A voice you could listen to for hours on end

Jill KnightWhen Andre and I were performing in 2006 and 2007 as Gemini Soul at San Francisco’s Cannery, the converted tourist complex at Fisherman’s Wharf, we met a number of performers who were regulars like us on the outdoor stage. One who stood out was Jill Knight, a fine guitarist and singer-songwriter with a voice like amber honey. It was the kind of voice you could listen to for hours on end. She shared with us two of her three CDs — exceptionally well produced with a cadre of musicians who added perfect textures to complement her voice and guitar. We were amazed. Amazed that she wasn’t famous. With talent like that, what could possibly hold anyone back?

The truth is, there are far too many extraordinary musicians who have never found the acclaim they deserve, either because they refused to betray themselves for a pact with the music industry, because they didn’t fit the mold, or because they just weren’t lucky enough to get the right breaks. And a lot comes down to pure luck. Jill walked away rather than betray herself, and if that’s the price to pay for artistic and personal integrity, she deserves our respect.

Two of my favorite songs are “Circus Life” and “Carolina.” “Circus Life” — about a woman who carelessly juggles lovers — stands out because it doesn’t follow pop song rules (which of course appeals to my iconoclastic inclinations) and is built around asymmetrical phrases. In fact, the verse is structured as three phrases, underscoring the biting “three rings, one clown” metaphor at the heart of the song. “Carolina,” a sweeter, more conventionally beautiful song of nostalgia and memory, still follows an idiosyncratic trajectory. The songs ends without repeating the chorus — an unusual choice. To me, it represents the truth that you really can’t go back. There is no true return, and the sweetness exists primarily as a memory. Well, that’s my interpretation. Perhaps she intended nothing of the sort. But whatever one thinks, the song is lovely, with lyrical images and melismatic phrases that come wafting through the chords like the scent of evening honeysuckle on a southern breeze.

While she hasn’t recorded any new music since an acoustic album in 2006, she’s still actively performing, primarily in the Cambria area that sits on the Pacific coast midway between L.A. and San Francisco. Her music blends Americana, blues and a little R&B. India Arie once said, “I love great voices and when I heard Jill sing it stopped me in my tracks.” Yes, indeed. More info about Jill is available at www.jillknight.com, and her music is available at iTunes, Amazon and the usual places online.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.