Back in 2006 Jamie McLean made the difficult decision to leave the well-known Dirty Dozen Brass Band for a less secure endeavor. With nothing but love for his band mates, McLean decided it was time to strike out on his own, so, he formed the Jamie McLean Band and began to write and record his own music. Fans of the band have yet to be disappointed as the Jamie McLean band continues to put out records that sound almost as good as the band sounds live. Not to mention, you can get any of the band’s records on their website http://jamiemcleanband.com/band/ through a “pay what you can” deal. I found this to be just the tip of the iceberg of love McLean has for his fans.

As a music fiend from a very young age, McLean was happy to talk business with me this past week.

Times Square (TS): When did you first get into music?

Jamie McLean (JM): I had a moment when I was 12 or 13 when I woke up one morning and it hit me like a bolt of lightening that I wanted to play guitar. My parents bought me a cheap guitar, and you know, practice, practice, and practice. I had a band with my brother in high school. I’ve just always been really drawn to music.

TS: Where there any struggles along the way?

JM: Life is a struggle. Of course there are highs and lows but there’s never been a moment when I’ve doubted myself. Music has been amazing to me; I’m really blessed to make a living doing it.

TS: How did you make the decision to leave Dirty Dozen Brass Band to form your own band?

JM: You know, that was a real bread and butter gig. It was steady work and it paid the bills. I just knew I needed to do something else, so I started my own band. Leaving something steady that I knew would keep me comfortable and jumping into something that was completely unknown was definitely a massive leap of faith. I always followed my heart and I knew that was what I needed to do. I was glad I made the decision; I’ve never regretted it.

TS: Was there ever any fear?

JM: There was a little fear, I guess, but it just felt so right. It was definitely a tough decision but something that was a long time coming. For a while there I was doing both, traveling with Dirty Dozen and starting to do my own band so when I finally made the jump they knew it was coming. I love those guys they’re like family. They weren’t mad, they knew it was coming and wished me the best.

TS: What’s the difference between Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Jamie McLean Band?

JM: Well the main difference for me is that I’m singing everything. It’s all my original music. That was another reason I had to go out on my own, I wanted to do my songs. All the lyrics are true stories, based on my life. I love everything Dirty Dozen does, the whole New Orleans sound, but I wanted more rock n’ roll.

TS: Who are some of your biggest influences?

JM: The standards, Led Zeppelin was in heavy rotation, I’m a guitar player so definitely Jimi Hendricks.  I love anything that’s got a real soulful, emotional impact. I love Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Marvin Gaye. I like great blues, anything emotional and honest. I like a lot of modern stuff too but I definitely grew up on classic rock.

TS: What is your writing process like?

JM: It’s all over the map. I’ve written four-minute songs in four minutes and four-minute songs that take 4 years, It’s great when a song writes itself and falls into your lap, but it doesn’t always happen that way. I almost always write by myself, completely alone. That’s how I wrote the last two records; I went away by myself, away from everything. It really is such an elusive process. There are stretches where nothing comes for a month or so. You have to be able to be in touch with your mood and just hope that you recognize a great song when it starts to whisper in your ear.

TS: You’ve said you prefer to record with the whole band, and for the recording to sound live. Does this present any challenges in the studio?

JM: The only challenge is you have to play well. We’re pretty tight and we know what we’re doing so I’ve always preferred to work that way. A polished LA studio record is just mechanical to me, it sounds sterile. There’s no relationship there. Some of my favorite moments on records are the mistakes, if a cymbal falls that’s just what happens. When you get all the musicians in the room it sounds like a rock and roll band.

TS: You’ve worked with a lot of different bands, performers...what was your favorite experience?

JM: I’ve been really lucky to work with a lot of amazing people, it’s always nice to meet people you really respect and then they’re amazing people too. It was really cool to work with Elvis Costello and Norah Jones. Derek Trucks is one of the best guitar players on the planet AND one of the nicest guys on the planet. I’ve been lucky.

TS: You have a new album coming out in the spring. What is new and exciting about it?

JM: Yes, we just recorded a live album last Thursday in NYC sponsored by Gibson Guitars. There were about fifty or sixty people there. It’s our first live record and we’re really psyched about it. We have some special performers on it; Jason Crosby and Taylor Hicks are on there. We’re really excited.

TS: So, what does the future hold for JMB?

JM: We’re putting that record out and touring heavily behind it.  We’re playing our show at Gramercy, which we’re excited about. We’re real road warriors, we love playing in front of live people!

Check out Jamie McLean Band at Gramercy Theatre on January 27th!

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