Jordan Chassan

Jordan Chassan is open to exploration, going well beyond the confines of traditional pop music on East of Bristol, West of Knoxville, his first new album in over a dozen years. Boasting guest contributors as diverse as vocalist Gillian Welch and harmonica player Jelly Roll Johnson, the disc veers from the gorgeous immediacy of "Brandywine" to the magical bluesy/bluegrass shuffle of "Wound Up Way Too Tight," and on to the self-deprecating backporch thump of "Hard Work Bein' a Fool." When Chassan gets pensive, as he does on both "A Day Like Today" and "That Destination," his delivery still has an undercurrent of optimism that is rare. And judging by the guy's gap-time between releases, it's a good thing East of Bristol, West of Knoxville has staying power. ~ John D. Luerssen, All Music Guide