Editor's Note: The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library released the following announcement.
For the first time since 2009, the Acoustic Evenings with Jefferson Jay series has returned to the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. Local musician and presenter Jefferson Jay will host the evenings. Three performers will be featured on each program and will be available at the post-concert reception. The project advances the Athenaeum’s commitment to supporting San Diego talent.
The fall series begins on Friday, October 5, with local legends Jack Tempchin, Hugh Gaskins, and Jeffrey Joe Morin.
Jack Tempchin has co-written five multiplatinum hits for the Eagles: Peaceful Easy Feeling, Already Gone, The Girl from Yesterday, Somebody, and It’s Your World Now. His songs have been used in memorable films like Thelma & Louise and The Big Lebowski. Jack Tempchin’s songs have also been performed and/or recorded by George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Glen Campbell, Chris Hillman, Jackson Browne, the Paladins, Tanya Tucker, Kate Wolf, Tom Rush, Richie Havens, and Jim James from My Morning Jacket, among others.
Alone and low-tech, Hugh Gaskins will perform on acoustic guitar, acoustic bottleneck slide, harmonica, and electric lead guitar. His style is a fusion of blues with rockabilly and mountain music influences thrown in, along with a return to early influences such as gospel, Elvis, John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, and Big Joe Williams.
Jeffrey Joe Morin’s exemplary guitar and harmonica skills, along with his never-ending knowledge of standards, have resulted in stage-sharing with some of the finest musicians in San Diego. He is a wonderful one-man act, sending speckles of stardust into the universe with every heartfelt song.
The series continues on Friday, October 19, with a much-anticipated return visits by Bart Mendoza and Chris Zach, and new to the series, Cory Wilkins.
Bart Mendoza is native San Diegan and a veteran of the San Diego music scene. Mendoza spent the 1980’s as frontman for mod rockers Manual Scan, the nineties with power-poppers The Shambles, and currently performs with True Stories. Mendoza has penned songs for dozens of artists worldwide, with the song “Survive,” co-written with Danish producer/musician Jeppe Riddervold, winning the 2003 EMI Publishing Award in Berlin, Germany.
Cory Wilkins, singer, songwriter and guitarist, has a powerful, soulful voice and a unique guitar style drawn from his blues and rock roots. Blind since birth, he has actively pursued music all his life as a self-taught drummer, guitarist, and songwriter who began his musical career at 14 years old. Since then, Wilkins has independently released four CD’s, most recently San Diego Summer and Turn Up The Band, plus the single Free, and Brave the Rain. Recently named one of San Diego’s top 5 bands, Wilkins’ high energy good old rock and roll shows have people taking notice!
Chris Zach is an incredibly passionate person thriving on experiencing life and living with what God has given him. As the lead singer for the band For The Faint, Chris displays energy and a message he is not afraid to talk about, and seeks to show you a little bit of hope through his music. His music, his attitude, and his faith are what makes For The Faint such a must see band.
The fall series concludes on Friday, November 2, with inspiring performers Nancy Truesdail, Will Edwards, and Regina Leonard.
Nancy Truesdail will perform the music of her late husband Don Truesdail. Don developed four concept albums during the last four years of his life: Dasvidanya Bingoland...Hello Nancy!, Enervator, Schmooze Tales, and Adaptations Arcana Americana-Resetting Forgotten Gems. Don was tragically killed on January 13, 2009, in an accident on his way to work. The Truesdail Studio continues to honor Don’s name and much of what he stood for: music education, connection, and passion. Through completing the concept albums he was working on at the time of his death and continuing to perform his music, Nancy has been given the great honor to share and preserve his legacy.
Born in Zimbabwe and raised across America, Will Edwards embodies the traveling troubadour. His music and songs capture a unique and personal side to life that people from all walks of life can relate to. His music is grounded in the rich traditions of American folk, rock, jazz, blues and roots music, but expands to include contemporary instrumentation and subject matter such as isolation, family ties, hope, and faith.
Regina Leonard is an L.A.-based singer/songwriter. Her roots in soul and folk music have made her a dynamic and introspective songwriter. Soulful melodies and sharp insights come together to create songs that are both captivating and intelligent. Whether playing with a full band or just her guitar, she has captivated audiences all over southern California and the Southeast.
