The Jessica Stuart Few

"Endlessly charismatic" - Brad Wheeler, The Globe & Mail

"Different, and shockingly good" - Andy Frank, Roots Music Canada

"Amazingly charming" - International guitar icon, Don Ross

SHORT BIO:

Internationally-touring indie folk-jazz trio, The Jessica Stuart Few has one of the freshest sounds around. The band’s sophomore album, Two Sides to Every Story, was released to critical acclaim,  winning ‘Best Album’ in 2014’s Independent Music Awards (IMAs) and dubbed, ‘endlessly charismatic’, by The Globe and Mail. While on tour throughout North America, Asia, Europe and Australia, the band remains in regular rotation on Bravo! TV and CBC Radio while topping campus radio charts, and appearing on commercial airwaves in Japan, hitting #85 on the Tokio Top 100 and #38 on FM North Wave. 

Jessicas unprecedented take on the Japanese koto (13-stringed harp), her exceptional guitar work, and signature songwriting are innovative and refreshing, earning The Few main stage performances at festivals worldwide. Stuart exhibits a pitch-perfect vocal sensibility reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, with stunning 3-harmonies onstage, earning the group a spot on music industry/media’s must-see lists.  Having toured Japan, the US, Canada, Germany and Australia since the release of Two Sides To Every Story in 2013, The Jessica Stuart Few will continue the international run in support of their new and soon to be released album, Same Girl, starting in Asia in November 2015.

FULL BIO:

Inspiring the term 'folk-jazz power trio', The Jessica Stuart Few is turning heads as one of the freshest groups to emerge from Canada's creative indie music scene.

You wouldnt expect it from a white girl who grew up in Vancouver, but the Japanese 'koto' is in Jessica's blood. Growing up in a household with a koto master for a mother, Stuart also lived in Japan as a child, and came upon the traditional 13-stringed floor harp honestly, taking lessons with her mothers sensei. Now, following extensive touring in Japan, Germany, Australia, the US and Canada in support of latest release Two Sides to Every Story (Best Album, 2014 Independent Music Awards), The Jessica Stuart Few continue their International run with a Top 40 single ("Don't Ya", #38, FM North Wave & #85, Tokio Top 100, Japan, September 2013), several award nominations (Soundclash Music Award, Toronto Independent Music Awards) and an impressive list of festival stages under their belt (Reeperbahn Music Festival, Yokohama Jazz Promenade, Canadian Music Week, TD Toronto Jazz Festival etc).

Jessica Stuart's deep musical history and love of guitar heavy rock and soul music are put on equal footing with the Canadian singer-songwriter tradition on Two Sides to Every Story. Stuart exhibits a pitch-perfect vocal sensibility strikingly reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, with stunning harmonies proudly laid free of auto-tune. Her innovative take on the Japanese koto, and her exceptional guitar work are both inspired. Performing and recording alongside Dan Fortin on double bass (Serena Ryder) and Tony Nesbitt-Larking on drums (The Most Serene Republic), Stuart and her long-time bandmates are all vital players in Toronto's indie music scene. The Few's instrumentation is one-of-a-kind, and Stuart's approach to songwriting is fresh, taking influence from folk, soul, rock and jazz, while creating a distinctive new sound that has earned the trio media and industry acclaim world-wide. The band continues to enjoy their songs and videos in regular rotation on FM commercial radio in Japan, Bravo! TV, CBC Radio and more.

Musically innovative and lyrically refreshing, Two Sides To Every Story muses with the theme of dichotomies; work vs. play, right vs. wrong. Recorded almost entirely live-off-the-floor, capturing the warm sound and charismatic energy of the bands live shows, the album transports the listener - it's storytelling set to music that takes surprising turns, all the while maintaining sing-along hooks and harmonies that you can't forget. 

The Jessica Stuart Few will continue their rigorous touring schedule in 2015/2016 in support of their third studio album, Same Girl will is scheduled for release starting in Asia in November 2015.