Phil Jackson is set to release “The Sandy Sessions”: 17/02/2014 on Oh Mercy! Records

Thanks to guest writer, Troy Diffenderfer, who will be taking up a regular post with our friends at TheMusicPulse.

Hailing from Ipswich, England, Phil Jackson breathes new life into the singer/songwriter genre. Learning guitar early on at the age of 12, Jackson mixes a melodic storytelling aspect similar to Joni Mitchell, with some edgier, folk rhythms, (think of an unplugged Bob Dylan). In an era where cookie cutter hits plague the airways, Jackson brings back two key elements of traditional folk that blossomed in the sixties, his ability to weave a story, and his stripped down way of playing his tunes.

The fact that he’s accompanied by just his guitar shows a raw, and almost vulnerable side to him as a songwriter. In an age where most artists use a multitude of instruments and computer generated sounds, Jackson’s bare arrangements bring out an element of music that’s been missing for awhile.

“So Long Gone,” one of my favorite tracks off of his newest EP Sandy Sessions features Jackson’s ghostly vocals accompanied by some steady finger-picking make for a very haunting song. Other song’s like “A Big Man” and “Butterfly,” are rhythm-driven tunes that are reminiscent in the style of Don Mclean and Bob Dylan.

The simplicity Sandy Sessions is what breathes new life into the folk genre. In an age where “hits” can be generated by a computer program, Phil Jackson’s ability to connect with listeners with just his voice and a guitar show there’s still musicians out there with raw, natural talent.
Production Details: Recorded: Nick Rowe; Edited & Mixed: Phil Jackson; Mastered: Carl ‘Beeba’ Best

http://www.philjacksonmusic.com

https://soundcloud.com/philjacksonmusic/sets/sandy-sessions

facebook.com/PhilJacksonMusic
Press contact: pete@ohmercyrecords.net
Highlights/Accolades: Played on national radio, performed numerous live sessions for the BBC, played at the Latitude festival, had songs feature on an advert, performed with Neil Innes of Monty Python, The Rutles & The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, honourable mention in the Billboard World Song Contest (in 2004) for ‘Reading The Signs’. Have performed in Texas, Norway and throughout England.