Jesse Dayton (photo by Daniel Sanda)
Austin-based guitarist and all-around Renaissance man Jesse Dayton shared songs from across his catalog, including songs from his Shooter Jennings-produced 12th studio album coming in 2024, during our No Depression Sessions at AmericanaFest 2023, recorded at Jaan’s House in Nashville.
Dayton might be best known for his guitar work on albums by legends like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson. His musical love and talent are on full display as a solo artist as he picks his way through this No Depression Session, including new material and also a heartfelt deep cut that left us misty-eyed.
Speaking of legends, the first tune is a tribute to a West Texas original named Boyd Elder, fittingly titled “The Ballad of Boyd Elder.” Dayton tells us that Elder was more responsible for the arts scene in and around Marfa, Texas, than anybody else. Dayton had a chance to raise more than a few beverages with Elder in Mexico. This was decades after Elder used to cruise the Texas desert in search of cow skulls, which he’d paint in Western style, periodically getting high on acid with actor Dennis Hopper along the way.
Further on the topic of legends, let’s talk about one of the world’s finest luthiers, Wayne Henderson. Living and working in the mountains east of Charlottesville, Virginia, Henderson hand-builds about 20 sought-after acoustic guitars and mandolins each year, with his work owned and loved by artists like Doc Watson, Peter Rowan, Gillian Welch, Tommy Emmanuel, and Eric Clapton. Henderson is known for producing instruments under the Henderson name, but it turns out that he also worked at Martin Guitar for a time. One of the guitars that Henderson made during his brief tenure at Martin made its way into the hands of music lover Jim Jard. And after years and years of polite persistence, the instrument landed in Dayton’s stewardship.
“Angel in My Pocket” is the session’s second song, followed by “Baby’s Long Gone.” While we hope that you always watch every ND Session in its entirety, please, PLEASE make a point to see, hear, and feel the final song in this session. It’s an absolute tear-jerker called “Mrs. Victoria (Beautiful Thing),” dedicated to Dayton’s childhood best friend, an 85-year-old Creole woman from Louisiana named Mrs. Victoria.
The No Depression Sessions at AmericanaFest 2023 are made possible by AEA Ribbon Mics.
Find previous No Depression Sessions at AmericanaFest here, and look for more in the coming weeks.
