Jim Vegas
Wichita, Kansas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2008 | INDIE
Music
Press
Strange World — Jim VegasGoonzy Magoo Records (2013)by Torin AndersenStrange World, debut solo album by Jim Vegas sits squarely in the space where blues and jazz meet at the cross-roads with a light drizzle of fuzzed out electric guitar rolling in over the horizon.Released Sept. 10 on Goonzy Magoo Records this impressive track listing totalling 17 songs ranges from 13 originals to 4 covers from artists T. Bone Walker, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.Vegas, having been a guitar player since his teens, developed his talents studying at Berklee School of Music and CSU in Fort Collins, Colo. Stylistically, Vegas (born Brad Connor) really developed his palette of sound touring with different bands like the 12 piece, Calamari Safari in the mid-90s and Budhi Brown an L.A. based outfit.The time spent with Budhi Brown — a band described as a soundtrack to film noir, and sounding similar to down-tempo band, Morphine — is evidenced onStrange World, though not with a slow tempo but more upbeat, sounding like Brian Setzer (an artist I am only familiar with from my experience at a guitar store where my boss often played "Stray-Cat Strut" during breaks).Wanting to leave the glitz and glamour of L.A., Connor found himself in Chicago for several years. Working the windy-city performing and honing his true love, songwriting (over technical guitar playing), Connor has been developing these tunes for his solo debut for release in Wichita, his newest residence.Strange Worldwas produced by Connor and Craig Beebe and was recorded at Brickhouse Studios. All instrumentation — singing, guitar playing, keyboards, shakers, harmonica and anything that makes noise with the exception of drums — was performed by Jim Vegas. Filling the drum throne is Tommy Crabb covering a few tracks and co-producer Beebe behind the kit filling in where Crabb didn't.Keep an eye out for Jim Vegas, a performer looking to leave his mark in this strange new world he is now calling home. - f5paper- Torin Andersen
Discography
Strange World- Goonzy Magoo Records- 2013
The Bullfight Is In Our Heads- Late 2014
Photos
Bio
One listen to his solo debut album STRANGE WORLD ( Goonzy Magoo Records ) clearly testifies that music is as necessary for JIM VEGAS as food or oxygen. JIM VEGAS music brings a unique voice to Contemporary Blues/Jazz music, evoking the same emotional energy & vibe of these genres, while not using traditional forms as a crutch. Where did this guy come from?
JIM VEGAS was born Brandon Conner in 1972. First learning to play the guitar after hearing a B.B.. King album as a teenager, his world was soon filled with pictures painted from sound by artists such as Muddy Waters, Albert King, Morphine, Howlin Wolf, Miles Davis, Tom Waits,Bob Dylan and countless others.
Through many years of instruction, (a brief stint at Berklee School of Music in Boston, and later classical studies at CSU in Fort Collins, Co) live performance & practice, Mr. Vegas has become adept in many styles and on many traditional instruments (guitar, bass, harmonica), as well as some not so widely used (dobro bass, bullhorn, his dog Sandmans vocals). While constantly striving for good musicianship, he has always considered songwriting to be a more important craft than technical acrobatics. In fact, his music is as influenced by writers and poets as it is by the masters of American music.
JIM VEGAS began to make a name for himself during and after college in the mid 90s while touring the Southwest with a 12 piece funk band CALAMARI SAFARI and later with the rock-noir band Budhi Brown. Often described as a soundtrack to a film noir, BUDHI BROWN settled in Los Angeles and for the next 5 years built a strong cult following through live performance, music videos, songs featured on MTV reality shows & CD releases.
While in L.A. Jim also worked to develop his music business & production skills working as a music co-ordinator at Soundtrack Music Associates(A talent agency for composers scoring films), Guitar Center (where he got his b level pro audio certification, and a priceless tour of Bob Clearmountains home studio), and through regular contact with local bands & poets producing for them in his studio.
Wanting to leave the glitz of entertainment industry centered Hollywood, and feeling a pull to move musically closer to the blues tradition that has influenced him, he made the journey cross-country to Chicago, where he performed and wrote music for several years.
Since then Jim has done well. He continues to hone the craft of songwritng, and blues/jazz guitar playing. He performs at concert halls, nightclubs, weddings, bookstores, film & music festivals, botanical Gardens and more.
Jims 1st solo Debut album Strange World features 13 well crafted original songs and covers by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits & T.Bone Walker. The album debuted in 2013 on Goonzy Magoo Records (an indie roots based label out of Wichita, Ks)
2014 should be a big year. Jim is currently in the studio recording his 2nd album The Bullfight Is In Our Heads which is good news for any discerning lover of original blues & jazz.
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