Jesse Furay Lynch Makes A Name Of Her Own

When you’re the daughter of one of the most revered icons in all of Americana realms, there’s an inherent challenge that comes with trying to deal with the expectations, unrealistic and otherwise, that come with trying to live up to the legacy. For Jesse Lynch, daughter of Richie Furay — he of Buffalo Springfield, Poco and Souther Hillman and Furay fame — that effort has been all the more daunting. Fortunately, she’s succeeded admirably, not only by playing a key role in her dad’s band, but now with a self titled nine song debut that shows off her skills as singer with both confidence and credibility. Taking songs written by her father (who also coproduced the effort) and some famous friends — Tom Snow, Jack Sundred, David Batteau, Nanci Griffith, and others — she offers up an assertive set that does justice to her heralded origins. Sundred’s stirring “Hard Country” and her dad’s own “Baby Why” ring with an authority and engagement befitting veteran artists with far more years under their collective belts. Likewise, the soulful stance she takes on the bluesy “Love At First Sight” and “(Goin’) Wild For You Baby” suggests an emotional insight that extends way beyond her years. The Piedmont Brothers band make a cameo on another album highlight, “I Wish It Would Rain,” a meditative musing that purveys a goodly amount of down home deliberation. Lynch seems to have a stylistic spread that ought to serve her well as she attempts to come out from under her famous father’s shadow and make a mark of her own. With this eponymous first effort, she’s already made a significant step in that direction.