“My life is a canvas, a chord, a verse, and although I’ve been many things, I was an artist first!”
— jonchristopher
About jon
Fusing elements of jazz, world soul, afro beats and classic club music, singer/songwriter Jon Christopher’s first album in 15 years is a portrait of the artist’s wide-ranging influences and experiences. After more than a decade working behind-the-scenes in media and entertainment, Jon went back to the studio with longtime collaborator Art Powell to put some ideas on record. Whether channeling rhythms from his world travels in the hypnotic “It’s True, It’s You,” or letting loose with his inquisitive dance number “Who’s Your Daddy?”, the sessions quickly proved fruitful as song after song poured out. Longing, insecurity, vulnerability and—most of all—love fill the eclectic and enchanting JonChristopher.
For Jon, songwriting has been his first and most enduring love. “I wanted to be a songwriter since I was a kid,” he says. As a young professional, he won writing contests and even went on to write TV scripts before an icon changed the course of his artistic endeavors. After introducing himself to the iconic jazz vocalist Abbey Lincoln via letter, Abbey invited Jon to her studio to work on a possible collaboration, praising his songwriting skills. But Abbey soon discovered Jon was more than just a songwriter. “You have something to say,” she said to him encouragingly, mentoring him to branch out on his own and sing his own songs. Indeed, Jon provides all lyrics, melody and vocal arrangements on JonChristopher.
A holistic artist, Jon supplements his songwriting with painting, photography and art direction, further proving his approach to music is all encompassing—it’s about the overall experience he aims for the listener. This unique approach feels modern and new in the album, taking Jon from the pulsing decadence of New York nights to the soul-searching introspection of international jaunts. And he does it all with a stylish tip of his fedora.
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