Jann Klose New Music Video for “Make It Better”

Really loved this video. Jann’s PR firm sent me a link to Jann’s new video which made me sit back and stomp my foot and desk drums.

The music itself is fun and playful with a couple of interludes of a more soulful bluesy, laid back feel. The musicians and the music is first rate and the video is professionally shot and well done.

The message of the song is so wonderfuly upbeat and positive and so needed today and the video itself is so full of wonderful moments and scenes of real people and a world many of us visit from time to time, but should strive to be in every day.

I also checked out Jann’s “Doing Time” video.. and Jann’s songs “Sacrifice” and “Black Box” very cool.

I had not heard of Jann Klose before, but believe me I will be checking out more of this wonderful talent. – JW

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Jann Klose

Jann Klose, a multi-cultural artist, born in Germany, raised in Kenya, South Africa, and Germany, first came to the States as an exchange student in Cleveland.

Now based in New York City, his new album MOSAIC is currently charting on the AMA (Americana Radio) charts. Jann sings and plays guitar for Tim Buckley’s parts in the movie GREETINGS FROM TIM BUCKLEY (out on DVD/Blu-Ray).

His music is heard on the GRAMMY-nominated “Healthy Food For Thought” compilation, MTV CRIBS and movies, “Dead Broke” (Warner Bros.) featuring Paul Sorvino. TIME Magazine Columnist Joel Stein pranked Jann in his column recently.

He’s co-writing songs and performing with Gary Lucas (Captain Beefheart, Jeff Buckley), and poet Larry Beckett (Tim Buckley). Jann has opened for or shared the stage with Renaissance’s Annie Haslam, members of Rusted Root, Brett Dennen, Suzanne Vega, Pete Seeger, and the late Les Paul.

Jann Klose’s “Make It Better” Music Video Offers Collaborative Message
(Singer-songwriter’s upbeat and topical video filmed in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan)

Jann Klose’s new music video MAKE IT BETTER is a performance clip with song lyrics included in 3D. Lines like “#MAKEITBETTER,” “GREAT DIVIDE,” and “IF YOU DON’T KNOW LOVE YOU DON’T KNOW LIFE” reflect the song’s collaborative message that pushes for marriage equality, respect for the working class, and ending war.

Mosaic

Jann’s album MOSAIC follows the indie success of REVERIE (2008) and SACRIFICE EP (2010) and the music video for DOING TIME. Produced by Grammy winner James Frazee (Esperanza Spalding, Blondie, My Morning Jacket) and David Bendeth (Paramore, Bruce Hornsby, Elvis Presley) MOSAIC was recorded between Fall 2011 and Winter of 2012/13. Double GRAMMY-winner Warren Russell-Smith, mastered MOSAIC.

This album is great listening, I really loved Make It Better, Know What’s Right, Still, Four Leaf Clover and The Kite. – JW

MOSAIC’s songs tackle personal and topical subjects and bring together a variety of instruments, musical and lyrical styles from street influences of reggae and punk to calypso, to classic rock, and the folk and Afro-beat that has addicted fans of all ages to Jann’s music.

Songs include Jann’s originals, “Still,” “Make It Better,” “Four Leaf Clover,” “On and On,” “Falling Tears,” and the playful “Beautiful One” with Rounder Records’ Carrie Newcomer.

The album ends with a stunning a cappella cover of Tim Buckley’s “Song To The Siren.” Jann’s band The Edukators, Chris Marolf on bass and banjo, drummers Rob Mitzner and Patrick Carmichael, keyboardist/accordionist Lars Potteiger, and violinist Leah Potteiger worked on the album and contributed to the arrangements.

Other featured guests include guitarists Florian Opahle (Ian Anderson, Greg Lake) David Bendeth, flautist Tia Roper and oboist Megan Marolf (Phillip Glass, Roger Waters).

MAKE IT BETTER is the opening track on Jann’s brand new album, MOSAIC, and has received critical acclaim, including a variety of comparisons: “The Clash meets world music,” splitting “the difference between Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen,” and “mid-career Clapton-flavored.”

Filmed over two days in three of New York City’s boroughs, the music video for MAKE IT BETTER is the collaboration of Jann and filmmaker / cinematographer Yael Shulman.

Using guerrilla techniques, the two (plus a production assistant) carried Yael’s camera and tripod, Jann’s guitar, and a change of clothes in New York City subways, starting near the Bronx Supreme Courthouse, then to Manhattan’s Washington Square Park, and ending up at Brooklyn’s D.U.M.B.O. and waterfront.

Jann’s New York City fanbase was notified of location shoots through his Facebook and Twitter Feeds, and joined the shoot.

Yael states, “We did not use lights; we used available lighting, shooting during the day.” Jann explains, “The segment in which everyone thinks I’m playing a subway platform really is a building entrance in the Bronx with mosaic tiles.”

In conjunction with the guerrilla and collaborative message of MAKE IT BETTER’s urban slice of life and the American melting pot, Jann, Yael, and their friends did instant casting by inviting a range of people to look into the camera, “In New York City it is easy to find people of multicultural backgrounds and diverse lifestyles.”

Yael Shulman helms many music videos for some of New York City’s cool rap and hip hop bands. Recently she handled Live Performance Camera for the rock documentary “Mistaken For Strangers” which was the opening night film of the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival.

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