Pi Jacobs – Soldier On
This artist, in my opinion, is a refined & classy Bonnie Raitt protégé on some songs. Pi Jacobs is a multi-instrumentalist with a beautiful warm rural voice, sterling accompaniment & a batch of stylistic original songs. All enjoyable pieces. It’s as if I’d known her work for 20 years. The CD has a vintage pull on the ears from someone who has been around the barn a few times & understands the genre.
Born in San Francisco Pi somehow manages to have a percentage of the deep South in her genes if not her voice. She has been in business for 2 decades but doesn’t sound like a veteran just a seasoned artist (contradiction? A little).
This set of 11 diversified tunes on Soldier On (Drops April 26/Blackbird Record Label/40:00) is Pi’s 10th project. She writes story songs with well-assimilated instrumentality (“Coyote”). Her vocals are like watercolors – each color runs into the other with a gentle change of hue & tint. She certainly mastered the art of infectious Americana melodies.
Produced by 2-time Grammy nominee Eric Corne (harmonica) & Pi (guitar/vocals/bgv) the pieces were recorded at the Carriage House & Forty Below Records (LA). There’s a little touch of many artists in Pi’s style but she consolidates it with skill into her indelible mix & comes up swimming strong against the rootsy tide.
Songwriting-wise there’s a Lucinda Williams characterization, with Emmylou Harris class, Mary Chapin-Carpenter formalist storytelling & never delves deeply into traditional country margins. She does shape her music through those properties with the banjo picking & fiddle sawing. The late Loretta Lynn would’ve liked her songs.
Pi keeps a safe distance from being too mainstream/commercial though many of her tunes are catchy enough to squeeze through that popular rushing stream of chart success. “Smoke Signals,” is quite satisfying. Though, “Shoo Fly,” isn’t going to improve upon the classic “Shoo Fly Pie & Apple Dandy,” from Dinah Shore (1946). But, as a playful song – Pi scores because she shows listeners that she has a sense of humor & it isn’t planted in novelty.
Pi has balladry faith as she slows things down to a sultry “Mermaid.” This shows her ability to play a little bluesier & she evokes a lyrical visual when the music plays. Quite a good turn. “My Last Day,” has a Joan Osborne influence & Pi applies it with class. Pi’s warm yet powerful voice with clarity is the value added.
Ah, but that “Coyote,” is the jewel I keep coming back to. I shake my head, but it won’t come out.
Highlights – “Coyote,” “Hallelujah,” “Too High, Too Low,” “Smoke Signals,” “Mermaid,” “My Last Day,” “Soldier On” & “I Don’t Feel Lonely.”
Musicians – Adam Hall (dobro/banjo), Zack Hall (upright bass), Philip Glen (mandolin/fiddle), Butch Norton (drums/percussion), Eamon Ryland (slide guitar) & Richard Dodd (cello).
CD cover photo by Karman Kruschke. CD @ Amazon & https://pijacobs.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Song Premiere: Pi Jacobs “Too High Too Low”