Music by JM Clifford, by Mike Fiorito – Red Hook Star-Revue

I was at the launch of JM Clifford’s new album Trains, thinking and drinking at the Jalopy Theater in Brooklyn, NY on June 7^th2023.

I didn’t know JM Clifford’s music yet, so I listened to it for a few weeks before the show. Trains, thinking and drinking and his previous album On a Saturday evening, will be released in 2021.

I was immediately drawn to Clifford’s mix of bluegrass, bluegrass-like, folk, country and singer-songwriter songs. While Clifford’s soulful voice and bluegrass guitar playing are unique, I heard elements of Norman Blake, Damien Rice, Rufus Wainwright and other influences in his compositions. As Clifford later told me in a phone call: “I describe my work as singer-songwriter music in a bluegrass outfit.”

On the newly released album, some of the songs, like the title track, “Trains, Thinkin’ And Drinkin'” and “Complicated Man,” are catchy bluegrass songs. There are also instrumentals like “Billy Goose” and “Old Brown Shoes.” And then there are poetic ballads like “Sunburnt Sky” and “On My Mind.” Clifford adds a little pop color to the album, delivering a superb acoustic cover of Harry Styles’ “As it Was.” Before hearing Clifford’s version, I had never noticed the beautiful melody. And despite the variety of song styles, there is a unity in the style of delivery and excellent execution of the collection.

The album is elevated to a new level by a number of outstanding talents, including guitarist/banjoist/mandolinist Seth Taylor, bassist Jeff Picker, dobroist Jeff Partin, and Robby Hecht on background vocals. Grammy Award winner Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (and current member of Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway) contributed her fiery fiddle playing and background vocals on several tracks. Ron Pope, who produced the album and co-wrote the songs with Clifford, also sings background and plays harmonica on one song.

Born in Allendale, New Jersey, Clifford earned his first taste of writing singer-songwriter tunes inspired by artists such as James Taylor, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan, to name a few.

But in 2018, Clifford caught the bluegrass bug while listening to Norman Blake, Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, and other musicians. That’s how Clifford met bluegrass guitarist and singer Michael Daves. Clifford’s bluegrass guitar playing improved tremendously after he signed up for Dave’s workshops and took private lessons with him. Last year, I saw Daves host a Norman Blake tribute show in New York City and can attest to his incredible playing and dedication to the tradition.

Since he came to bluegrass somewhat later, his development gave Clifford the opportunity to incorporate the bluegrass sound without feeling beholden to it.

Before the band played, I enjoyed listening to the music of Kate Prascher, another singer-songwriter. While she played her set, Clifford sat in the front row with his wife Nicole Cosme. Dressed in jeans and with a baseball cap on his head, Clifford appeared unassuming and unassuming. Although this was his debut performance, he seemed like a fan, clapping and cheering between each of Prascher’s excellent and tender pieces.

As the group took the stage, Clifford announced that his usual guitarist and backing vocalist, Sam Brown, would not be able to perform. Clifford’s wife, Nicole, who I later learned is working on a PhD in musicology at Yale, was filling in for Sam Brown that night.

“You were incredible,” I said later. “So awesome.”

“She’s a genius,” Clifford replied. “She has perfect pitch. She was my harmony singer and played with me a lot.”

The entire lineup that performed that night at the Jalopy Theater was different from the band that recorded it, but that didn’t seem to matter. Aside from Nicole, the live band consisted of Nate Sabat on bass, Jackson Earles on fiddle, and Cesar Antonio Moreno on mandolin. They had clearly come on stage to rock out.

And although the players were great, I realized that the musicians were playing more in service of the songs than to demonstrate their individual virtuosity. As I listened, I thought to myself: These are Songs about solos. And great songs too.

Clifford played the great “Slow Rolling Train” by On a Saturday eveningwho shared harmonies with Nicole. And while Clifford played a short guitar solo, the musicians were reserved and played along with the song.

“Raised in the Ashes”, a waltz ballad from Trains, thinking and drinking is another song without a solo. Warm and sweet, the lyrics are haunting and thoughtful.

We are all dust and wires

These are all these poor souls

Be able to afford

We were raised from the ashes, oh Lord

Oh, was this all just a dream?

About a spirit that pulls the strings

In a broken machine

Everything haunts me

The pain I saw

Daily

Continuing the theme of song variety, Clifford played “Kick the Drum,” which kept the crowd on their toes after being lulled by the beauty of the previous tune. As I later mentioned to Clifford, this song has a strong Norman Blake touch.

Clifford then performed a lively version of “Trains, Thinkin’ And Drinkin’,” delivering the lines ironically and poking fun at the cliched lyrics of country songs.

Another song about

Trains, thinking and drinking

Bucket full of tears

And cold rain showers

Love gone wrong

And another heart that sinks

Trains, thinking and drinking

In my brain

The paths count

I lose track of the days

And the nights are long

Turn

Until I sound

Like a broken country song

Just like Waylon sang

I was arrested for things

I didn’t do that

When the sun goes down

I will cry in the city

Directly to the moon

When I asked Clifford what was next, he said the band would tour and play concerts and festivals across the country, such as the 2024 Podunk Bluegrass Festival.

“I also write songs with Rick Lang, who is kind of an elder statesman in the bluegrass world. Also, another goal of mine is the more I can do things like that and get my songs in with other, more successful artists.”

I look forward to watching Clifford’s career blossom and grow. He is a great songwriter and performer and knows that working with great talent only makes him better.

Mike Fiorito is a freelance journalist and author. His science fiction novel on the subject of UFOs As far as we know was published in May 2024 (see review in this issue)