One of Jon Dee's bandmates describes him as being like a tiger or a panther on stage; his pacing back and forth only hints at the depths of energy and power lying underneath, that could be unleashed at any moment. Others describe the incredible energy of his performances and how once you've seen him live you'll be hooked forever.
If you think back to what Jon Dee said about Kwan-Yin, and think of it in terms of how an artist would translate that into creative energy and how that might appear to an audience watching him perform, you begin to see that there is more to this man than just another guy performing high energy, intelligent, Rock and Roll.
Although there is no way that anything captured on tape, be it video or audio, can fully recreate the experience of seeing a performer in person, the concert footage of Jon Dee Graham included in Swept Away gives a good indication of the level of intensity that he must reach during a performance. There's an indescribable quality not dependant on speed or volume.
Musicians are at times described as having "soul" by those wishing to define this intangible, as it implies a level of commitment to the music that goes beyond the ordinary, but even that seems to be inadequate when it comes to Jon Dee Graham.
He's tapped into something that allows him to create music that defines experiences in such a way that not only do they ring true, but an audience can identify with them. Yet it's not just the content, it's the spirit behind the song that people recognize; they can see themselves, and how they have felt in the situations he describes, like they are looking through the eyes of the song into their own lives.
Swept Away is more than just a documentary about a middle aged Rock and Roll musician. It's the portrait of an artist. Not only has director Mark Finkelpearl given us the opportunity to see some great music being performed through his filming of Jon Dee Graham in concert, but he offers a reminder of the cost paid by someone who has dedicated himself to the pursuit of creativity.
Article comments
1 - Joe McCune
At the American Music Festival in Berwyn, IL a few years back, I told Jon that he was the "Charles Bukowski of rock and roll." He responded by saying "That's the best compliment I've ever gotten." It's true.
2 - Richard Marcus
Joe
I never would have made that connection on my own, but thinking about it I think you've hit the nail on the head with that comment. Thank you very much.
Richard Marcus