FolkAndRoots Present Jesse Terry (USA)

It is easy to compare Terry’s heritage and storytelling to that of Jackson Browne, James Taylor or Bruce Springsteen. A symphonic delight for the heart and soul. ~ Americana UK

Whatever magic potion the troubadours in Laurel Canyon were sipping on in 1971, Jesse Terry has managed to track it down and take a deep gulp. Now on his seventh album, When We Wander, Terry performs his beautifully crafted songs to around 150 audiences a year from Bonnaroo to the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the 30A Songwriters Festival to AmericanaFest. And that’s not even mentioning his weekly livestream concerts!

On When We Wander, an album recorded entirely live – prioritising emotion and raw performances over perfection – Terry finds inspiration in family and newfound parenthood, as well as looking back at his past – “In Spite of You” recalls his stay in a residential facility for behaviour modification that traumatised him as a young teenager: “The sermons that you sold me all were fakes.”

Yet, he emerged to earn a degree from Berklee College of Music, net a five-year staff writer gig on Nashville’s Music Row penning material for major TV networks, and win prestigious songwriting awards. And then to become the singer-songwriter his countless fans know today, who (in the words of Music News Nashville) “bring[s] to mind iconic artist/poets like Paul Simon and Jackson Browne… [with] a performance that touches the heart like only a whisper can.”

Listening through the 12-track collection, the artist exudes confidence. When We Wander is not only a personal milestone for the artist but a pivotal moment in his journey as a career musician. ~ American Songwriter