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MUSIC Jackie Greene plays The Rogue Theatre The songwriter is touring behind "Back to Birth," his first album in five years Comment By Yep Roc Records MailTribune.com By Yep Roc Records Posted Sep. 9, 2015 at 9:00 AM By Yep Roc Records Posted Sep. 9, 2015 at 9:00 AM » Social News “We live in such a fast-paced, hectic environment, I wanted to make a record that would invite people to step back and take their time to listen,” Jackie Greene says of "Back to Birth," his first album in five years. “I wanted to make a record that would reward people who are willing to sit down and give it a couple of serious listens.” Produced by Los Lobos member and frequent Greene collaborator Steve Berlin, "Back to Birth" — Greene’s seventh album and his Yep Roc Records debut — underlines Greene’s evolution as a performer and writer. With new compositions such as “Silver Lining,” “Trust Somebody,” “Now I Can See For Miles” and the title track, the album confronts philosophical issues with introspective lyrics. “Musically, this album is kind of a return to the simplicity of the records that I started with, although I feel like I have a much better idea of what I’m doing now,” Greene says on his website, jackiegreene.com . ”I think the lyrics are the part that has really evolved. A lot of these songs explore the notion of a cyclical existence, and the sense that life goes in a circle. I want the songs to come from a place that’s meaningful to me, but I also want to keep them as simple and direct as I can. I look at old blues songs, or Hank Williams songs, and they’re so simple and direct but they can convey some pretty deep ideas.” Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Greene will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at The Rogue Theatre, 143 S.E. H St., Grants Pass. Tickets cost $28, $38 or $48 and can be purchased online at roguetheatre.com , by calling 541-471-1316 or at the door. Although "Back to Birth" is Greene’s first new solo release in five years, he’s hardly been idle. He’s spent much of the past few years engaging in a series of collaborative musical adventures that have teamed him with several notable veterans. In 2013, Greene joined the reunited Black Crowes as lead guitarist on its worldwide tour, and the following year released the self-titled debut album of supergroup Trigger Hippy, of which Greene is a member along with Joan Osborne and Crowes drummer Steve Gorman. Greene continues to be a frequent member of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh’s touring ensemble Phil Lesh & Friends, for which he has contributed lead guitar and vocals since 2007. Greene also toured as part of WRG, an acoustic trio with the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir and Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson, and he performed with the late Levon Helm as part of Helm’s fabled Midnight Ramble shows. The same qualities that attracted such legendary figures to work with Greene are prominent throughout "Back to Birth," which Greene and producer Berlin cut at Portland’s Supernatural Sound with a crew of mostly jazz-steeped players, with Greene stretching out on a number of instruments, including guitar, piano, organ and drums. “This is the third album I’ve done with Steve,” he says. “I’ve known him for about 12 years, and he’s really good at challenging me and getting it out of me. We know each other well enough at this point that we can be blunt with each other, and he’ll tell me that I’m full of it if that’s what I need to hear.” While growing up in Northern California, Greene taught himself to play piano and guitar. His musical reference points shifted radically when, at age 14, he ran across a cache of his parents’ vintage rock, country, blues and R&B LPs in the family’s basement. Greene began writing songs and performing them at a local coffeehouse while recording his compositions in his makeshift garage studio and burning CDRs to sell at his gigs. He saved the money he made selling those discs to fund his debut album, the self-produced, self-released "Rusty Nails." Despite being a release with minimal promotion, the disc received substantial regional attention from fans and press alike. His popularity led to a deal with a local independent label that released his second album, "Gone Wanderin,’" in late 2002. The CD led to a series of national tours opening for the likes of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, Huey Lewis, Mark Knopfler and Taj Mahal. Greene continued to win critical acclaim and expand his fan base with 2004’s "Sweet Somewhere Bound" and 2006’s "American Myth." In 2007, Greene began moonlighting with Phil Lesh & Friends, while continuing his own musical evolution with "Giving Up the Ghost" and "Till the Light Comes," released in 2008 and 2010, respectively. “The musicians that I really admire and try to emulate are the ones who have the whole package: They’re great songwriters, great singers and great instrumentalists, and they have a vibe about them that’s real,” Greene says. “When I go to make a record, I’m not thinking about where I can fit in a bunch of guitar solos. I’m thinking, ‘What does this song feel like? What’s it saying?’ So my goal, when writing a song or making a record, is to find the core of that emotional experience and convey that.” Greene says he looks forward to getting back on the road with "Back to Birth." “I still plan on making a lot of different kinds of records in the future, but I can’t tell you what they’re going to sound like, because I really have no idea,” he says. “All I can do is write songs and make music as honestly as I can. That’s what I believe people appreciate about what I do. They trust me to be honest with them, and I’d never want to abuse that trust.” By Yep Roc Records MailTribune.com By Yep Roc Records Posted Sep. 9, 2015 at 9:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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