Jesse Waldman Music

"It was only last September that Jesse Waldman put out his sophomore album, The Shimmering Divide. But clearly some creative drive sparked within him, as it took him barely four months to produce the whole of Year of the Fire Dragon. The instrumental record features 13 tracks of guitar-driven music: an ocean of sound that flows between roots and blues, soundscapes and country, atmospheric and intimate. Compare the wash of “Unveiling” to the solo jazz tones of “Cherry Blossoms On An East Van Alley”, and consider all the ways that six strings can sing"

-V.S. Wells, Georgia Straight

"Whether he's banging out the blues on his 1959 Harmony Stratotone Jupiter or crooning an acoustic-folk tune, Jesse Waldman never sounds like he's doing anything other than baring his soul. The Ontario-born and East Van-based singer-songwriter seems like a man just a little out of step with his times, as if his very being is rooted in the Dust Bowl '30s or the Greenwich Village '60s. On "Another Lost Soul", Waldman sums it up neatly when he sings, "I've been a long-lost soul all my life/Got this old-time curse, man, I don't know why." Waldman hits the Mission Folk Music Festival with a pair of crack sidemen (drummer Marc L'Esperance and bassist Michael Rush) in tow, so he's likely to focus on his juke-joint-jumpin' side, which damn sure won't get any complaints from us."

- Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

Jesse Waldman’s Year of the Fire Dragon feels like a quiet, reflective walk through the seasons of a life. It’s his first fully instrumental acoustic album, and it’s clear he poured his heart into every note. Inspired by his Chinese Zodiac sign and shaped by years of experience and collaboration, the album blends fingerpicked guitar, subtle blues, and cinematic textures into something that feels both deeply personal and universally calming.

The opening track, “Commission from the Ether,” features a delicate blend of fingerpicked acoustic guitar and mellow ambient textures that feels effortless, yet emotionally grounded. There’s a quiet pulse to the rhythm that never rushes, just calmly carries you forward, like ripples on a lake at dusk.

“Ballad of the Northern Flicker” feels like a slow, thoughtful walk through the woods — just you, the trees, and your breath. Centered on warm acoustic guitar and expressive slide work, the track moves with a calm, steady rhythm that soothes and stirs. The slide guitar glides like a breeze or a distant birdsong — subtle, emotional, and full of quiet meaning in every note.

This release, even without lyrics, says a lot. It captures something about the quiet moments — the ones where you stop, listen, and just notice. Whether you’re unwinding after a long day, watching the sky shift colors, or just needing a moment of calm, this one’s a perfect companion. Simple, honest, and full of heart.

- Jenna Melanson, Canadian Beats

Vancouver singer-songwriter Jesse Waldman’s debut album, Mansion Full of Ghosts, is tugging on heartstrings this Spring. With four years of labor stacked behind it, Mansion Full of Ghosts holds up a microscope to the importance of one’s roots, one’s family, and what one can accomplish when aspirations are chased. 

A veteran performer who has toured the western U.S, the U.K, and played at Canada’s chief festivals—namely Vancouver’s Folk and International Jazz Fests—Waldman channels all he holds dear into his 16-track album, each song irreversibly and unmistakably original. Featuring a blend of atmospheric acoustics, downy vocals, and gifted West Coast musicians as the instrumental backbone, Mansion Full of Ghosts lures listeners in immediately with its strong sense of setting in its opening track, “Hope in Shadows”. 

In it, Waldman paints downtown Vancouver with a gritty realism, his lyrics leaning towards the evocative in a way that entirely immerses the audience in the story of a man who yearns to make it back into the “light” after living years in metaphorical darkness. 

The fifteenth track, “Rest of My Days”, is where Waldman’s deep-seated roots come out to play: coupled with a music video comprised of old home videos spanning generations of Waldman’s family, Waldman spins a lullaby-esque tale of family, his Northern roots, and the beauty of both. Infused with a hopeful tinge, Mansion Full of Ghosts is a wholesome, masterfully written debut that will appeal to fans both old and new. Dates for Waldman’s live shows have been posted on his website, and span across Vancouver until the tail-end of July—performances not to be missed, especially with these new tracks hitting the stage.

- Emma Sloan, Canadian Beats