Jeff Buckley
I wasn’t planning to write a post until Monday, however, as luck would have it (or lack thereof!) my retreat was cut short due to health issues. That’s okay, though. I was able to catch up on some reading and listen to some music that I hadn’t listened to in far too long; namely, Jeff Buckley. For those of you who have never heard of him, you can click on the link above for a biography. In this post, I offer you my personal Jeff Buckley bio:
Sometime back in the 90’s I was walking back home from a photo shoot when I happened upon this little café on 9th Street (East Village, NYC) called Sin-e. This place was SO packed that it wasn't merely standing room only, there were actually people standing on the sidewalk--some peering through the window, others merely listening--while this guy inside was standing there playing his guitar with such deftness, only matched by his beautiful, rapturous voice. I was tired as all hell, but I was only a block away from my apartment, so I decided to hang around for a while. I asked aloud, "Who is this guy?"
A cacophony of voices answered: "JEFF BUCKLEY." Thus, my love affair with Jeff’s music began.
Years later, I got my hands on a copy of Jeff's GRACE album. It left me speechless. Not only were the songs incredibly written, the vocals like nothing I had ever heard before, but also the lyrics were so hauntingly sad and beautiful all at once, I was often left in tears.
Jeff died in a drowning accident in May of 1997--he was working on a long anticipated new album. The news struck me like a knife to the heart. "How could he be taken away--his voice was such a 'gift'!" I played GRACE so loud during the week after his death that several tenants in my building stopped by my apartment to ask who I was listening to. They couldn't get over Jeff's voice.
Sometime back in the 90’s I was walking back home from a photo shoot when I happened upon this little café on 9th Street (East Village, NYC) called Sin-e. This place was SO packed that it wasn't merely standing room only, there were actually people standing on the sidewalk--some peering through the window, others merely listening--while this guy inside was standing there playing his guitar with such deftness, only matched by his beautiful, rapturous voice. I was tired as all hell, but I was only a block away from my apartment, so I decided to hang around for a while. I asked aloud, "Who is this guy?"
A cacophony of voices answered: "JEFF BUCKLEY." Thus, my love affair with Jeff’s music began.
Years later, I got my hands on a copy of Jeff's GRACE album. It left me speechless. Not only were the songs incredibly written, the vocals like nothing I had ever heard before, but also the lyrics were so hauntingly sad and beautiful all at once, I was often left in tears.
Jeff died in a drowning accident in May of 1997--he was working on a long anticipated new album. The news struck me like a knife to the heart. "How could he be taken away--his voice was such a 'gift'!" I played GRACE so loud during the week after his death that several tenants in my building stopped by my apartment to ask who I was listening to. They couldn't get over Jeff's voice.
On the day of Jeff's funeral, I had just flown back from California and didn't make it back in time for the service. I stood outside of St. Mark's Church (where I played guitar on Sunday's) and watched as the funeral mourners filed out of the church. My favorite of Jeff's songs came to mind, LOVER, YOU SHOULD HAVE COME OVER:
Looking out the door, I see the rain fall upon the funeral mourners
Parading in a wake of sad relations as their shoes fill up with water...
I went home and wrote Jeff's mother, Mary, a letter. I promised her that as long as I was playing shows at CB's 313 Gallery, that I would always include one of Jeff's songs in my set. She sent me a lovely letter, as well as one of Jeff's used guitar picks, which, of course, I still have.
To this day, Jeff's music still haunts me. Every time I listen to GRACE, it sounds brand new to me. Due to nerve damage in my arm, I can't play the guitar anymore, and so I dedicate this post to Mary, as an offering of my love for Jeff and all that he stood for. If you haven't heard his voice, you are missing a tremendous source of joy and inspiration.
UPDATE: Anyone who would like to listen to Jeff's music can click here. Once you get to Jeff's site, click on the 'MEDIA PLAYER' link below his picture. All of his albums are on his site, for your listening pleasure. (I recommend starting with Live at Sin-e and Grace, although all of the post-mortem albums are incredible, too!)
Labels: bhakti, Bhakti Brophy, jaibhakti, jeff buckley
posted by Unknown at 2:06 PM
16 Comments:
Beff Juckley?
You get that thing I sent ya?
Hey Hungry Hippo--Thanks to SITEMETER, I know who you are!! You're identity will NOT stay safe with me unless you send me some HERSHEY KISSES...right quick!!
p.s. If you need proof that I know your identity: do the initials PB mean anything to ya??? ;)
I have never heard of him, but I will be sure to find his music.
Happy New Year!
I never heard of him..what type of music did he play/sing?
It's absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to label him. He wrote the most ecstatic original songs, plus he put his musical treatment on the songs of Leonard Cohen, Nina Simone, the Cure, etc.
You have to listen to his voice.
Do you live near a music store that lets you sample what the CD's sound like? If so, check out the tracks "Hallelujah" and "Lover, You Should Have Come Over".
Then, if they have it, check out the Live at Sin-E Legacy edition CD. The Nina Simone song "If You Knew" literally had me in tears yesterday (I just discovered his cover of it on New Year's Eve).
He also REALLY kicks out the jams on some of his other tunes. But the songs I've mentioned above showcase his vocal talents.
I hope you enjoy his music! Thanks for visiting, Mike!
I must admit I had not heard of him but I will have to listen to some of his work now.
So Bhakti, your sets? Tell me more :)
PS Hope you are feeling better and improving. I have been including you in my prayers and will continue to do so.
Milady: Hello love! Yes, 'my sets': I've been playing the drums since I was 5, and the guitar since I was 7. I also play the mandolin and the bass guitar. I used to play at CB's 313 gallery in NYC on Friday nites. It was SO MUCH fun. It was 3/4 music, and 1/4 comedy. My brothers and their friends once hired limousines to drive them to my shows!
Oh, those were the days. I can't play the guitar right now, but I THANK GOD FOR THE 27 YEARS I PLAYED MY LITTLE HEART OUT!!!!
I thank you SO MUCH for your love and support. If I wasn't so medicated right now, I would surely swim the Atlantic and pay you a visit. But, for now, I will thank my lucky stars that we have this blogosphere to keep us in touch.
Much love for a Happy New Year!!
That was a beautiful post, Bhakti. Sorry you had to cut your retreat short, though.
I also loved Jeff's music. I used to play Sine every Saturday night for a while when I first moved to NYC. One night, he was there hanging out. That was a great club back in the day.
Anyhow, wanted to wish you a wonderful, happy and healthy 2006. xo
I really love the cover of Halleuja that JB did on the Leonard Cohen tribute album, "I'm Your Fan".
Do you know this track? It's about the most hauntingly beautiful rendition of the song I've ever heard.
I can only think that such beauty could never really die, but lives on in some form, like maybe a whole planet.
FLATHEAD: Yes, I was just listening to Hallelujah on the link that I just enabled at the end of the post. There's some pretty amazing video footage of JB singing Hallelujah on the 'video' section of the media player.
I just discovered JB/s "If You Knew" Nina Simone cover (it's been released on the Live at Sin-e Legacy edition. If you thought Jeff's rendition of Cohen's Hallelujah was powerful on the tribute album, I would HIGHLY recommend going out and buying the Sin-e legacy CD. It's pricey (even online as a download), but, man, it's the best 29 dollars I've spent in a LONG time! There are two hours of Jeff's vocals with guitar...and his sense of humor in the monologues is enough to make even the faintest of fans cry.
I love him...and you are correct: He lives on through his music.
He was asked in an interview what he hoped people would get from his music, and he said something like, "I only hope that I can give back to music what music has given to me." Just beautiful.
BTW--it was Jeff who turned me on to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. His voice is referred to as "the voice of God" in Pakistan. His voice just tugs at your heart-strings until you surrender to the joy and bliss within. Another vocalist who cracks the ego with his voice. Absolutely beautiful. I would suggest checking out track 2 ("Nothing Without You") on Mustt Mustt. Actually, it was produced by a Canadian--just like yourself (Michael Brook).
Oh oh....time to enable the "word verification" option in the comments setting.
The Spambots are upon us!
I never heard Jeff Buckley, but he sounds as though he really made an impact on you. I love when musicians can do that.
Being a guitarist myself, I love watching other musicians at work and picking up new techniques. I'm going to check out his site and see what his music is like.
Sorry that you lost such a great entertainer, but remember---his music lives on!
Great post! Nice of you to dedicate this to him. I'm sure his mother was more than honored that you remembered him when you were at CBGB's.
You're truly a thoughtful person--I already know this.
Buckley is great.
happy new year.
Happy New Years!
That's really sad about Jeff Buckley.
Reminds me of this story. In the early 80s, the Kansas City Chiefs hada talented young running back named Joe Delaney. I remember him well, because he got over 1000 yards in his rookie season.
In his second season, one day he saw two kids drowning in a swim hole. Well, he jumped in to save them, and did manage to save one kid, but he himself drowned as did the other kid.
I don't know why, but that story stuck with me forever. I remember it like it was yesterday.
He jumped in knowing he couldn't swim, but just wanted to try to save the kids.
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