Meet The Seavers

On his album “The Uncertain Adventures of Jace K Seavers,”
Seavers has achieved the unthinkable- a jazz album with insightful lyrics as well as great music.

His lyrics are ripe with historical references and his voice is smooth and brimming with jaded confidence.
Throughout the album, Seavers croons away on subjects like Joan of Arc, King Arthur, Marc Antony and Mt Vesuvius. The melodies are masterfully crafted and soar nicely as the musicians create an atmosphere of pure jazzy relaxation.

Along with his great lyrics and compositions, Seavers must also be recognized for his great song titles, my personal favorite being “Of the Tomorrow We Wait For.”

On The Uncertain Adventures, Seavers is accompanied by a handful of brilliant musicians. Saxophonist Jin Hoke provides the highlights for a number of songs, most notably on “Caravan of Thieves”. Jack Silverman provides the electric guitar sound, and shows his mad skills on “Holding Back the Sea”. Jeff Wald provides the drums for four of the five songs, and on “Caravan of Thieves” he shows what makes jazz music so intriguing. After a delicious 30-second bass intro by Seavers, Wald kicks off with a frenzied drumbeat that hinges on disaster. But the musicians hold it all together to provide one of the strongest tracks on the album.

Seavers saves his boldest statement for last on this album with “God and Superman” where Seavers boasts that there is no need for either of them.

Pour Seavers another drink, because he may be one of the most jaded songwriters in the local jazz scene.

If there is anything critical to say about this album, it’s that it ends too quickly. Each of the five songs is wonderfully arranged, the vocals and melodies are brilliant, but 21 minutes is just enough to make you want more.
Before you can finish your second cocktail, the album is finishing. But all that means is that you will start it over once again, escape into the world that only jazz can create and grove for another 21 minutes.

ADAM FLOWERS – Murfreesboro Pulse May 18 2006- - Murfreesboro Pulse

This is a jazz record for people who hate jazz. “How can that be possible?” you may wonder. Although it seems like an oxymoron, The Uncertain Adventures of Jace K. Seavers is a jazz record that could very well appeal to those people who find jazz music to be an incomprehensible flurry of notes and spastic rhythms.

Jace K. Seavers writes structured, catchy jazz music that is perfect for both longtime fans of jazz and for the genre’s critics.

Jace K. Seavers will very likely draw comparisons to Jamie Cullum, the young British pianist that suddenly flourished in popularity in 2004. Jace’s voice is smooth, low, and suave, much like Cullum’s. However, while Cullum revels in making jazzy covers of well-known songs, Jace K. Seavers writes his own songs with his own lyrics. Cullum’s music is also centered around his light piano playing. Jace’s music, on the other hand, is based on the saxophone work and Jace’s steady string bass playing that is reminiscent of the solid playing of jazz great, Charles Mingus. One can also pick out the Duke Ellington influence in “Caravan of Thieves.” While Jace’s version is much more chaotic and flamboyant than the Duke’s “Caravan,” the rapid bass line that evokes a sense of movement is present in both songs.

For the most part, the music is upbeat and light. While one would expect that Jace would allow himself plenty of freedom to throw in extravagant bass solos, he instead utilizes his bass as a backup instrument. The saxophone is the instrument that plays a central role throughout the album. Jim Hoke, the primary saxophonist, keeps the album moving with a profusion of polished and artistic solos. The guitar is also featured with a number of bluesy solos.

Jace’s main inspiration ventures from his interest in history, and existentialism. The first two tracks on the record, for example, refer to both the medieval ages of Joan of Arc and to the destruction of Rome. It is obvious that Jace places a high level of importance on writing his lyrics because the words of each song are masterfully crafted. The lyrics flow superbly and the countless metaphors Jace introduces add an extra poetic touch to every song.

The general setup of the songs remains constant throughout the album. Each song begins with a short musical intro that centers around a saxophone melody. The songs then lead into the first verse, the chorus, a second verse, the chorus again, and then a musical intro highlighting one or two instrumental solos. After this interlude, Jace begins singing a third verse and the chorus is introduced once again. This song structure is nothing original; any music fan can recognize this arrangement from the majority of pop and rock music today. However, this common song structure is the primary reason why The Uncertain of Adventures of Jace K. Seavers is so accessible. Fans of jazz will appreciate the catchy musical interludes while those who are less than appreciative of jazz will like the charismatic vocals and not-so-chaotic structure.

LIBBY WAIT http://cdreviews.com - CD Reviews

The local bassist and vocalist celebrates the release of his debut recording, Uncertain Adventures of Jace K. Seavers, a five-song EP that thrives on the varied, sympathetic accompaniment of multi-reed player Jim Hoke and Scene staffer Jack Silverman on guitar. All original, literate compositions, the tracks represent the core fabric of one of his live sets: a series of swinging bass pulses support cosmic verbal forays in the manner of a classic lounge singer. On the final track, Seavers’ hipster attitudinizing wraps itself around the cocky rejoinder, “There’s no need for God and Superman”; if Atlas were to shrug at this faith in humanity’s potential to move mountains, it would only be due to the singer’s nonchalance in delivering the message, as if a child of the Rat Pack told you it’s all a matter of trading in self-help for cool swagger. CD release show at Douglas Corner Café —BILL LEVINE - Nashville Scene