Tag: Bob Rostollan

Musical Haven — The JR Band Transports Listeners to a New Sonic Realm on “Predilection” Single

The JR Band’s Randy Juhl and John Patrick. Courtesy photo.

The JR Band’s new single, “Predilection,” creates a musical haven for listeners.

The Americana instrumental transports fans to an idyllic sonic space that lies somewhere between fantasy and reality.

“The idea for the title ‘Predilection’ comes from a conversation in Carlos Castenda’s writings, The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge,” said Randy Juhl, who’s from Bay City, Michigan, and serves as the band’s vocalist, guitarist, and violinist.

“It’s how Don Juan describes a warrior’s ‘place of predilection’ as a physical spot that grounds you, restores you, and reconnects you with your purpose. That concept has always struck me as being profound, and with this song, I realized that my own place of predilection isn’t necessarily physical but rather musical.”

Juhl and bandmate John Patrick soar on “Predilection,” which features a tranquil blend of acoustic guitar, organ, mandolin, violin, double bass, and banjo.

“For me, that space is a kind of inner landscape where I wanted the instrumental to reflect that sense of lifting off into a place that’s familiar yet expansive,” Juhl said. “A few early listeners told me it felt like a journey, and that meant a lot because that’s exactly how I experience it.”

I recently spoke with Juhl about the band’s new single and the creative process behind it.

Continue reading “Musical Haven — The JR Band Transports Listeners to a New Sonic Realm on “Predilection” Single” →

Local Roots – The JR Band Shares Down-Home Stories of Love and Adventure on ‘Heart Street’ Album

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The JR Band’s John Patrick and Randy Juhl share rich elements of bluegrass, folk and country on “Heart Street.” Photo courtesy of The JR Band

The JR Band fondly remembers the early days of jamming at a local coffee shop.

The Bay City, Michigan duo of John Patrick (vocals, guitar) and Randy Juhl (vocals, guitar, bass, violin) revisits the camaraderie and creativity that arose from those caffeinated bluegrass sessions on “Heart Street.”

“It was called Brewtopia, and we played there for many years. I have a DVD where we started at two o’clock and ended at eight o’clock; it was six hours of bluegrass,” said Juhl about the title track from the Americana duo’s latest album, Heart Street.

“I hooked up with Rusty [Beyer], who was one of my friends, and he directed me toward the coffeehouse where we played in the bluegrass band for many years … and that’s where I met John.”

While the bluegrass band eventually dissolved, Juhl and Patrick continued performing together and became a duo about three years ago. Today, The JR Band celebrates their longtime musical partnership and the spirit of community on “Heart Street.”

Sentimental banjo transports Patrick to the past as he sings, “There’s a place we go / Where the music plays / A cup of coffee, an old café / Banjo strings ringing / Ring me back to life.”

“It’s about getting out of our weekly routines, too, because everybody works,” Juhl said. “It’s like, ‘Let’s go play some music.’”

Continue reading “Local Roots – The JR Band Shares Down-Home Stories of Love and Adventure on ‘Heart Street’ Album” →