The go-to keyboard player for Ben Harper, Natalie Merchant (Tigerlily), Macy Gray, Michael Franti, G. Love and others is releasing his self-titled album via Vapor Records on October 6.
It might be the rich experience with these other artists, it might be personal influences, or it might be an old soul, but in combination, they have led to a new collection of songs from Jason Yates that truly represent his artistic voice, a voice that is reflective, vulnerable and earnest.
The years working with Ben Harper as a part of the seminal Innocent Criminals line-up taught him the finer points of songwriting, plus, it gave him a confidence in his own music. “There were times with Ben that I would give him pieces of songs, and wait for him to hopefully add his parts to finish them,” Yates says. “But then one day I realized that was a bit of a cop-out. Even he told me that I should finish my own songs. “
“My Way Out” MP3:
