In Session: Jeff Brisbin

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Surviving in the music industry can be a Sisyphean task for most, but not only is Jeff Brisbin surviving, he’s thriving. For years on end, Brisbin has delighted people in and around the Capital Region with his seemingly endless drive and passion for the craft. With a voice that is undeniably amazing – he can croon with the best of them – Brisbin shows no signs of slowing down, beginning production on his fourth album.

I had a chance to sit down with Jeff this past week to discuss his musical path, and upcoming plans. What follows is our discussion.

Lucas Garrett: I’ve not talked to you in a long time. How’re you doing, Jeff?

Jeff Brisbin: Pretty good for a middle-aged guy!

LG: You’re one of the most active performers in this area; you’re playing at least five nights a week it seems.

JB: Definitely. I’ll be doing 268 shows this year.

LG: Seems like you’re getting a little lazy! Why not do 280?!

JB: Hahahaha. I don’t know about that! I’m so blessed and grateful that I play out as much as I do. It’s turned into something that I can’t really believe, and some days I go, “What the…”

LG: Let’s get into the story of Jeff Brisbin…

JB: When I was a little kid – 5 or 6 – I started. I’d be on the swing – I’d vividly remember this – and be making up songs. I’ve always been fascinated with music. My brother was 12 years older than me, and he had records at the time. When I was 3, and couldn’t read yet, he’d put little marks on the side of the records I liked. I’d just press one button and they’d play. I was infatuated with “Hound Dog,” and “Heartbreak Hotel.” Elvis was the big star of the day.

When I was [around] 7, I’d dream of guitars. We didn’t have a lot of money, so that was out of the question until I got to be 12 and had a paper route. I saved my money and bought a guitar for $30.00 in Saratoga at Beach’s Music House. A few months later, The Beatles came out and blew me away. Those songs came out, like “There’s a Place…” Where did they come from? They put those strange chords in there.

LG: How amazing is it that something that got you started all those years ago – your infatuation with The Beatles – is coming around again now that they released yet another song that a new generation of musicians can sink their teeth into?

JB: Oh yeah. So, that’s the stuff that got me into music. When I got to be a teenager, I started writing what I consider “real songs.” I’ve made three albums, and I’ve started my fourth.

LG: Oh really? That’s awesome.

JB: Joel Moss is producing the first song, “If Love Comes But Once.” I wrote the song when I was 17; it’s a ballad. I’ve always heard it in my head with a string quartet. We got the quartet from the Albany Symphony. We’re going to add more guitar: Joel Brown is playing. Can’t get any better than that. It’s going to augment my guitar.

Some songs I can play really well, but this is a song I wrote when I was 17. I played chords that I didn’t know what they were. I had to have someone write the score because I didn’t know what the notes were. Dylan Perrillo, who’s a fantastic guy that plays with the Hot Club of Saratoga, and a Crane graduate, came over to the house. He wrote the score, and it’s beautiful. It really, truly is. It’s very ornate.

We’re going to go in in a week or two, and I’ll put a vocal on it. We’ll get the guitar perfect, and then get it mixed.

LG: I want to circle back to the gigs for a minute. Most of the folks. I know have a day job, then find hours at night to pursue their music. You’re just doing it, man. I think that’s awesome.

JB: Like many people, my home life when I was a kid, sadly, was not the best. My mom and dad did not get along – at all. So, that was challenging. Music saved me; it’s been with me my whole life. My middle son, Paul, thanked me the other day for introducing him to The Beatles and to music. It’s so important to him, also.

LG: For me, music can turn my whole day around.

JB: It can. We all have ups and downs in our lives; I’ve lost a son, I’ve been divorced. Things that I never wanted to happen, but they’ve happened. [Music’s] gotten me through. Writing songs is a way of expressing myself. I had six kids, and now five. They are the center of my life. If I didn’t have them, I probably would’ve walked into the ocean at some point. Hahaha. My life is really rich, and I’m blessed, grateful, and thankful. A lot of people my age couldn’t keep up with me!

LG: You say a lot of people your age couldn’t keep up with you? I don’t think a lot of people my age could keep up with you!

JB: It is a little crazy. I’ve been at this place, Henry’s, in Ballston Spa, every Friday for nine years. For seven years, I’ve been there almost every other Wednesday. It’s crazy; that’s a gift. When I go there, it’s like going home. It’s fun and I have all these regular customers that come in. Being busy got me through the hump of the last three years.

I never smoke. I’m barely a social drinker. If we were sitting around and you were having a beer, I could have a beer with you, but it’s not an important part of my life. That’s going to keep me going. I feel young. I don’t know any vocal exercises…

LG: You have an amazing voice, so to say that you don’t warm up… I’m kind of jealous!

JB: That’s certainly the strong point of my act. My guitar playing is OK. I’m lucky I have that, and if that goes, then I’ll stop playing. I’m hoping to keep up my craziness for another three years.

LG: What does music mean to you, Jeff?

JB: It’s everything. My kids and my music… Music changed my heart, but being a performing songwriter changed my life because I can go out and have the joy of playing music. Not being intimidated by a crowd. After I started putting records out, I want the world to listen to my songs. When Greg (Haymes) ran Nippertown, and when Foreverly came out, it was his pick one week at WAMC. That meant everything to me… Sarge.

Starting this project… on the last one, I can remember being in the studio and Chuck Lamb is playing piano. He plays with the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, and is a master pianist. The jazz cats are the best players… I’m a chucklehead compared to those guys. I just know what I hear and feel in my heart. That’s my music. I’ve got a bunch of songs. Joel (Moss) is going to do the first two songs.

LG: What does success mean to you?

JB: It depends how you want to measure success. Playing out, I do about 20% my songs. Let’s say I’m one of the top-ten busiest in the Capital Region, I’m successful in that regard. I’m successful that I’ve released three albums; I’ve got 35 songs out there to the world, and to the internet. I’m on Spotify, Apple… all those things. I’ve been nominated twice for an Eddie award. I’d love to win one of those.

I’m happy; I’m doing well. I’m going to make another record and that excites me.

LG: When is the album coming out?

JB: The single is coming out in January or February, and the album is coming out in the summer, hopefully.

LG: For someone that’s reading this who wants to learn more about you, where can they go?

JB: They can go to jeffbrisbin.com. All my songs are there. If you go to the music page, I talk about every song on there. People can get the background of the song, who the players are… I also have a Facebook page and Instagram.

LG: It was awesome connecting with you today. Glad you’re doing well!

JB: Alright! Thank you so much!