Local Music Makers

Spotlight on singer-musician and songwriter Jonathan Pearlman, aka “JP.”

By Peggy Ratusz

photo by Elliot Schwartz photo by Frank Zippere

How can I pay tribute to a person who has been a friend and my champion for 15 plus years? Here’s my attempt to do so, in hopes that by the time I get to the end, I’ll have given justice to my comrade, Jonathan Pearlman, aka “JP.”

Tough the frst time we met in 2007 is a little fuzzy, the frst time we played together is a bit clearer. We’d met just a few weeks prior and he came to my house two hours beforehand to rehearse.

I had a thin spiral notebook containing about 20 song charts in my keys that I knew well. A few were jazz standards because at that time, many friends were encouraging me to learn Great American Songbook tunes. By that time, JP was years deep in a self-study curriculum of jazz composers and instrumentalists. We tackled the 20 songs in the living room, working out intros, outros, solos and a few harmonies. Aferwards we loaded up the car and drove to downtown Hendersonville for our stint at Te Cypress Cellar.

Both nervous for fear of disappointing the other, it took us a full set to begin to cop each other’s vibe and style and relax into the newness; the birth (as it were) of our musical relationship. Our frst set break found us toasting at the bar; me with a shot of Jack Daniels and Jonathan with whatever lager they had on tap. Safe to say that we’ve been toasting and singing and copping each other’s vibe and style ever since.

JP started out in this town long before I arrived here in 2002. Under his pseudonym, Alien Music Club, he’s recorded hours of original music and produced countless amazing shows, selling out one afer the other afer the other. He’s handily and successfully carved out his place

within the continuously burgeoning local music scene. I have had the privilege to be part of a few of his productions: Te Bridge- Paul Simon meets the Beatles with Eric Congdon and Paul McIntyre, Te British Are Coming with his wife and my bestie, Aileen “Big Al” Pearlman, Bruce Lang and Micha Tomas, and our oldschool funk and soul project, Bad Girls & Te Aliens of Soul with Taylor Pierson, James Kylen and my other “bestie” Paula Hanke.

Leonard Cohen, Te Deep Cuts, is his latest project. Assembling a well-appointed backing band to support his arrangements, it’s a 75 minute set of the songpoems Cohen was so beloved and admired for writing. Pearlman’s voice has never sounded this lush and captivating. His embodiment of the material feels like we’re watching artists paint in real time; only he’s using the instruments to capture textures and color, instead of brushes. He orchestrates the players, Ryan Kijanka, Franklin Keel, Micah Tomas & Scott Sharpe, by leaving room for them to take turns in the spotlight throughout. Tis selfess approach serves his purpose and methods fttingly. It is by far one of the most emotional concert performances I have ever been to.

His musical infuences span from Te Beatles to Mahavishnu Orchestra with guitar heroes like George Harrison, Jef Beck, John Scofeld, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass and Pat Martino. In the early 2000’s he began to study and transcribe jazz standards by Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Telonious Monk, Chuck Mingus, John Coltrane and others. It’s interesting to note that his early heroes were Elvis Presley and Bobby Darin and his frst experiences on stage were when he was just ffeen and in a Country music band who opened for singers like Charlie Pride, Bill Anderson and Ferlin Husky.

Absorbing the voices and prowess of these geniuses translates into brilliant guitar styles he diligently hones, sharpens and refnes. Tis discipline enables him to connect to his listeners in a unique and personal manner. Sof spoken and shy of stage he speaks to us from the heart on stage, and he does so efortlessly and fuently with any number of his favorite guitars.

I am incredibly blessed and grateful that during the 10+ years he hosted the Barleys AMC jazz jam before Covid curtailed its continuation; through it all and even now, we perform side by side at many area venues. It’s important to point out that while hosts of the various jams around town these days include devoted and passionate mentors and musicians, let there be no mistake about it; it was Jonathan Pearlman who was one of the frst to initiate the platform that those fne young bohemian emcees and organizers mimic for their jams. His tireless eforts each and every week (for more than ten years) was intended to bring musicians and fans together in downtown Asheville. It was an inclusive place for novices to professional instrumentalists and vocalists to come and be heard, and it opened doors and provided opportunity for players and fans to schmooze, support one another, jam with each other; a place to meet future band mates and collaborators.

Te reputations he’s helped set-forth on the right footing, the young people and students he’s hired on their frst gig, the infuence he’s clearly had on and the role model he’s clearly been to his son, the work ethic he’s shown, inspires all of us to practice and get out there. Tese aren’t little things. Tey are not and should not be forgotten. He’s a working and seasoned musician that younger players continue to seek out and look up to.

When JP works on anything, he commits hook line and sinker. An avid boatman, he captain’s rehearsals and live performances with a commanding but loose grip on the wheel, taking those of us lucky enough to share a stage with him to exotic, melodic destinations.

photo of JP at Bele Chere by the late Frank Zipperer

Peggy Ratusz is a vocal coach, song interpreter, and songwriter. For vocal coaching email her at peggymarie43@gmail.com