“One More Time” is another bold departure. The sleek pop song texture and memorable bass line will have immediate admirers. Another vocalist shift, this time back to a male singer, manifests itself in a distinctly different fashion. Multi-tracked vocals provide added flash. It has a light Latin flavor, and the song’s bouncy rhythms never grate but instead engage listeners with easy going physicality.
WEBSITE: https://www.douglasrayjaffeproject.com/
Working with Center Sound Productions’ Craig Brandwein ensures that Douglas Ray Jaffe Project benefits from a first-class presentation. His production talents treat each song as an independent work yet focuses on the common denominators that make this an enduring and unified musical work. The Grammy-nominated innovator is especially sensitive to songwriting with a personal touch; he has obvious chemistry with Jaffe that the tandem should continue exploring on future releases.
Jaffe’s musical future appears boundless. Douglas Ray Jaffe Project hints at his considerable talents, but the satisfying reach displayed in these songs demands a larger canvas. This will do for now. He has put his best foot forward with this outstanding debut that sets out a bold agenda over a trio of songs. It testifies to his talents that he more than measures up to the challenge.
It’s a new chapter in his journey. We’ll be hearing more from his irrepressible voice as the years unfold, and our musical world is better off for it. Douglas Ray Jaffe Project will make anyone who admires mature songcraft quite happy.
Jaffe and Brandwein are wise in presenting distinct musical faces. Three songs don’t afford an artist much opportunity to illustrate variety, but this tandem acquits themselves memorably. The sharp poetic language rife with concrete details of EP opener “For Rachel” matches well with the arrangement’s lush piano lines and string-fueled balladry. It’s a beguiling piece of work. Longtime music fans will hear a fair amount of construction behind the first song’s theatrical character. However, it never risks pretentiousness. Jaffe is clearly quite capable of composing intensely cinematic lyrics, and his literary talents seamlessly translate into a musical idiom.
The shift from the piano-focused sensitive songwriting of “For Rachel” into the decidedly stronger pop voice of “Gullibility” is equally seamless. Jaffe’s material is notable for several reasons, but the EP’s ability to straddle mass appeal with its intelligence and resolute individuality is unique. Switching from a female to a male lead vocalist does not fracture the debut’s inner consistency. We still hear the same “voice” in the lyrics for this song. However, it is significant that Jaffe varies his language without compromising his eloquence or message.
The interweaving of light and shade is another strong suit of the EP’s second cut. A significant portion of the song’s foundation relies on straightforward acoustic guitar, but Jaffe peppers the arrangement with assorted adornments. The electric guitar contributions and atmospheric post-production touches are especially memorable. “One More Time” helps the self-titled EP stand out with a decidedly more pop-oriented approach. The hooky bass line beginning the song possesses sternum-rattling strength and sets an immediate tone.
The finale demonstrates an unique aspect of Jaffe’s talent. The talented writer balances his literary excellence with clear-eyed communicative skills that never breeze over listener’s heads. These are songs that connect. Balancing high-minded artistic ambitions with a down-to-earth approach isn’t something that every singer/songwriter pulls off. Many sink under the weight of pretentiousness.
Jaffe avoids this fate. Instead, he surrounds himself with a bevy of like-minded cohorts capable of realizing his artistic vision. Everything serves the song. Douglas Ray Jaffe Project is more than a potentially powerful synthesis of intelligence, literary merit, and conversational sincerity topped off with thoughtful musical backing. It is impressively savvy songwriting for a seeming novice and likely preludes even greater accomplishments ahead. Let’s hope that Jaffe continues connecting with audiences for many years to come. He provides a dazzling reminder of popular music’s enduring power.
Chadwick Easton