PERCOLATE by James "Jez" Graham

It all started with some chord changes sent to me by my longtime friend and collaborator Victor Bisetti. He also had a title-The Vow That Keeps. I loved the changes and the way he played them so much that I said to Mindy, Let's write some lyrics that reflect the everyday loop we were all experiencing during the lockdown, as we wrote we realized we were telling our love story and I was inspired to add a bridge and keep developing the melody. The song wouldn't go away and it helped us cope with the uncertainty of 2019 and 2020.

Next on a cold winter day, tired of hearing me gripe that my coffee was cold and not wanting to microwave it as so many suggested, Mindy, gifted me with an electric percolator which complimented the acoustic percolator that was handed down to us by Mindy’s Mom years ago. With all the fancy coffee contraptions available I realized there was nothing like a slow perc and it made me wanna work. It worked because the flow was on and the rest of this album is the evidence.

The next song Quirley comes from a feline-based conversation we had post percolation. I mentioned/wondered to Mindy who had recently rescued a stray cat who then had 5 kitties (She found homes for all and we kept one who we named Tiggy), why I hadn’t written him a song as I always have for our pets in the past but ultimately we decided to make the song about Tiggy’s toy (friend) Quirley. When doing live streams during the lockdown, Mindy added a puppet show with both Quirley and another friend Quigley. Musically the song is notable for being the only song I’ve written with only Major 7th chords. In case you're still wondering, Quirley is Squirley with a Q.

Beautiful is one of many songs I've written for my beautiful wife Mindy. I wrote it when she was my girlfriend back in 1983 and the words for the middle eight are lifted from something she wrote to me on a Valentine’s Day card the year of our wedding, 12/30/83.

Next up is the first of the 2 collaborations featured on this set that I wrote with the wonderful poet/lyricist Stephen Kalinich, I love the message- Start Your Day With Gratitude. This song was first featured on our duo album from 2006 “ You Can Soar” and featured daughter Janna on drums in her first recording session. Stevie and I both have roots in Binghampton NY although I only lived there my first year on earth and have very few memories of the place other than doing Bosco commercials with my dad on his tv show "The Bazooka Bubble Gum Popeye Hour".

Stephen has written songs with all of The Beach Boys and his collaboration with Dennis Wilson "Be Still" was always one of my favorites, I was inspired to record a solo piano version of it in 2004 which my friend Jerry Boyd gave to Stevie and we soon began our collaboration which I am grateful for. That song and the album it was on “Friends” by The Beach Boys was and still is very important to me. I bought it at a department store in Great Barrington Ma. right at the time I was learning to meditate and was encouraged and inspired by its music and message. I still am.

T.H.I.N.K. was inspired by an acronym and owes its origins to the Sufi poet/mystic Rumi, it has also been attributed to Bernard Melzer, Alan Redpath, and others. We used to collaborate on the song in a completely different arrangement with the Unity East Team back in the day. Thanks to Mark Vignati, Linda Jackson, and the rest of the folks at Unity.

Excuse Me is originally from the love operetta “ Two Hearts In The Land Of Um”.

Now we get into songs from my nonsensical non-rock opera Papavonne+

Sugar On The Brain/Papavonne (Reprise)
Infomercialist, Pizza Franchisee, Pioneer of The Big Beat, Originator of the Doc character Back in the future of dreams, Fiber, Juicing, Off-Broadway rejection, Folk rock decay, Pizza delivery, Jewel heists, It's all in these songs.

Goe Vanni covers either Papavonnne's early days or those of his Grandfather, I don't know, you decide, it’s based on the idea that everything on the internet is true, Are you?

Accountability continues the Papavonne saga in a blues boogie type of song that exposes the Smoke and Mirrors of his deceit.

Now we are at peace with calm and blissful feelings, sitting by the water and just being, my old friend Nick Thielker sent me a poem entitled Listen and when I read it the song took shape immediately in my head, it’s the newest song on the collection having been completed in the Spring of 2021.

Billy’s Deli in Glendale Ca, was our favorite place to hang out in the ’80s when we lived in Silver Lake. On every trip back to L.A. we would always get together with friends at Billy's and get to see our all-time favorite waitress Evvie. Sadly on our last visit there, we found out that she had passed away the month before. She was not only the best waitress ever with the best jokes and wisecracks but she saved many cats. This song is dedicated to her memory, now Billy's is no more but the song goes on and the place will always live on in our hearts.

Surrender is the 2nd of the Kalinich/Graham collabs, it was released as a single by Francine Reed, featuring David Marks, Dave Ellington, Victor Bisetti, and myself. That same track was released with me singing on my Lovebrain 2 album and will soon be featured on "The Jez Graham Collection", for this version I altered the chords a bit at David Marks suggestion and I also unwittingly altered some of the words by just being in the moment. Fans of Col. Bruce Hampton will recognize this song as we recorded it for his "Pharoah's Kitchen album in 2014 and it was a regular part of our setlist in the years I played with him (2011-2015).

Kress is pretty much a sequel to Billy's Deli as it was located right next door, My first Atlanta Band True Grits used to open shows with this song.

Melody is Mindy and I appreciate and am grateful for her Magic every day.

Key Change-Another excerpt from Papavonne-Scene 17

Yup. Another scene from Papavonne-The Happy Hour, Scene 18

Indiana is about the place my Parents, Brother, and Grandparents are from. Childhood and teenage memories of Cornfields, Leaves coming down, Snowfall, The Huddle House, Swanky Frankies, The Broadmoor, 86th Street, and of course Shapiro's Deli where Granny used to work.

Restrooms For Restaurant Customers Only was the title of one of my out-of-print jazz albums. The lyrics present my story and the conclusions I have come to, regarding the peace I get from playing for the people while they eat and drink. I don't need attention or applause, the gift is in the giving

At The Piano Bar is an example of my duality, on one hand, I want to be ignored, and on the other hand, I like it when the crowds sing along and have fun.

It’s A Wonderful Life was originally produced by Tommy Dunbar and features Jon Rubin and Tommy of the Rubinoos on background vox. That version will be available soon on "The Jez Graham Collection". This version serves as a prelude to the reprise of The Vow which brings us right back where we started but with a special lift relating to song #17 at the end and a nod to my first influence Harpo Marx for the ending. Thanks for listening.

P.S. The greatest production from the team of Jez and Mindy is these two who are not only excellent musicians, composers, and producers
but are amazing and all-around great people. We are constantly proud and grateful for them.

https://www.billgrahammusic.com/
https://www.jannagraham.com/

Thanks to Shalom Aberle, Eddie Owen, Victor Bisetti, Winston Sizemore, Peter Grant, Fred Crosby, Nick Thielker, Stephen Kalinich, David Marks, David Steinberg, Tommy Dunbar, Gary Lambert, Jeff, and Ruth, Mom and Mike, Janna, Bill, Mindy, Tiggy, Quirley, and you for listening.

This album started with recording sessions featuring many of my favorite musicians. Those tracks are still being worked on and will be released eventually. Thanks to Victor, Peter, Winn, Bill, and Janna for the work that began in 2019. I reached a point where I wanted to go for a more immediate vibe that could best be achieved with just me, a piano, and my voice. I asked dear friend Shalom who is the best live sound person in the biz how this could be achieved. I decided I wanted to play and sing(at the same time) as I had been doing on my weekly live streams that aired both on Volume.com and Facebook Live throughout the lockdown. He graciously offered his help and expertise and I am beyond grateful for his wisdom and ears.

This album would not have gotten done without the steady support and encouragement of my better half Mindy. It has been my pleasure and honor to share the last 39 years with you. I look forward to the rest of our life together. My love for you is never-ending, It only grows as days go by.

James "Jez" Graham is a piano playing playing composer and singer/songwriter. As a keyboardist he is known for his work with Col. Bruce Hampton, Francine Reed, David Marks, and many others. He can be heard playing piano weekly at the world's busiest airport-Hartsfield Jackson International on Concourses E

jezgraham.com