Jay Byrd
ABOUT
Jason (Jay) Byrd has been a professional guitarist, singer, and songwriter since his late teens. In his early twenties, he co-founded the blues-rock trio The Groov with Kerry Brooks, and in 1996 joined the then-Grateful Dead cover band Wavy Train. Byrd's original songs and guitar work helped Wavy Train to forge a sound that combined pop-oriented melodies with extended improvisation. After moving to the Washington, DC area in 2001, Jason began crafting songs with a decidedly Americana bent. An award-winning songwriter (NewSong, Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest, Bernard-Ebb Finalist), Jason continues to write and perform original roots-influenced music. Jay’s new album, At Home Again, is set for release in 2022. His previous band, South Rail, has released three EPs, a self-titled debut in 2012, "Stars" (2014), produced by Don Was, and most recently, “Take The Wheel” (2018).
Throughout the years with Wavy Train, South Rail and as a solo artist, Jay has opened for Little Feat, Chely Wright, Cary Morin, Don Dixon & Marti Jones, Kevin Gordon, Caroline Rose, Yarn, etc. and has shared stages with String Cheese Incident, Tom Constanten, Col. Bruce Hampton, Ratdog and Steve Winwood, among many others.
Jay’s new album is set for release in the summer of 2022.
Stream/Download the title track here:
CLICK THE IMAGES BELOW TO DOWNLOAD HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTO
Credit: Mike Landsman
VIDEO SAMPLES:
JAY BYRD “AT HOME AGAIN” (2022)
#1 on Roots Music Report Americana/Country Album Chart - Week of Sept. 17, 2022
“Oh to be 16 through 18 again, when I could have proudly walked around the school buildings with this LP proudly on show under my arm for all to see; and the cognoscenti having to stop me and ask about it (King for a Day!).” - excerpt from https://rockingmagpie.wordpress.com/
“I am safe to say that this is one of the best singer/songwriter albums I have heard the past few years…”(Points: 8.6 out of 10) - Strutter’zine
“In a mix of folk, country and Americana tracks we can enjoy excellently orchestrated self-penned songs that he is singing with a great warm voice that is reminiscent of artists like Van Morrison and Jackson Browne.” – www.rootstime.be
JAY BYRD “WASTE/HOPING (EP)
‘His “waste/hoping” EP shows his feel for American Beauty-like songwriting: the plaintiveness of bluegrass, the spareness of the singer-songwriter, and the lyrical originality and directness of folk.” - On Tap Magazine
SOUTH RAIL
NO DEPRESSION Live Concert Review: https://www.nodepression.com/album-reviews/americana-in-dc-stars-by-south-rail/
JAY BYRD (AKA JASON BYRD) REVIEWS
Busy Day
from All Music Guide
AMG REVIEW: ✪✪✪✪ With Busy Day, North Carolina's Jason Byrd, also known as a member of Wavy Train, has made an enchanting disc of soothing, honey-dripping pop that largely recalls early solo Paul McCartney and the Beach Boys' Smiley Smile. Byrd's knack for evoking memories of AM radio's golden past while conjuring up irresistible melodies becomes immediately obvious in the Badfinger-like "Know You Are," but continues onward toward the Big Star stomp of "After All." "Don't Mind" and "I'll Be All Right" assure listeners that Byrd has thoroughly studied the songbooks of not just Brian Wilson but Ray Davies, leaving fans of classic pop with precious little to complain about. Glistening harmony vocals bolster the title cut, and a lament such as "I Missed Sunday" sounds like it could be an outtake from McCartney's 1971 classic, Ram. Despite the retro feel here, Byrd gives pop revivalists like Jason Falkner and Josh Rouse a run for their money on Busy Day's standout piano ballad, "Fly." — John D. Luerssen
from David Bash at NotLame.com
“North Carolina, the solo debut from Jason Byrd was produced by the great power pop legend Jamie Hoover (Spongetones, Don Dixon, Marti Jones, Smithereens, Hootie & Blowfish) and features classic styled pop songs that will bring to mind Smiley Smile era Beach Boys, early solo Paul McCartney,
a touch of James Taylor and the Byrds, as well as all the aforementioned artists. NO doubts here, Extremely Highly Recommended, folks!"
from the Goldmine Review of He Was Fab: A Loving Tribute to George Harrison
”... this was the first time we’d heard the work of Jason Byrd; it turns out that Byrd has a sublime new album with a pronounced Beach Boys influence, a "Smile"-inducing work that is just made for these times. The album is produced by the above-mentioned Jamie Hoover, best known for his work as a member of The Spongetones, and we recommend it enthusiastically.)
-Carl Cafarelli CC! THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO
from Eric Sorensen of Fufkin.com, November 2003
“...sample the talents of Jason Byrd on his debut disc Busy Day. Byrd's album is produced by Jamie Hoover, and the harmony-laden tracks and jangly guitars bear witness to Hoover's musical skills. Byrd's original material displays some heavy Beach Boys influences ("Don't Mind" is melodically reminiscent of "Don't Worry Baby") … and Jason's talent warrants comparison with indie pop master Mark Johnson.”
ARTISTS/PRODUCERS/ETC:
“Jason Byrd is a graceful musician: a gifted guitarist, a soulful singer, and a thoughtful songwriter. Skilled in rock and jazz idioms, Jason's multiple talents particularly evidence themselves in his contemporary interpretations of songs from Southern Appalachia, the place of his birth.”
– Stephen Wade, musician/folklorist
“Jason is a rare individual that is equally talented as a singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. He certainly deserves to be in the spotlight along with many of his well-known contemporaries. He writes and plays from the heart. He deserves a listen."
– Zan McLeod, multi-instrumentalist/ producer
“I'm a sucker for anything with a Brian Wilson / Beatles influence. Right away I got into the way the melodies kind of climb up and down. The arrangements are very well organized, performances are really good.”
– Robert Crenshaw, musician
“Jason's SMILE-inducing sounds are just made for
these times, and they've found a new home in our room on
THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO.”
– Carl Cafarelli, This is Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio
“He [Byrd] has a natural ability at everything – top shelf songwriting, singing (God, what a voice), and guitar chops way beyond his years...He is one deep book – and one that is just opening. Check him out!”
– Jamie Hoover, musician/producer
“Jason is one of my first calls for session guitarist. His fluid playing and impeccable style has added many a nice touch to recordings he has worked on with and for me. He does pretty damn good too on the live circuit...”
– Jim Robeson, musician/Grammy award-winning producer