Songs Over Solos: The Music of J.M. Clifford, by Mike Fiorito

I went to see J.M. Clifford debut his new album Trains, Thinkin’ And Drinkin’ at the Jalopy Theater in Brooklyn, NY on June 7^th, 2023.

I was new to J.M. Clifford’s music, so prior to the show, I spent a few weeks listening to Trains, Thinkin’ And Drinkin’ and his prior album On a Saturday Night, released in 2021.

I found myself immediately liking Clifford’s blend of bluegrass, bluegrass adjacent, folk, country, and singer-songwriter tunes. While Clifford’s emotive voice and bluegrassy guitar playing are uniquely his own, I heard elements of Norman Blake, Damien Rice, Rufus Wainwright  and other influences in his compositions. As Clifford later said to me on a call, “I describe my work as singer-songwriter music dressed up in a bluegrass outfit.”

On the newly released album, some of the songs, like the title track “Trains, Thinkin’ And Drinkin’” and “Complicated Man” are knee-slapping bluegrass tunes. There are also instrumentals, like “Billy Goose” and “Old Brown Shoes.” And then there are poetic ballads like “Sunburnt Sky” and “On My Mind.” Adding a little pop color to the album, Clifford does an excellent acoustic cover of Harry Styles’ “As it Was.” Prior to hearing Clifford’s version, I had never noticed its lovely melody. And despite the variety of song styles, there is a unity in the manner of delivery and a superb execution to the collection.

The album is taken to a new level with a stellar array of talent, including guitarist/banjoist/mandolinist Seth Taylor, bass player Jeff Picker, dobroist Jeff Partin, and backing vocals by Robby Hecht. Grammy award-winner Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (and current member of Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway) contributed her fire-powered fiddle playing and back-up vocals on a few tunes. Ron Pope, who produced the album and co-wrote the songs with Clifford, also sings back-up and plays harmonica on one song.

Born in Allendale, New Jersey, Clifford originally broke his teeth writing singer-songwriter tunes inspired by the likes of James Taylor, Van Morrison, and Bob Dylan, to name a few.

But in 2018, Clifford caught the bluegrass bug, listening to Norman Blake, Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, and others from the canon. This led Clifford to find Michael Daves, a bluegrass guitarist and singer. Clifford’s bluegrass guitar playing vastly improved after signing up for Daves’ workshops, as well as taking private lessons with him. Last year I saw Daves host a Norman Blake tribute show in New York City and can attest to his incredible playing and devotion to the tradition.

Coming to bluegrass a little later, his development has afforded Clifford the opportunity to incorporate the bluegrass sound without being beholden to it.

Before the band played, I was delighted to listen to the music of Kate Prascher, another singer-songwriter. As she played her set, Clifford sat in the front row with his wife, Nicole Cosme. Dressed in jeans, wearing a baseball cap, Clifford was unpresumptuous and low-key. Although this was his debut show, he looked on like a fan, clapping and cheering between each of Prascher’s excellent and delicate tunes.

When the group took the stage, Clifford announced that his usual guitar player and back-up singer, Sam Brown, couldn’t make the show. Clifford’s wife Nicole, who I later learned is working on a PhD in musicology from Yale, stepped in for Sam Brown that night.

“You guys were amazing,” I said later. “So tight.”

“She’s a genius,” replied Clifford. “She has perfect pitch. She’s been my harmony singer and has played with me a lot.”

The entire configuration that performed at Jalopy Theater that night was different from the band that put down the recording. That didn’t seem to matter. In addition to Nicole, the live band featured Nate Sabat on bass, Jackson Earles on fiddle, and Cesar Antonio Moreno on mandolin. They clearly came to the stage to tear it up.

And while the players were terrific, what really dawned on me was that the musicians played more in service of the songs, than in demonstrating their individual virtuosity. As I listened, I thought to myself, these are songs over solos. And great songs, too.

Clifford played the romping “Slow Rolling Train” from On a Saturday Night, sharing harmonies with Nicole. And while Clifford takes a brief guitar solo, the musicians were restrained, playing to the song.

“Raised in the Ashes,” a waltz ballad from Trains, Thinkin’ And Drinkin’ is another song without a step out solo. Heartfelt and sweet, the lyrics are haunting and thoughtful.

We are all dust and wires

That’s all these poor souls

Can afford

We were raised in the ashes oh Lord

Oh was it all just a dream?

Bout a ghost pulling strings

In a busted machine

I am haunted by all of

The hurt that I’ve seen

Everyday

Continuing the theme of song variety, Clifford played “Kick the Drum,” keeping the audience on our toes, after being lulled by the beauty of the previous tune. As I mentioned to Clifford later, this song has a strong Norman Blake feel to it.

Clifford then performed a lively version of “Trains, Thinkin’ And Drinkin’,” delivering the tongue-in-cheek lines, poking fun of the clichéd lyrics of country songs.

One more song about

Trains, thinkin’ and drinkin’

Buckets of tears

And cold sheets of rain

Love gone bad

And one more heart that’s sinking

Trains, thinkin’ and drinkin’

On my brain

Counting the ways

I lose track of the days

And the nights run long

Spinning around

Til I sound

Like a broke down country song

Just like Waylon sang

I been busted for thangs

That I didn’t do

When the sun goes down

On the town I’ll be howling

Right to the moon

When I asked Clifford what’s next, he said that the band would be going on a tour playing gigs and festivals, like the Podunk Bluegrass Festival 2024, around the country.

“I’m also writing songs with Rick Lang, who’s sort of like an elder statesman in the bluegrass world. Also, the more I can do things like that and get my songs placed with other, more successful artists, that’s like another goal of mine.”

I’m looking forward to watching Clifford’s career blossom and grow. He’s a great songwriter and performer and recognizes that working with great talent only makes him better.

Mike Fiorito is a freelance journalist and author. His UFO themed science-fiction novel For All We Know was published in May 2024 (see review this issue)