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Mr. Sun reaches new heights for the confident, accomplished, and multi-talented Jude Johnstone.

Mr. Sun was produced by singer/songwriter/musician Jude Johnstone and was released on the Bojak Records label. Mr. Sun is the third release that I have had the privilege to review (see Music Scene - Blue Light and On a Good Day) and with each release she continues to show a unique blend of confidence and growth as a musician. Her lyrics have always been my weakness; she has the ability to draw a picture or tell a story against a jazzy/bluesy rhythm accompaniment that sets her apart. There are times when a musician says that they know that all things seem right, the timing is perfect, and the music just flows, in Jude's case the result was Mr. Sun. Jude stated that the positive energy and creativity she felt during the recording sessions for her prior release Blue Light was her muse as she penned the tracks to Mr. Sun and was ready to start recording immediately after finishing Blue Light.

The title and lead track Mr. Sun encapsulates the emotions she felt creating this release, "light my way, let the music surround you, you know just what to say, to make joy all around you.... to know you, to know you, is to love you." Mr. Sun should become her signature track as it packs that unique rendering of melody, lyrics, and emotion that comes around so infrequently in a compilation. Over Easy follows with a sultry melody and vocals that meld with her storytelling lyrics: "she likes it easy, over easy, she likes the mambo, and the candle glow, ..., and what she's after, you won't quite know."

Don't Tell Me That it's Over bemoans the feeling of a breakup, of something special ending, and only in the hands of Jude does something emotionally gut wrenching as this sound so good. Echoes of Blue shows off her beautiful voice in tandem with the blissful sound of a muted trumpet. The tracks Sunday Evening and When My Ship Comes In are songs of true love, they tell of the extent that we will go on waiting for someone, being there for them, opening our soul and our heart to the thought of "I need you here with me, the way it used to be," (Sunday Evening) so "I'm gonna sail with you" (When My Ship Comes In).

Her ability to connect with her audience on so many different levels of feelings, emotions, and experiences through her arrangements and poetic lyrics is just a glimpse of the musical genius of Jude Johnstone. Yes, there are some sad songs, but this is not ‘the blues', this is a jazzy/bluesy reflection of what life is about and how if you look beyond today's challenges that things move forward. The term coming of age sums up Jude Johnstone, and she radiates on Mr. Sun.

Websites where you can procure Jude Johnstone Mr. Sun are CD Baby, Tower, CD Universe, Amazon, Music Stack, and Barnes and Noble.

"If there is a Mr Sun, Jude Johnstone will be Mrs Sun in the life of many music lovers, with her jazzy and catchy popsongs – a great new album from a wonderful artist!"

"Jude Johnstone's songs have been recorded by some really famous names over the years; Johnny Cash ('Unchained'), Bonnie Raitt ('Wounded Heart'), and the latest addition, Emmylou Harris ('Hold On'). But Jude Johnstone's own work is equally impressive.

On the new album she continues the path chosen for the latest album, 'Blue Light' - Bluesy and jazzy, smokefilled songs. This one's even stronger. Cool and laidback, but with a focus and presence that speaks volumes!

The small ensemble (featuring Mark Goldenberg and Danny Frankel, among others) is a pure joy to listen to. And Jude's singing is in a class of it's own. And quite obviously, the songs are really, really strong. A delight to listen to, from beginning to end!"

Magnus Sundell - Trots Allt Magazine

Jude Johnstone's songs have been recorded by Stevie Nicks, Bette Midler and Jennifer Warnes. Trisha Yearwood took Johnstone's "The Women Before Me" all the way to No. 1. Johnstone wrote the title track to Johnny Cash's Grammy Award-winning album "Unchained." "The Nightingale" and "In This House," two other Johnstone tunes, are featured on the Lifetime/ABC TV series "Army Wives."

Yet Johnstone says it's still a struggle to get her songs heard. "As every year goes by, I see that, for me, it's going to be harder to get attention," she said. "Artists who haven't already made a big dent tend to be on the younger side."

Though, prestige gigs like opening at Mountain Winery on Sept. 3 for Bonnie Raitt (who recorded Johnstone's "Wounded Heart.") are bound to help.

"(Raitt's) talent is obvious. But I admire her as a person even more," Johnstone said. "She has kept not only her integrity, but her equilibrium. It's hard to keep a balance in your life, especially for artists like Bonnie, who are much more celebrated than I am and who tour incessantly. As much as people like to perform for live audiences, it's not as glamorous as it may seem to the outside world. It must be wearing on a person."

Johnstone, on the other hand, says she is dying to get out and play more. "As sort of an underdog artist, it's hard to get the opportunity to tour very often, because it's so expensive to carry musicians with you and live in hotels. That's why it's so appreciated when someone like Bonnie takes you along with them."

Listeners will appreciate the musical journey Johnstone conducts on her latest album, "Mr. Sun." Her beautifully bluesy vocals, poetic lyrics and jazzy melodies make these songs instant classics.

Jazz-oriented players from her earlier "Blue Light" album encouraged her to stretch musically. She rose to the challenge, expanding her piano technique and learning to write charts.

"It's like when you're playing tennis with somebody who's a little better than you. It makes you play better," she said. "They taught me a lot. It inspired me. The whole time we were recording 'Blue Light,' I was writing 'Mr. Sun.'"

Johnstone never tailors songs for other performers. "I write everything from my own personal reality. So when other people record my songs, it's just a happenstance. They relate the material to their own lives," she said. "It's a thrill to have other people record your work. It's validating."

When artists put their own imprint on a song, Johnstone doesn't mind. "Being surprised is fun."

When important shows pop up, that, too, surprises Johnstone. "I tend to have a couple of high profile gigs in a row and then nothing. That's hard. You'd like to get used to playing with the guys you're out with. I actually have great difficulty remembering all the words, because of all the writing over the past three years. Either that or I'm just older than I thought," she said with a laugh.

"Right now I'm rehearsing this set over and over, so I can remember the lyrics and not look like a deer in the headlights when I play in front of Bonnie."

Growing up in Maine, Johnstone began playing piano at age 8 and immediately started writing lyrics and melodies. "There's no doubt that it's a gift and not something that I pretend I have all that much to do with. It's completely mysterious. I love it more than anything."

In addition to her father's Sarah Vaughn and Billie Holiday collection, she listened to her older brothers' Beatles records.

"Structurally, Lennon and McCartney were such fabulous writers. I learned everything I needed to know about writing songs right there."

In her songwriting, Johnstone never hesitates to reach down to her emotional core. "Sometimes it's difficult for the people around me, the soul-baring. But I couldn't function without it. It's my therapy."

It helps that her husband, Charles Duncan, is also a songwriter. "He understands that there's a lot of poetic license going on all the time."

Their 17-year-old daughter is fascinated by the dramatic arts. A 12-year-old daughter is already a singer-songwriter. "She has the sickness," Johnstone quipped.

"There isn't a moment in our house that isn't musical. (My daughters) couldn't help but be infected by self-expression. By example, we encouraged them to do whatever the heck they wanted to do and not look back."

Johnstone's own parents shared that same philosophy. "They never blinked when I said, 'I'm going to grow up and be a singer-songwriter.' They never said, 'Maybe you need a little degree to go with that.' They just waved me goodbye when I was 19 and left for California. Encouragement is all you have to give a kid."

Eventually Johnstone left Los Angeles for the cozy, coastal town of Cambria. It's an atmosphere conducive to creativity.

Though she hasn't become a household name, Johnstone's earned the acclaim of her peers, as well as members of the public fortunate enough to have discovered her music.

"It's rewarding when you get an e-mail from somebody, saying how much one of your songs meant to them at a particular time in their life. It keeps you at the piano.

"I don't look too far ahead. I'm just trying to stay alive in the music business. As long as I can keep doing what I'm doing, I'm happy. I hope if I keep making a record a year like this, eventually people will find out."

Paul Freeman / Entertainment Writer
Palo Alto Daily News
August 29, 2008

One of the few writers that can give Diane Warren a run for her money, Johnstone continues to maintain a parallel recording career that can stand on its own two legs just as easily. Almost running in a continuation of her last album, this set is loaded with songs and performances that will make you take notice. With a helping hand from a bunch of her first call musician pals, Johnstone delivers the kind of adult listening that makes you sit up and pay attention. Hard-hitting stuff that shows why she continues to be at the top of her game.

Midwest Record.com: http://www.midwestrecord.com/2008/08/21/082108/
August 21, 2008

On Jude Johnstone’s third effort Blue Light I discovered a rare new talent that had enormous potential. On Mr. Sun, that potential comes bursting through every song in the most beautiful untarnished way. The session prior to this is what spurred Jude on to get into a creative groove that kept going so they just continued to record and got enough material together to put out this new recording.

This is Jude’s ode to all the musicians that contributed to the sessions and the inspiration to create she found calling to her inside the music. A wellspring of ideas came flowing forth effortlessly just as the music pushed her to croon out the title track and ten more fine compositions after that with heartfelt emotion and spirit.
“Mr. Sun” is as warm as the title-there is something about the song that gives you that special tingly feeling that only a classic song can. It conveys something so strong that no other song could possibly match it. Not to say that this is not a very strong effort, indeed it is. This is the kind of album that needs some attention and will easily find it in due time once these tracks hit the airwaves or find their way in digital formats all over the internet and web radio.

Incredibly, Jude wrote all of these songs, no obligatory jazz standards, covers or nods to influences are on this CD, it is all pure Jude. This is the reason it all works so well, I do not think anyone wanted to do anything different on this project. Again David Piltch (upright bass), Danny Frankel (drums, percussion), Freddy Koella (guitar), and Marc Macisso (sax) show up for the event. In addition to the regulars, Dean Parks, Mark Goldenberg (guitar), Jon Ossman (upright bass), Daniel Savant (muted trumpet, flugelhorn), Stephen Bishop and Maxayn Lewis, who provided background vocals, step in to help. I had to mention them all because each person played their own quintessential role into making this Jude Johnstone’s masterpiece. If this one does not break her out, well I cannot see how anything else could, it is that good.

Jude goes from slinky late night burners “Baby, Don’t You Call My Name” and “Winding Back My Heart” where she sings, “I can turn myself into a ghost if you want me to,” facing the inevitable loss of her love, to the less musically complicated laments like “So Bad.” Her vocal chords are the main instrument and it all builds into a mountain of feeling and an excellent musical production that this album is consistently from the first note to the last.
Indie jazz simply does not get any better than this.