REVIEWS / MEDIA RELEASE

REVIEWS

New album Black 17 just happens to have a tune or two that begs to be heard by the wider public. Recorded in rapid fire time (a matter of hours according to Jaymes) the end result is a surprisingly slick album filled with intelligent pop songwriting and the world weary vocals of Jaymes. First single and opening salvo ‘Don't You Know' is an atmospheric mid-tempo ditty that has radio written all over it while the title track keeps the mood going with a sly nod to a good tip at the gambling tables and life in general.

Elsewhere, the pretty ballad ‘Can't Remember To Forget' wouldn't be out of place on a modern country record. The song is helped along by some nice female backing vocals by Cindy Connell and Mel Jones (who can be heard throughout the album). Finally, the 60s pop of ‘Heaven Help My Heart' is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and is criminally pushed down the bottom of the playlist.

Above all, Black 17 is an album delivered with sincerity and honesty. With that on Jaymes' side, it is worth a bet.

'Disco' Stu McPhee - Ear Medicine

Swedish Reviews

New Zealand born Steven Jaymes (he lives in Melbourne,Australia) goes directly to the roots on his new album "Black 17" - the whole album totally breathes blues,jazz and folkrock. His voice reminds even more of Eric Clapton on this album and the music is less based on piano and fender rhodes,most of these songs have been written on the guitar giving the songs a more bluesy touch. It's like joining Sting on a picnic with Van Morrison where Don Henley is showing up with the dessert,Steven Jaymes has enough heart and soul to spread love through his music over the pacific ocean. Who can stop him?,who wants to?,not me! 11 real nice tunes. Kaj Roth Melodic May 06

"STRONGLY PAINTED IN BLUE"

"New Zealander Steven Jaymes is not just another singer/songwriter hungry to make a great first impression. His mature, but fresh songs are brimming with a soulful resonance that can only come with experience, coupled with a knack for describing life's constant complexities in an affirming way.
The songs on his latest effort, the live-in-studio album Black 17, are hook-laden and driven, yet laid back, strongly painted in blue, and they possess a real natural beauty, accentuated by Jaymes' wonderful husky voice.
These are songs for everyman, songs for our age, but with a timeless quality that puts Jaymes up there as one of the rare breed of singer and songwriter that are able to successfully combine harsh reality and romance, and still come off as a convincing artist. Don't miss out!"
Ola Karlsson Rootsy, Sweden

Australian musician Steven Jaymes is back with an album where he tries to top his latest work (not an easy task!). This time he takes his band into the studio, sets up the gear, and does most of it live on the spot. The end result is soulful, a little bit jazzier, and BIG feelings compared to just verse and chorus. Sometimes it's just a little bit too jazzy and democratic - Let's face it ; Here's Steven the star - But all in all, this is an artist who could easily be as big as Jackson Browne and Marc Cohn, given the right perceptions. This time he even succeeds in doing Paul Simon's '50 Ways', and really makes it his own!"
Trots Allt Magazine, Jan 06

Live Quotes

"Steven James made the weekend for us and all who attended Emma's Cottage Vineyard for the 2 day event. The music was perfectly chosen for the wine loving crowd and performed with the finesse only Steven can produce!. He knows exactly how to give the crowd what they want and is flexible with his mix of originals and covers, bright dancing music to moody ballads, to keep the fascination of the guests. He has added a new dimension to our lives and we can't imagine doing a Long Lunch without him!!. What a star in every aspect!!"" Alec Barrass ( vineyard owner) Lovedale Long Lunch 2006 Hunter Valley

"The Buzz leading up to the Steven Jaymes show was amazing! The performance was perfectly suited to the Spiegeltent atmosphere and the audience loved it! I can see why he's being called the one of the finest singer/songwriters in Australia." (Matt Roberts, Project Coordinator, The Courier-Mail Spiegeltent, Brisbane Festival 2006.)

Hemingway's Cats Reviews

"Here's a piano man who can still imbue something of the passion and the drama into a form which, over the years, which has been overwhelmed and, sadly, devalued by certain international artists who somehow lost their way and took the world with them. Check out the outro to Emily for a start- and that's the nature of the singing piano player I suppose - the Ben Folds and The Joe Jacksons are few and far between - but there's a healthy leavening of the spirit of Leon Russell, Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison in there too, which makes this album a truly sweet surprise.

Considering Hemingway's Cats was recorded all over the place - Shiga in Japan, and various studios in Sydney, Melbourne and New York - Jaymes has managed to maintain a real acoustic consistency across the 14 tracks ('s also a bonus live in the studio version of the title track), that adds to the essential organic, analogue feel to the record. That's especially so on tracks like Higher, where the soul/gospel aspect of his writing is given some head, enhanced no end by the powerhouse backing vocalist 'Donahue.

From all this you should have gathered by now that Jaymes is what these days dubbed an "Old School" musicmaker, one of those guys with warm, full voice who can come up with a big chorus that inevitably engenders handclaps and gospel voice, dynamics to make the Blind Boys Of Alabama proud, sinuous bass lines weaving in and around the melodies and the kind of optimism, for the most part, that was supposed to have been washed away by a decade of introspective angst and jagged power chords. There's even mandolin on one track, Bird On A Wire, courtesy of one of Australia's unsung guitar heroes, Mark Punch.

I can see why Jaymes has been described as "one of the most sophisticated pop jazz and Roots artists" in Australia today. Of course that means he's not about to get signed to play the big day out either. Not that Jaymes seems bothered. He's just doing his thing and delivering it all without an ounce of irony or pretension, simply, here it is, dig it or not. And you know, there's something quite refreshing about that."
Michael Smith - The Drum Media

The title track was written after a trip from New York via Nashville to Papa's old house on the Florida Keys - and this solo album finds him maturing as a piano-based songwriter with a smoky, soulful voice and ear for an uplifting pop melody.Theres plenty of emotional muscle in the music and tunes like the stirring "Expectation". Someone really should pitch that one to Joe Cocker for his next album.”
Noel Mengel - The Courier Mail

“Steven Jaymes' Hemingway's Cats is an absolute outstanding album. Smooth, creamy, soulful, and luscious. If you have to choose a female counterpart to describe Steven Jaymes it would most definitely be Norah Jones. The man exudes huge talent both in voice and song writing ability.”
Carl Lindgren - Map Magazine

“Steven Jaymes' new album Hemingway's Cats is the most refreshing & original piece of adult contemporary music I have heard in ages its depth and quality make you feel that you have grown up listening to his music for decades. One listen just isn't enough.”
Scott Stewart - Program Director MCM Entertainment

“I have hundreds of new releases piled up on my desk that need my urgent attention and I CANT STOP LISTENING TO THIS ALBUM!!! - I love it!”
Cathy Lee - Director Of Music Programming DMX Music

“Steven Jaymes, simply the best and most sophisticated blues, Jazz and Roots you will ever hear.”
Gavin Wall - Manchester Lane : Melbournes Premier Music Venue