Sam Jaffe
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Sam Jaffe

Band Folk Singer/Songwriter

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"Melodic.net (Scandinavia"

If you love Evan & Jaron and Across The Sky and that sort of modern singer songwriter rock with AOR refrains it’s time to take out wallet from your jackets and surf to Jaffe’s homepage and buy yourself a new album, cause this is a real show in refrains extravaganza… The opening “Strong Enough” sets the tone with a helluva refrain, and it just continues. It’s a real damn fine album in the genre and you can’t be more that real damn impressed but this guys ability to write catchy refrains. Fans of both AOR and the modern singer songwriter scene will love this album. Listen to songs like the opener I just mentioned, third out “Feel” (which sounds like an acoustic-edged Harem Scarem tune) and “Angel” (listen to the harmony vocals…) and I are sure you’ll have a new fave in this man. And just to find Vinnie Colauita behind the drums is cool. A sure check out folks! - Par Winberg


"Much more than just Something To Fall Back On"

The swift rise of affordable, studio-grade home-recording gear has done wonders for discerning independent artists eager to record their next project on a budget. Los Angeles-based singersongwriter Jaffe is a case in point, adding to the widening sonic blur between big budget production and DIY pluck with his spirited new pop-rock record, Something to Fall Back On. It helps that Jaffe starts with quality ingredients: a strong, melodic voice, refined songwriting chops, an ear for big pop hooks, and a handful of sharp musical friends to help flesh things out. It also doesn’t hurt when one of those pals is drumming ace Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Sting).

Jaffe recorded most of the album’s tracks at his house into an 800 mhz Apple iBook G3 and the Digidesign MBox, after Colaiuta laid down his drum parts to Jaffe’s scratch tracks, using Cubase. The resulting songs emit that major-label sheen, and reveal that Jaffe is a skilled pop artisan who knows how to build a catchy tune, coating his songs with sonic polish without drowning them in production. It’s the good side of “radio-friendly”: accessible, tastefully manicured melodies, energetic vocals, and musical dynamics that set up for the hook before swelling into soaring choruses.

Jaffe doesn’t waste his time getting there, he doesn’t wear out his welcome, and even when you know where he’s headed, it’s a smooth ride. Not surprisingly, Colaiuta helps each song bear fruit; his versatile touch taps the essence of each song and conjures the rhythmic underpinnings that help snap the other elements into place as a unified whole.

But it’s ultimately Jaffe’s voice that drives the record. He’s clearly got the soulful, pliable pipes of a should-be pop star who can go it alone with just an acoustic guitar (as he has on the college campus and coffeehouse circuit). On a track like “Strong Enough”, his voice and inflections suggest a rockin’ Darryl Hall. Jaffe’s spring-loaded vocal leads inflate his choruses with an anthemic release, occasionally slipping up into a falsetto finish, while his layered supporting vocals stretch like a smooth sonic fabric across the background.

Most of the cuts on Something to Fall Back On are a mid-tempo blend of acoustic and electric guitar. Jaffe covers much of the acoustic and electric rhythm tracks, adding a little high-strung here, a little baritone there, as well as Wurlitzer and B3. Jim McGormon’s electric leads help lift the choruses, and on tunes like the opening track, “Angel”, he cranks out a juicy-toned opening riff that establishes an upbeat mood. It’s a well-crafted effort from Jaffe — much more than just something to fall back on.

— Jim Kirlin
- Wood & Steel Magazine


"Simon, Lachey, Jaffe offer lots of surprises"

Something to Fall Back On (4 stars) -- He's probably one of the most talented acoustic guitarists you'll never hear on pop radio because he has no major record label or distribution deal. But his debut album, Something to Fall Back On, is a wonderful showcase for the talented up-and-coming songwriter and musician whose tunes are available online. Jaffe's Something blends soulful ballads and uptempo rock numbers to deftly expose his high-baritone, low tenor voice and talent for thoughtful and catchy lyrics: You see I'm old enough to know better, and young enough to not care all that much; I got a simple way to loose myself. I close my eyes and sink into your touch. And having "drummer to the stars" Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa) lending his skill makes the album that much sweeter. Jaffe ably handles both guitar and piano duties and emits impressive vocals evocative of Daryl Hall, Jack Johnson, and Seal with a dash of Coldplay's Chris Martin thrown in for good measure. Standout tracks include "Hear Me," "Change the Rules," "Feel," "In My Head," and "Strong Enough." The former talent producer for Rock Star: INXS, who has also appeared on episodes of The O.C. and Summerland, is receiving international airplay. His music is available on iTunes and cdbaby.com. Up next? His stunning, impressive rendition of Bob Marley's "Is This Love," appearing on a European-produced Marley compilation disc, due later this summer. What are record labels waiting for?

-- Aliah D. Wright
- Gannett News Service


Discography

Bedroom Recordings - solo-acoustic released 2003 - over 7000 copies sold
Something To Fall Back On - full band production- released 2005

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Bio

Born to folk-hippy parents in Boston, Sam Jaffe was surrounded by music and the arts as early as he can remember. Learning how to play guitar and piano from his mother at age 5, he gravitated towards the great artists of his parents’ generation; singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Joni Mitchel, and Paul Simon, Motown acts like Otis Redding, and Marvin Gay, and classic rock bands such as The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and The Beatles.

At 15, toting his acoustic guitar, notebook of songs, and whatever cab fare he could scrap together, Sam started gaining notoriety around New England's coffee houses, clubs, and college campuses. After high school in Cape Cod, he went south to study music at the esteemed University of Miami School of Music, majoring in classical voice and jazz composition. It was in these years that he started to combine his roots in folk, rock, and soul with his education of jazz and world music, which is evident today in the textures and rhythms that flow through his song’s arrangements. While still in school, he was performing consistently around the southeast US, both solo and with full bands. These performances garnered critical, national attention including write-ups in Billboard and Musician Magazine, and lead to an endorsement contract with Taylor Guitars, a relationship that continues today.

Currently based out of Los Angeles, Sam Jaffe tours frequently, covering the US, Europe, and South America, and performs regularly around California's premier venues, both with a band and solo-acoustic. His brand of soulful, acoustic driven, folky, pop-rock continues to draw large crowds of fans wanting to hear his penetrating voice and captivating, timeless songs.

In 2005 Sam completed his first full-length CD, “Something To Fall Back On”, which he wrote, arranged, produced, recorded, and performed vocals, guitars, keyboards, harmonica, percussion, and did the string programming. In addition, the record features his good friends: world-renowned musicians Vinnie Colaiuta on drums (Sting, Faith Hill, Frank Zappa), Jim McGorman on guitars and keyboards (Michelle Branch, “Rock Star” House Band on CBS), Derek Frank on bass (Jonatha Brooke, Ali & AJ), along with other top L.A. session players. “Something to Fall Back On” was mixed by Marc DeSisto (U2, Stevie Nicks, Michelle Branch) and mastered by Bill Dooley (Madonna, Motley Crue, Deftones). “Something To Fall Back On” has received rave reviews, and is currently selling very well through online sources, and at live shows.

Covering an extremely broad spectrum, and blurring the lines between alt-rock, AC, pop-rock, AAA, modern country, folk, and college markets, Sam’s music has been gaining momentum with radio, including several songs being added to the Clear Channel database, and being invited for morning-drive on-air performances and interviews on Rock108-KeyJ (Clear Channel – alt rock) and Kean-105.1 (Clear Channel - country). In addition, he is receiving airplay on satellite radio and several US college stations. International radio play currently includes Sweden, Germany, Italy, and France, as well as CBC Ottawa and Vancouver. His music has been featured on TV, film, and the internet, and his voice can be heard singing national commercial “jingles” for LA’s top music production companies. Caffeine Clothing has signed Sam to an endorsement deal and uses the single “Strong Enough” as the lead-off track on their new compilation CD. D'Addario Strings, Line 6, and PropellerHead have added Sam to their short list of endorsed artists as well. MTV & VH1 have licensed the entire record to use on six of their shows. In May and June ‘05, he performed in Brazil to over 65,000 people per show as a main-stage headliner for the Coca Cola Vibezone Festivals in Sau Paulo and Rio. He was the only international act invited to play, and the only artist performing for all four nights. Taylor Guitars & Apple Computers chose Sam to be a featured showcase artist at the 2006 NAMM Show in Anaheim. Most recently, Sam was the only American artist asked to contribute a song for the upcoming European release, “Timeless Vibrations – A Tribute To Bob Marley” which is due out in the summer of 2006.

And in his words, “Hopefully, I’ve only barely scratched the surface…”