Album Review of
Motivational Speakeasy

Written by Joe Ross
December 7, 2020 - 1:16am EST
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Jordan Tice is an adventurous musician, born in 1987, who received a full scholarship at Towson State University to study guitar performance and music composition. He’s toured and recorded in various bluegrass, folk and new acoustic configurations. Since his first release in 2005, his various albums (on the Patuxent label) have been genre-bending explorations that garnered critical acclaim. On the Padiddle label, Motivational Speakeasy emphasizes Tice’s singularly impressive talents as guitarist and singer-songwriter.  His originals convey abundant personality and charm. Solid fingerpicking and a warm folksy voice present songs like “Tell Me Mama,” “Matter of Time,” “Bad Little Idea” and “Goin’ on Down” with a seamless mix of blues and roots-oriented panache. “Walkin’” tells a spirited, witty, life-affirming tale of wanderlust while Tice admits he might have to settle down some day. In a similar vein, “Where I’m At” and “Ready To Go” are well-crafted introspective songs with tender, personal sentiments. Tice’s three instrumentals (“Ghost Story,” “Stratford Waltz,” and “Bachelorette Party”) have lilting, impressionistic melodies carried by the guitarist’s gentle, bracing rhythmic drive. I’ve always enjoyed Jordan Tice’s individualism and wry quirkiness in his original music. This solo project keeps Tice’s momentum going, creative juices flowing, and feet firmly entrenched in the varied, richly rewarding Americana music scene.  (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)