14 Steps To Harlem

Description

Produced with James Maddock and featuring core touring band, guests Brian Mitchell and Ben Stivers, a duet with daughter Savannah and a radiant violin solo by Laurie Anderson, this record delivers Jeffreys literate, emotionally raw lyrics coupled with a still supple voice capable of singing in a practically limitless number of styles. Garland Jeffreys has been making provocative, personally charged urban rock and roll since the late 1960s. This New York native continues to record and perform with the energy of a man half his age.

Garland Jeffreys has been making provocative, personally charged urban rock and roll since the late 1960s. 14 Steps To Harlem, the third album in six years by this beloved rock-soul-reggae singersongwriter (New York Times) is set to release April 28 on his own Luna Park Records (Rough Trade Distribution/GoodToGo). Produced with James Maddock and featuring core band members Mark Bosch, Charly Roth, Brian Stanley and Tom Curiano, guest spots by Brian Mitchell and Ben Stivers, a gorgeous duet with daughter Savannah and a radiant violin solo by Laurie Anderson, this record delivers what fans have come to expect from Jeffreys: edgy immediacy and literate, emotionally raw lyrics coupled with a still supple voice capable of singing in a practically limitless number of styles. With a crowd-funded documentary of his life in the works, Garland Jeffreys continues to defy expectations. A Brooklyn native who could fairly be called the quintessential New York City musician (East Hampton Star), and an explorer of the links between rock, race and rebellion (New Yorker), after a long hiatus Garland Jeffreys came roaring back into the spotlight with 2011s The King of In Between. As good a classic roots rock record as youre going to hear from anybody (NPR) the album earned raves and led to his second appearance on David Letterman as well as sharing the stage with pals Bruce Springsteen and Levon Helm. The experience fueled a creative revitalization for Jeffreys, whose ebullient, late-stage creative energy colored every note of his next release, Truth Serum (2013).

Starting out in Greenwich Village clubs in the mid Sixties, Jeffreys first recorded in 1969. He continued honing his craft over a number of lauded albums and in 1980 the song Matador hit # 1 in numerous European countries and is still a radio staple there today. In 1981 he broke though to American audiences with Escape Artist and in 1992 released the searing Dont Call Me Buckwheat, his reflections on being multi-racial in America which featured Hail Hail Rock N Roll. Jeffreys has long held the respect of his peers and the breadth of contributors to his albums and performances reflect that respect as well as his ahead of the curve penchant for musical genre-bending: Dr. John, The E Street Band, John Cale, Michael Brecker, Larry Campbell, The Rumour, James Taylor, Phoebe Snow, David Sanborn, Sly & Robbie, Sonny Rollins, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Lou Reed among many more. With a string of critically acclaimed records and radio hits including Wild in the Streets and his cover of the garage rock classic 96 Tears its a testament to both the broad appeal and diversity of Jeffreys music that his songs have been covered by hardcore punk legends The Circle Jerks (whose version of Wild in the Streets is a skater anthem), psych-folkies Vetiver and jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker.

His songs have been featured in numerous TV shows and commercials and Wild in the Streets was recently featured in the Baz Luhrmann-helmed Netflix original series The Get Down. A 2016 Long Island Hall of Fame inductee, a NY Blues Hall of Famer, featured in the Wim Wenders blues film The Soul of a Man, recipient of the prestigious Schallplattenkritik Prize in Germany and the Tenco and Premio Prizes in Italy, performing at world-class festivals such as Byron Bay lues, Montreux Jazz, Ottawa Folk, Calgary Folk and Fuji Rock, and at venues from Alaska to Japan, almost fifty years into his storied career Garland Jeffreys has no intention of slowing down.