About J. Briozo
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Photo by Neil Schloner
J. Briozo evolved out of a set of songs that Swallows’ lead singer Jeff Crandall wrote as the Minneapolis-based band was set to return to the studio to record their third full-length album, In the Shadow of the Seven Stars. The acoustic guitar- and piano-based songs that Jeff was working on were written from the perspective of a fictional singer-songwriter named J. Briozo, a persona loosely based his mother’s Portuguese ancestry.
Jeff wasn’t convinced at the time that this would be anything other than a studio project, assuming he’d play most of the parts, and he had no real intentions of conjuring up a band to perform the material. However, as Swallows began recording in one studio, Jeff began recording the basic tracks for Deep in the Waves in another studio across town and he quickly recognized that his solo album had begun to take on a life of its own. The new album was going to require the talents of his Swallows’ band mates to fully realize the vision that Jeff was developing for the project.
Jeff decided to invite members of Swallows to add additional parts to the somewhat open frameworks he had laid out for the songs on the album. The group composed their parts in the studio, creating psych-pop, rock, jazz, orchestral and folk arrangements for the songs. By the end of the tracking, it was clear that a compelling new sound had developed and a full band would needed to support it.
J. Briozo released Deep in the Waves on November 17, 2017.
In memory of Almerinda Irene (Briozo) Crandall (1938-2016)
J. Briozo is:
Jeff Crandall (biography)
Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, piano, organ, percussion, backing vocals
Aaron Kerr (biography)
Bass, cello
Justin DeLeon (biography)
Drums, percussion
Brett Hansen (biography)
Rhythm and lead electric guitars, lap steel, backing vocals
Tyson Allison (biography)
Percussion, electric guitars, organ, chimes, backing vocals
Album Artwork and One-Sheet
Band one sheet for Deep in the Waves album release
Listen
Watch
Related Discography
- Witching & Divining, Swallows (2012)
- Clear Sky Relapse, Swallows (2010)
- Songs for Strippers (and other professions), Swallows (2008)
- Tracing the Cracks, Thinland (2003)
Additional players:
Jim Baldrica
Trumpet, trombone, saxophone and flute on “Sun Sun True”
Trumpet, trombone and saxophone on “The Big Parade”
Trumpet on “Camera Obscura”
Kimberly Vang and Kallie Bruett
Backing vocals on “The Big Parade” and “Sun Sun True”
Recording information:
Randy Gildersleeve
Recording engineer
Recorded at GilderSound, Forest Lake, MN
Mixed by Randy Gildersleeve, Jeff Crandall and Justin DeLeon
Mastered by J.J. Golden at Golden Mastering, Ventura, CA
Produced by Jeff Crandall
Production assistance by Justin DeLeon and Randy Gildersleeve
Arrangements by Jeff Crandall, Aaron Kerr, Brett Hansen, Jim Baldrica, Justin DeLeon, Tyson Allison and Randy Gildersleeve
Music and lyrics by Jeff Crandall
© 2017 Jeff Crandall, Swallow the Music LLC
Contacts
Publicity (North America)
Krista Vilinskis
Tinderbox Music
612-375-1113
krista@tinderboxmusic.com
Publicity (Europe/UK)
Peter Holmstedt
Hemifrån
Management/Booking:
Jeff Crandall
Swallow the Music
j@jbriozo.com