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Sunday, 15 November, 2009 11:08 AM
CMA New Artist Spotlight: 'Nathan
Lee Jackson'
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Photo
by Abigail Hadeed
Nathan
Lee Jackson |
| By
Bob Doerschuk |
| ©
2009 CMA Close Up News Service |
Nathan Lee Jackson nourished
his talent with a regimen of piano lessons, church choirs, talent
contests and opening slots at shows around Winchester, Ky. Moving
to Nashville after high school graduation, he followed the well-trod
path into the music business, though with two unusual advantages.
The first was one of his roommates, Billy Strange’s former
wife, who happily introduced the young newcomer to her industry
friends.
The second was Jackson’s
artistry. His expressive vocals and the dramatic poetry of his lyrics
resonated on a recording he’d made of his ballad, “Powerful,”
which caught the ear of Jeff Glixman. With deep roots in classic
rock, the producer related to this intensity and, with Zak Rizvi
co-producing, helmed Complicated Hearts, Jackson’s StarCity
Recording Company debut, with Jackson's wife Stephanie among the
participants.
On 14 tracks, including
12 co-writes and the self-penned “Powerful.” This album
weaves a complex tapestry of influences and unusual arrangements,
from two a cappella tracks to the jazzy ballad “Kentucky Breeze,”
written by Jackson and Jesse Lingo, and the tightly harmonized fiddles
and screaming lead of “Sittin’ by the River,”
written by Jackson and Jim Femino. There’s Country in the
steel guitar on the new single, “Desperate Man,” by
Jackson and Bud Tower. But here too there’s edginess in the
power guitar driving home a story of finding God at a moment of
final reckoning. Throughout Complicated Hearts, Jackson swings for
the fences and connects every time.
IN THEIR OWN
WORDS Q&A
MUSICAL HERO
“Garth Brooks.
Ropin’ the Wind was one of the first albums I owned, and ‘The
River’ was the first solo I sang in church.”
SONG YOU’D
LOVE TO COVER
“‘Two Sparrows
in a Hurricane’ by Tanya Tucker. I loved that song as a kid
and it applies to my life now more than ever.”
CD IN YOUR STEREO
“Nichole Nordeman’s
Wide Eyed.”
FAVORITE FOOD ON
THE ROAD
“Free food!”
DREAM DUET PARTNER
“My wife Stephanie
… however, if Stephanie was at home, sick with the flu, and
LeAnn Rimes just happened to want to sing a duet with me on the
CMAs, I guess, through my tears, I would enjoy that thoroughly.”
On the Web: www.NathanLeeJackson.com
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