jaime leopold and the Short Stories

“From the moment this album opened I felt on home ground with Jaime Leopold & The Short Stories. There’s a well-worn, easy-going familiarity about the songs, the singer and the delivery. Perhaps it’s that edge of Americana folk, embellished with a touch of country, then seasoned with a slice of blues-tinged longing. Whatever it is, this is music that breathes life. The stories Jaime recounts are not sweetness and light. They can be tough tales. Exploring their themes means hearing some sad narratives. Do it anyway. This is music to explore and enjoy” - Tom Franks, Folk Words (England)
- Folk Words U.K.

Jaime Leopold out of Portland is an old warrior of the music scene. He was the bass player in Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks from 1968 – 1973, and he has lived to tell the stories. His current project, "The Short Stories," also the name of his new band, weaves great tunes with a vocalist that tells part of the tale with the years of work soaked into his vocal chords.

The project is filled with twelve tunes penned by Leopold. The sound is a bit reminiscent of his previous incarnation, but there is another feel to the work also, of a man who is taking an opportunity to have another go. Each tune feels like a chant to happy and right-thinking ways of looking at life, which is refreshing in these days of auto tuning and pieced-together writing. Leopold is an individual with a vibe that is his alone; he is not attempting to blend in with any form out there.

Some great players past and present back Leopold. Sid Page from the Hot Licks was brought in on violin, while new band member Walter Cryderman supports him on vocals, mandolin, guitar and bass, and Aaron Lowe creates wonderful textures and riffs on harmonica.

"In The Land of Muscle Cars," the fourth cut, settles down the disc. It is simply a beautiful tune full of great playing by Page's fiddle solo, which is to die for, a sweet electric guitar solo supplied is stellar, and Lowe's harmonica fills and riffs sets up Leopold's philosophical story very well. This tune is in the tradition of any of the finest writers from the golden age of singer/songwriters. This tune is an honest look at life that does and will apply to life, now, then and in the future.

What I like about Leopold's work is that he is telling his tales. He isn't running for office, so he holds nothing back on his new and old outlook at this life he's been given. I think this is one of those sweet projects that an artist had to do, and it is done exactly the way the artist wants it, no pandering to anyone, which is beyond refreshing. "Take A Trip Downtown" is another strong moment in the project that follows the same vain as "Muscle Cars," good writing with a tale that anyone can relate to. Leopold again is not afraid to open his heart and give his experience on planet earth meaning.

Musically the tune that captivated me is "The Window on Prince Street." The playing and style of writing on this tune is original and the embellishments from the band and side players are a perfect fit for the form of the tune. Perhaps my favorite tune on the project is the 10th cut, "Johnny Damn the Consequence." There is a truth in the vocal that is rare, while the story continues to illuminate an artist who has been around the block more than once. Leopold has made a great seventh-ending stretch for the rest of his story in music and life.

[Christopher Anderson]

- Victory Music (Seattle)

“An album of literary slice-of-life gems. The character-driven songs have a distinct charm, and the spare story-like approach transports the listener to imaginatively-conjured lives of people who have lived a little...or, more often, a lot.” Steve Murray, Oregon Music News
- Oregon Music News