the typically annoying sound check before a gig….But, not in the case of the Christy Jefferson and the Core Four warm up Monday afternoon at Liederplatz. Christy belted out a verse and chorus of Joni Mitchell's hit "Both Sides Now," put the crowd already seated in awe and drew many passers-by to stay for the entire set. The fresh set of songs, ranging from the Bowie-esque opener to a silly song about coffee addiction, kept the audience entranced with Christy's superb voice and the Core Four's funky, folksy and pop infused rhythms. No song in their repertoire sounded the same based on the diverse instruments played and the true talent of the performers….Looking out at the smiling faces of the enthusiastic crowd at this show intermingled with the Christy's enchanting vocals and the Core Four's passionate, gifted musical abilities you would have thought the sun was shining the entire afternoon at Musikfest. - August 7, 2006 — MergeDigital

“With a hauntingly sweet vocal range that spans octaves, long, rusty-blond hair and heartfelt tunes performed on piano or acoustic guitar, ...Christy Jefferson may be the next generation’s answer to Joni Mitchell. ...Extensive journeying brings a true cosmopolitan flavor to her compositions, which demonstrate a lyrical maturity. Her mellow songs may be infectious and easy on the ear, but their intellectual content give sophisticated urbane listeners something meaty.

Her prior experience ...collaborating with notable musicians (Scott Simon from Our Daughter’s Wedding, which toured with U2; Blue Oyster Cult’s lead guitarist Buck Dharma) give her an edge over the other solo acts…. ‘I’m just living and breathing music,’ she beams.” - May 2003 — The Morning Call

"...this album takes her talents to a new level. The vocals on “Living Curiously” are…mature and rich…. (A new) emphasis on larger issues…is tied to smaller moents. Jefferson’s songwriting – with subjects such as ice ream, pet bees (really!), coffe and lipstick – makes smaller moments and concrete images evoke universality…." - October 4, 2007 — The Reading Eagle

“….Her New CD, “When Kisses Take Prisoners,” ranges from the upbeat ‘Crossing Kisses’ to the plaintive ‘Chase Me,’ to the heartfelt ballads like ‘Jonathan Waiting’ and ‘One forever.’ All feature her youthful but powerful vocals. Although she does not sing in a classical style, she developed her voice studying classical opera at Kutztown University, where she graduated with a degree in music in 2002…. On the CD, her first studio outing, Jefferson is backed with guitar, bass, drums, mandolin, cello, violin, accordion, and vocals….” - April 6, 2006 — The Morning Call

"Doylestown resident Christy Jefferson is proud to release her third album entitled When Kisses Take Prisoners. She has embraced the cutthroat perceptions fo the business and overcame obstacles such as nearly fatal car accidents, having all her equipment stolen and studio shut-downs. Yet, every time Jefferson was knocked down, she bounced back stronger, with a smile on her face and guitar in her hands. Jefferson... describes her music as ‘folk rock with a little bit of cabaret. And when playing with the band, ‘we adapt an edge of blues.’….

Understanding this is an extremely difficult industry to enter, Jefferson gave herself a six-month deadline after graduation. This time was allotted to generate enough money for living expenses as well as business expenditures. Determined and excited, Jefferson sent out over 100 press kits in six months, trying to maintain a positive outlook. ‘I was very persistent with my pursuit,’ said Jefferson. ‘You have to get through the no’s to get to the yes.’ Continuously sending out media information, networking and performing as often as possible, Jefferson’s embracing sounds quickly generated a loyal fan base.

‘I love performing live because I am totally in the soul of the song and the audience is right there with me,’ said Jefferson. ‘There’s an energy exchange. It’s a shared experience.’ These feelings are shared by her fans, who continue to return the love and loyalty Jefferson exhibits. She attributes this support to helping her overcome one of the hardest experiences of her career. In February 2004, Jefferson ventured to the CBGB Club in NYC for a live performance. Before the show...her keyboard and guitar were stolen. Confused and devastated by the situation….She did not have the money to replace the items and questioned the troubling incident as a sign that she was not meant to play music.

After Jefferson spent days questioning her career, a good friend convinced her to write an email to everyone on her mailing list, explaining the situation and asking for help. The response was incredible. Countless emails were returned, sharing similar stories, offering help and even donating money, and within three days, Jefferson was able to replace all of the stolen equipment. ‘It really helped the healing process to know I wasn’t alone and these types of things happen all the time,’ said Jefferson. ‘... My fans were able to take something ugly and make it one of the most beautiful things that has ever happened to me.’ Jefferson soon wrote a song, ‘Comin’ Round,’ about the experience, which later won first place in the Musselman Triathlon CD Compilation Competition — a contest open to more than 30,000 contestants.

... Jefferson strives to take situations such as this and format them into her songs. Other lyrics can be attributed to her crazy imagination and looking deeper into everyday situations. One perfect example of Jefferson’s imaginative powers can be heard in ‘Speedy,’ a track from her Live in Philly album. The inspiration for ‘Speedy’ came from a friend with a pet fish. She had gotten two snails to eat the algae from the fishbowl and named one of them Speedy. After arriving home from work, Jefferson’s friend found Speedy on the floor half way between the fishbowl and the door. Looking further into the situation, Jefferson’s mind wandered — suicide or bravery? ‘You see, Speed's fishbowl was eye level to the window, where he had a beautiful view of the green trees and the blue skies of the world outside his fishbowl home,’ explained Jefferson. So her enticing question after evaluating Speedy’s death — would you risk your life for freedom? It takes a wild imagination and pure soul to be able to transform the death of a snail into a mind exploration evaluating freedom. And this is just on example of Jefferson’s creativity. Speedy can be found on Jefferson’s Live in Philly, which is a recording of her performance at the Tin Angel in December 2004. Although the CD release for Live in Philly was an overwhelming success, while driving to the CD release, a run-in with an 18-wheeler truck on the turnpike nearly took the life of the singer/songwriter.

‘I still can’t believe I walked out of it alive,’ said Jefferson. ‘I saw the whole thing in slow motion. An eighteen-wheeler hit a car, sending it three lanes over directly into me. I hit my brakes and the car slammed into me on the driver’s side door. There was heavy traffic at the time. I really thought I was going to die.’ Miraculously, Jefferson suffered only minor injuries and shockingly still made it to her performance. Her arrival may have been late, but the near-death experience and adrenaline rush of surviving illuminated an indescribably energy to the show. Jefferson likes to view all these life experiences as signs; There are reasons behind there encounters, and she strives to develop a comprehension for their purpose.

... Jefferson is ecstatic that her three-year pr - April 5, 2006 — Trend Magazine