The Jason Cale Band is a unique blend of New Orleans funk, blues rock, and soul music, reminiscent of the fearless musical offerings of the artists of the late 60’s/early 70’s, and they have performed nationally and internationally.
“I started the band in 2017 as a personal musical outlet,” Jason said. “I wanted to try and dig out all of the music lurking within; I just felt like I had something more to say. Blending all styles of music that have influenced me over my lifetime of learning was the goal, and I believe we’ve found our own groove that can crossover many genres and societal cultures,” he said.
In 2018, Jason had written enough songs to forge the band’s self-titled 1st album with Randy Hagin on drums and Donnell Smith on bass, along with a few guest artists. This was where the dream began to take shape.
“I went into this without expectations, just for fun, '' Jason said. “I wanted it to be nothing but heart and soul.”
You can hear this authenticity laced through lyrics depicting his own personal struggles with anxiety and depression in the band’s flagship song, “A Fool Like You.”
“I wanted to expose my deepest inner struggles to the audience because it’s honest,” Jason said. “I want others to know what it feels like to struggle with inner demons and to know that they’re not alone. This song, in particular, is where we found the sound that would propel us forward,” he said. “You can hear the evolution of this song from the initial recording on the 1st album to the way we perform it currently in front of an audience.”
In 2019, they were asked to spend nearly a month in Europe as cultural music ambassadors with the U.S. Embassy in Slovenia, where they performed at some of the area’s largest festivals, jazz and blues clubs, and also presented improvisational clinics to local music conservatories.
Upon returning home, they dove into their next album, “World of Wonder,” which they recorded before a live studio audience at Soniqual Studio in Portsmouth, just days before the Covid shutdown in 2020.
Since then, the band’s dynamic lineup has grown to include Jeff Saunders on saxophone/keys, Ed Williams on drums, and Jacques Jones and Donnell Smith on bass. They’ve performed countless shows in and outside of the Hampton Roads region, growing in popularity.
“I think people just need to hear us live, in my opinion…that’s when they get it,” Jason said. “We don’t play a lot of covers; we want to be authentic and honest with our product and delivery. Every show is unique and fun for the listener. The bottom line is I don’t just want people to enjoy the music,” he said, “I want them to FEEL it and to spread a message of oneness and love.”
The Jason Cale Band currently has 2 albums, ``self-titled'' and “World of Wonder,” along with 2 singles, “Louisiana Moon” and “Revelation,” available on all streaming platforms. They’ve also been working hard bringing many more new creations to life in the studio.