9/10: Jesse Dee at Beachland

By Frank Lewis on Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 8:00 am

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The most prized piece of vinyl in your collection comes to mind when you hear Jesse Dee’s soulful voice. But these aren’t cover versions he’s singing. This Boston-based crooner is one of a growing group of artists ushering in a new era by channeling old R&B. Like Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Jamie Lidell and Amy Winehouse, Dee stirs the honest beauty of sing-it-from-the-heart soul with a voice that’s as thick as paste. His backing band complements his big pipes with snazzy arrangements and swinging style. Modern-day definitions of R&B are thrown out the window as soon as Dee opens his mouth. He pays homage to old favorites in concert, emulating iconic heroes like Al Green, Etta James and Sam Cooke. Some songs are upbeat — like the handclap-inducing “Alive & Kickin’” — but slow jams will pepper the mix when he plays the Beachland Tavern (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124) at 9 p.m. with the Alan Madej Band, DJ Soul-O-Matic and DJ Fishtruck. Tickets: $7. — Danielle Sills