Born in 1980 in Boston, singer-songwriter Jesse Dee got hooked on R&B as a pre-teen while growing up in the Boston suburb of Arlington.  Listening to his idols, Al Green and Etta James, led to singing in numerous school activities as well as his church choir.  He began writing songs by 15 and at 18 got a guitar along with a copy of The Bob Dylan Six-Chord Songbook and began performing at every opportunity.  Bittersweet Batch, released in 2008, garnered very positive reviews that led to extensive performing both in the eastern US as well as Europe.

 

The current album has eleven tracks of original music in which he channels, at various times, Otis Redding, Al Green, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, and Jackie Wilson, all to great effect. The most difficult part of this review is to select favorites since they are all have amazing musical charm.  “What’s A Boy Like Me To Do” transports the listener back to the school gymnasium dance 30 or 60 years ago while “Sweet Tooth” is a rock and roll classic and “Boundary Line” evokes the very best of ballads.  Soulful R&B is in good hands as long as the extremely talented Jesse Dee continues to deliver as he has here!! 

 

– Scott Peavler