Nathan Lee Jackson photo courtesy of the CMA. Photo credit: Abigail Hadeed

By Bob Doerschuk
© 2009 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.

Nathan Lee Jackson nourished his talent with a regimen of piano lessons, church choirs, talent contests and opening slots at shows around Winchester, Ky. Moving to Nashville after high school graduation, he followed the well-trod path into the music business, though with two unusual advantages. The first was one of his roommates, Billy Strange’s former wife, who happily introduced the young newcomer to her industry friends.

The second was Jackson’s artistry. His expressive vocals and the dramatic poetry of his lyrics resonated on a recording he’d made of his ballad, “Powerful,” which caught the ear of Jeff Glixman. With deep roots in classic rock, the producer related to this intensity and, with Zak Rizvi co-producing, helmed Complicated Hearts, Jackson’s StarCity Recording Company debut, with Jackson’s wife Stephanie among the participants.

On 14 tracks, including 12 co-writes and the self-penned “Powerful.” This album weaves a complex tapestry of influences and unusual arrangements, from two a cappella tracks to the jazzy ballad “Kentucky Breeze,” written by Jackson and Jesse Lingo, and the tightly harmonized fiddles and screaming lead of “Sittin’ by the River,” written by Jackson and Jim Femino. There’s Country in the steel guitar on the new single, “Desperate Man,” by Jackson and Bud Tower. But here too there’s edginess in the power guitar driving home a story of finding God at a moment of final reckoning. Throughout Complicated Hearts, Jackson swings for the fences and connects every time.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS Q&A

MUSICAL HERO “Garth Brooks. Ropin’ the Wind was one of the first albums I owned, and ‘The River’ was the first solo I sang in church.”

SONG YOU’D LOVE TO COVER “‘Two Sparrows in a Hurricane’ by Tanya Tucker.  I loved that song as a kid and it applies to my life now more than ever.”

CD IN YOUR STEREO “Nichole Nordeman’s Wide Eyed.”

FAVORITE FOOD ON THE ROAD “Free food!”

DREAM DUET PARTNER “My wife Stephanie … however, if Stephanie was at home, sick with the flu, and LeAnn Rimes just happened to want to sing a duet with me on the CMAs, I guess, through my tears, I would enjoy that thoroughly.”

One the Web: www.NathanLeeJackson.com