Wes Jeans - One
of the greatest moments in the never-ending evolution of music was the
invention of the Blues. From its beginning in the swamps and deltas of
the South the Blues has spread throughout the United States planting its
roots across the nation. When the Blues found its way to Texas it fueled
such legends as Blind Lemon Jefferson,
Lightnin Hopkins,
Albert Collins,
Johnny Winter, ZZ Top, as well as
Jimmie and
Stevie Vaughan. This
generation of Texas Blues has unleashed a powerful young guitar slinger;
a player that drops the unsuspecting jaw of Blues lovers everywhere; a
player some have said "is destined to be a Texas legend - a truly
genuine Texas Blues Player".... Wes Jeans.
Micheal Wesley Jeans was born in the heart of East Texas on January 13,
1981, only fifteen minutes from where legendary Freddie King was born.
Wes grew up in a musically-enriched family and showed an interest in
performing at a young age. But it wasn't until the age of fifteen that
Wes chose his path. He found an old three-string guitar in his closet
and began learning the beginning riff of "Sunshine of Your Love." Wes'
natural ability to learn music by ear and his relentless passion for
playing caused an explosion of talent that most beginners only dream of.
In 1996, after only playing nine months, Wes entered the International
Jimi Hendrix Competition held in Austin, TX and placed an amazing second
among fifteen hundred other young guitar players. Special guest Al
Hendrix, father of Jimi Hendrix, told Wes "In my eyes, you won because
you played straight from the heart like Jimi!" The dream of playing
music for a living, moral support from his family and friends, and the
ever-encouraging words of Al Hendrix set this Texas tornado in motion.
Soon, Wes was playing area venues and festivals, attracting booking
agents and record labels.
In 1999, Wes signed a record contract with Ice House Records of Memphis,
Tennessee and began work on his debut album HANDS ON (pictured above).
Wes recruited Al Green's bass player and drummer, John Williams and
Lloyd Anderson, as well as Albert King's former B-3 player, Gregg
Redding, to record at Sam Phillips studio. After being mastered at
legendary Ardent Studio, HANDS ON was released in the summer of 2000. It
became the highest pre-sale of any Ice House release and reached ..26 on
the National Blues Sales Chart. Along with Wes' growing popularity came
the demand for new releases. In response, in 2004, Wes and long-time
friend and bassist, Syd Hydro, along with drummer Adam Hagerman,
recorded a four-song demo (pictured below) at Night Song Studio in
Knoxville, TN. The success of the independently-released demo fueled the
group to film a live DVD. So, on New Years Day 2005, Wes and his band
recorded LIVE AT JUANITAS DVD (pictured below) in Little Rock, Arkansas.
This raw footage of Texas style Blues and Jimi Hendrix flare quickly
became Wes' number one seller.
Not only has he earned the respect of his peers, he has perked the ears
of the media and has been featured by many newspapers, magazines and
radio stations throughout the country and Canada. When a poll was done
by Guitar Player Magazine in late 2003, readers voted Wes number three
among the Young Gun Guitar Players in the nation between Jonny Lang and
Kenny Wayne Shepherd(GUITAR PLAYER March 2004). In early September 2005,
Wes performed and interviewed for a feature-length documentary that
focuses on the guitars musicians have preferred over the past fifty
years, Fender and Gibson. This Lightning Lab Production was filmed in
the Historic Memphis Brewery and is scheduled for release in the first
quarter of 2006.
Wes' unrelenting talent and genuine down-to-earth demeanor have won him
the favor of many wonderful people, sponsors and endorsements. He
continues to gain the admiration of his audience on and off stage.
Adding on sponsorships that include GHS Stings, Rivera Amplifiers, Robin
Guitars, Svetlana tubes, optic-case, and Seymour Duncan pick-ups. In
October 2005, Wes' custom cabinet "The Beast," designed by Wes in
conjunction with Mills Acoustics, is to be unveiled in Arlington, Texas
at the Annual Stevie Ray Vaughan. Remembrance Ride.
In June 2006 Wes released his 2nd studio album "Forest Of The Pine"
under Texas Music Records. The album was produced by fellow axe-slayer
Lance Lopez and is nothing short of blues/rock perfection. The record
showcases Wes' amazing blues guitar prowess and guest stars Memphis'
Eric Gales. Wes has followed the album release with touring playing
shows with such notables as Eric Johnson, Robert Cray, David Lee Roth,
and Indiginous. In August 06' XM Radio-Bluesville picked up "Forest Of
The Pine" and has kept it in regular rotation on Stone Blue.
Bluesville's Aaron Lee has this to say about "F.O.P"..."This cd kicked
my ass! Its one of the best blues/rock cds of 2006!"-Aaron Lee
In January of 2007 "Forest Of The Pine" climbed its way up to the 3rd
position on the German Blues Charts.
Blasting like a flash of lightning out of the Piney Woods region of East
Texas, Wes Jeans presents his strongest studio outing to date. Jeans
being ranked as one of the Top Young Gun Guitar Players Guitar Player
Magazine March 2004, delivers a mix of high voltage, rockin Texas Blues.
Forest Of The Pines opens with the spirited title track that will surely
grab you with its grinding rhythms and stinging leads allowing you a
look into Wes Jeans Marshall Texas roots. Other high-powered Rock/Blues
passages such as Move On and Let Me Know feature Memphis guitar slasher
Eric Raw Dawg Gales. Gales solos soar in orbit above these rock solid
tracks and take things to a whole other level. The versatility of this
disc doesnt stop there, as Producer; Co-writer Lance Lopez makes a
special guest appearance on lead vocals on the throbbing mini-moog
drenched funk of Somebody wich also features Eric "Scortch" Scortia on
all the keys. All throughout this disc Wes Jeans does what he does best
playing the Blues, only solidifying his place in history as one of Texas
Legendary Guitarist. Jumping at Shadows and Back to Bed displays Wes
admiration and homage to B.B. and Albert King nailing some of their
classic lines note for note. And not to be left out of this mix of
sweaty Texas Blues barrages comes two great love stories. The first
Comin Home speaks of not only Wes love for his woman but also his love
for his home state of Texas and returning to them both after weeks of
touring. The second Here By Me is a Beatle-esque ballad of sorts
complete with its soft acoustic intro to its soaring solo is definitely
a deep and emotional song of love, loss and guidance. Forest Of The Pine
will be considered a classic Blues/Rock disc for years to come. Wes
Jeans sheer ability and raw talent was harnessed and directed into this
disc. His soul-drenched performance is proof another Texas Legend is
born and he hails from the Forest Of The Pine -Texas Music Records
Texas Young Gun Wes Jeans has managed to make some waves in his young
career while still toiling the road the old-fashioned way across twelve
different states. In addition to his aggressive style of Blues playing,
between shows this determined young player drives the van, handles his
press obligations via his cell phone, lugs all of his equipment on and
off stage... undaunted... night after night.... town after town. His
dedication to his trade is both honorable and humbling but it's a true
representation of the man behind the guitar.
