JPR Live Sessions

Jake Shimabukuro grew up on Oahu and first started learning ukulele at the age of four. In 2006, as he was starting to get noticed, he recorded a video of the Beatles classic While My Guitar Gently Weeps. It is considered among the first viral videos and put his career into overdrive.

Known for his fast, complex playing style, he set out to take his instrument to new places. His use of effects and live looping allow him to explore a vast array of sounds, and his interest in music takes him across multiple genres.

His most recent album, Blues Experience, was a collection of blues and rock covers (and one original) he recorded with Mick Fleetwood, drummer and founder of Fleetwood Mac. Prior to Blues Experience, he released Jake & Friends, with a genre-bending cast of friends including Jack Johnson and Paula Fuga, Willie Nelson, Sonny Landreth, Lukas Nelson, Bette Midler, Billy Strings, and Ziggy Marley among others. Jon Anderson, the lead singer from Yes, joined him on a version of the Beatles tune A Day in the Life that showcases the creativity Jake brings to his sound.

Hear him talk about his technique and recording these albums plus live performances of Cause We've Ended as Lovers, Kula Blues, and The Legend of Joseph Kekuku - the latter being a tribute to the inventor of the steel guitar. Hearing his story inspired Shimabukuro to start playing ukulele with a slide.

JPR Live Sessions are engineered by Jon Griffin and made possible with support from The Talent Club offering live music and cold drinks in a casual atmosphere in Talent, Oregon. Find their live music schedule here

The Rosa Lees - Bekkah McAlvage on guitar and lead vocals, Holly Hurley on bass and lead vocals, Rachel Buklad on banjo and harmony vocals, and Jessie Monter on fiddle and harmony vocals - are working mothers, all of whom have haunted the regional music scene for years.

Their debut release, Wake Up Call came out last spring. They bring depth to their instrumental and vocal arrangements, and a refreshing dose of feminine energy and fun to their songs, all while paying homage to traditions and stretching out into newer territory.

Hear them talk about their beginnings, their home/artistic life balance and some live cuts from Wake Up Call in this JPR Live Session. Learn more about The Rosa Lees here.

JPR Live sessions are engineered by Jon Griffin and made possible with support from The Talent Club offering live music and cold drinks in a casual atmosphere in downtown Talent. Find their live music schedule here.

Originally from Wisconsin, Jason Dea West left home early to pursue music and has lived the troubadour lifestyle.

For a time, he made his home in Southern Oregon's Applegate Valley where he formed the band Intuitive Compass. He has since moved on but continues to return to the area to work and perform. He is now touring with his band The Siskiyou Crest.

Hear him talk with Danielle Kelly about his music, including his latest release 8 Miles From Rusk and debut some new tunes in this JPR Live Session.

JPR Live Sessions are engineered by Jon Griffin of Luna Zen Studios and made possible with support from The Talent Club with live music and cold drinks in a casual atmosphere. Find their live music schedule at talentclublive.com

Southern Avenue (the road) is a famous road in Memphis that leads to Soulsville - the home of Stax Records. Southern Avenue (the band) is a family band featuring the sisters Jackson - Tierrinii, Tikyra and Ava along with guitarist Ori Natfally that brings the soul of Memphis to new audiences.

The blues-award winning, Grammy nominated band just released their 4th full-length album, Family.

Hear some of their new tunes in a stripped-down performance and hear them talk with host Danielle Kelly in this JPR Live Session.

JPR Live Sessions are engineered by Jon Griffin and made possible with support of The Talent Club offering live music and cold drinks in a casual atmosphere in Talent. Find their live music schedule here.

A rising star in the regional music scene, Adam Gabriel recently won the Ashland Folk Collective curated open mic competition.

He and his band, the Cavaliers played at the Craterian Theatre in Medford before embarking on a national tour. Hear some new tunes in this JPR Live Session and learn about his lengthy music career and some upcoming releases.

JPR Live Live Sessions are engineered by Jon Griffin of Luna Zen Studios and made possible with support from the Talent Club featuring live music and cold drinks in a casual atmosphere in downtown Talent, Oregon. Find their live music schedule at talentclublive.com

Mindy Smith got her first record deal after recording a version of Jolene for a Dolly Parton tribute which caught the attention of Dolly herself. In 2004, she received the best new/emerging artist award at the Americana Awards.

She grew up in New York to adoptive parents who were involved in the church. She listened to what was popular on the radio at the time, artists like Cindy Lauper and the Cure, but was always intrigued by country music.

Later in life she connected with her biological family who were from Appalachia and involved in playing the traditional music of the region.

She has several albums in her catalog and numerous collaborative efforts and co-writing credits. Her latest release is the 2024 album Quiet Town.

Hear her perform live from the JPR, Steve Nelson performance studio and talk about her life and career.

JPR Live Sessions are engineered by Jon Griffin of Luna Zen studios and made possible with support from The Talent Club featuring cold drinks and live music in a casual atmosphere in downtown Talent, Oregon. Find their live music schedule at talentclublive.com

Maya de Vitry grew up surrounded by music. Her sister Nina has a solo album and plays in Noah Kahan's touring band. Her brother Kyle is also a recording artist. She initially received formal training in violin, honing her skills playing traditional roots music with family and friends. She is now adept at several instruments in addition to her vocal and songwriting skills.

After spending about 10 years as part of the trio Stray Birds, Maya launched a solo career in 2019. She has 4 solo albums and an EP under her own name and has written with and for a wide variety of other Americana artists around Nashville including Phoebe Hunt, Oliver Wood and Caitlyn Canty.

She now also wears a producer hat and has worked recently on an upcoming release by Shelby Means (bassist for Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway) and the new release from her touring guitarist, Joel Timmons - Psychedelic Surf Country.

Joining her in this JPR Live Session is Joel Timmons on vocals and electric guitar, and bassist Ethan Jodziewicz.

Hear songs from her most recent album The Only Moment, and learn about her career and what motivates her to keep creating.

JPR Live Sessions are engineered by Jon Griffin of Luna Zen Studios and made possible with support from The Talent Club offering live music and cold drinks in a casual atmosphere in Talent, Oregon. Find their live music schedule at talentclublive.com.

We were happy to invite Shook Twins back to the JPR performance studio for their 4th JPR Live Session.

We caught up with them on a west coast tour with the Portland indie band Glitterfox.

Calling both Sandpoint, Idaho and Portland, Oregon home, Shook Twins have been staples of the Portland music scene since the early 2010s. Their unique approach to songcraft and gorgeous matching vocals and harmonies combine for something that defies easy categorization.

Hear their brand new single Hand Up, a couple of tunes from their last studio album Some Good Lives and their conversation with Dave Jackson about their work and history.

JPR wishes the Shook family and Katelyn the best for the new little Shook on his way soon.

JPR Live Sessions are engineered by Jon Griffin with help from Kenyon Mayers. JPR Live sessions are made possible with support from Talent Club featuring live music and cold drinks in a casual atmosphere in downtown Talent, Oregon. Find their live music schedule here.

The Universal Fire is the latest album by singer-songwriter Jeffrey Foucault. Jeffrey Foucault grew up in Wisconsin and now calls New England home where he lives with his wife, singer-songwriter Kris Delmhorst and their daughter.

Drawing influence from a variety of greats like Little Richard, John Prine, and Greg Brown, his sound encompasses a wide variety of traditional American sounds from blues to country and rock and roll.

Joining him on tour and in the studio is Erik Koskinen. He has a new album as well - Down street/Love Avenue.

Hear their conversation with Danielle Kelly and new songs from each of them in this JPR Live Session.

JPR Live Sessions are engineered by Jon Griffin of Luna Zen Studios and made possible with support from The Talent Club - offering live music and cold drinks in a casual atmosphere in downtown Talent, Oregon. Find their live music schedule at https://talentclublive.com/

Fantastic Cat is a supergroup of singer/songwriters whose individual careers we've been following for quite a while at JPR. They are Brian Dunne, Mike Montali - of the band Hollis Brown, Don Dilego, and Anthony D'Amato.

They're touring on their second album That's What I Call Fantastic Cat, a follow-up to the "award eligible" (as they say) The Very Best of Fantastic Cat. The group got together in New York after crossing paths at various gigs and festivals. They say, tongue in cheek, that they felt they were making too much money in their other endeavors and wanted to see what it would be like to work for 1/4 of the pay. On a more serious note, their collaborative efforts seem to bring out the best in each other.

Featuring poignant lyrics and tight harmonies Fantastic Cat takes turns on different instruments including drums and trade off lead vocals. Their banter makes for an entertaining live show.

Hear them perform 3 songs from Now That's What I Call Fantastic Cat, and talk about getting together, where they got their name and their ideas for naming albums in this JPR Live Session hosted by Dave Jackson and engineered by Jon Griffin.

JPR Live Sessions are made possible with support from The Talent Club offering live music and cold drinks in a casual environment in downtown Talent, Oregon. Find their live music schedule at their website.