Guitarist

Welcome to Monkmusic.net

Home of guitarist/songwriter Jeff Monkman. My new Cd What Makes It Real is a collection of eleven original songs recorded in York, Maine USA. My song styles range from folk, rock and blues. Inspired by such artists as Neil Young, Ray Lamontagne and Clapton. You can listen to song samples here.

My musical journey started at age five with my first guitar recital. Fast forward a few decades and after graduating from the Berklee College of Music I set out to Nashville and joined the songwriting community. I was quickly dragged into the world of 'guitarist for hire' road work. Playing some really awful "new" country music. This occupation soon got old and artistically very unrewarding.

So I started focusing on my writing as my priority in life. With the ultimate goal of having a collection of songs that are genuine and reflect my perspectives and life's experiences both musically and personally. As is the case with my songwriting idol Neil Young.

I felt combining this approach with my years of guitar playing would yield some good results. So after a lot of growth as a writer and personally, I feel that I am now writing and recording music that is purely me.

My new Cd was written and recorded independently without a producer or engineer and free from time restraints. I believe that this approach has allowed the songs to develop more naturally and free of any forced commercialism. I used vintage tube amplifiers with real tone and the minimum amount of digital processing. Solid wooden acoustic guitars round out the more classic old-school sound. Listen here

Watch this video on youtube