Jefferson Pepper - American Evolution

American Evolution

Pepper spent the winters of 2006 and 2007 holed up in his cedar-sided home studio in the Conewago Mountains of southern Pennsylvania, sometimes going for weeks at a time without leaving the house. Disillusioned with the social, religious and political climate of the U.S., he became obsessed with the question "What has happened to my country?" He was inspired in part by Howard Zinn's landmark book A People's History of the United States and by the Dover Intelligent Design Trial (Kitzmiller vs. Dover School Board) which played out in his backyard of Dover, PA. The result was American Evolution, a 50-song, 3-CD series which traces the evolution of culture, society and music, as well as the evolution of the individual in America. Spanning over 500 years of history, Pepper tells the story of America as seen through the eyes of working people, as opposed to politicians and moneyed elites. The project was recorded at his home studio, The House of Beer Cans, at Stress Free Studios in Harrisburg, PA (by Marshall Deasy) and at Studio X, Smash Recording and Bull Creek Productions in Nashville, TN (by Tim Lorsch).

Musicians and special guests on American Evolution include: Scott Fisher (Varmints in Heaven), Marshall Deasy (Quagmire Swimteam) and Bryan Owings (Shelby Lynne, Buddy Miller, Delbert McClinton, Justin Townes Earle, Patty Griffin, Solomon Burke, Burrito Deluxe) on drums, Joe Allison on fiddle and mandolin, Mike Argento (Varmints in Heaven), Chris Planas (The Pagan Babies, Third Degree), Jon Shain, Scott Neubert (Hal Ketchum, Trace Adkins), Tom Manche and Kenny Geist (Case 150) on guitars, Tim May (Patty Loveless, Charlie Daniels, John Cowan) on mandolin, dobro and banjo, Ray Eicher on pedal steel, Tim Lorsch (Kris Kristofferson, Townes Van Zandt, Lucinda Williams, Sam Baker, Kenny Chesney, Mary Gauthier, Rodney Crowell) on fiddle, baritone violin, cello and violin, Fats Kaplin (Pure Prairie League, Kane Welch Kaplin, Kristi Rose, Hayes Carll, Nanci Griffith, Jason Ringenberg, The Waybacks, Jorma Kaukonen) on pedal steel and accordion, Deon Estus (Sting, Tina Turner), Thom Bissey (Case 150), Dave Francis (Tom Paxton, Pam Tillis, Maura O'Connell) and Rod Goelz on bass, Gene Rabbai (Willie Nelson, Neil Young) on keyboards, Randy Stewart on banjo, Bill Nork (Robert Bobby) on dobro and Bill Newton on harmonica. Jefferson Pepper played acoustic and electric guitars, bass, mandolin, harmonica, keyboards and percussion.

American Evolution Volumes 1 and 2 were released in 2008. American Evolution Volume 1 (The Red Album), reached No. 9 on the Euro Americana Chart in February 2008 and American Evolution Volume 2 (The White Album), reached No. 11 on the Euro Americana Chart in June 2008. Volume 3 (The Blue Album), has not yet been released.

American Evolution was released to much critical acclaim. A few notable quotes include:

"Amazingly well-crafted..." The Belfast Telegraph (Northern Ireland)

"An impressive and thoughtful project..." Mike Davies, NetRhythms (UK)

"Jefferson's writing is excellent, thought-provoking and original...All considered, lyrically this could easily be one of the strongest CDs to be released ." Cashbox Magazine (USA)

"10 out of 10." Tim Peacock, Whisperin and Hollerin (Ireland)

"One of the better lyricists of our present time." Eduardo Izquierdo, Sonicwave (Spain)

"As music projects go, Jefferson Pepper's latest set of releases is a magnificent achievement in concentrated yet voluminous output...If there is a record which will stand the test of time and encapsulate the uneasiness with which Americans live with their politics and religion, this should be it." Soundfires (UK)