Jim Gary and the Craft of a Good Song

On March 13, Jim Gary will bring his songs to Wesley’s Place as part of a two-act evening of music. Jim has been writing and performing for many years, with seven albums and more than 75 original songs to his credit, and what stands out most about his work is his commitment to the craft of songwriting itself.

When I asked Jim to describe his live show in three words, he answered quickly: clever, upbeat, entertaining. That feels exactly right. Jim’s performances have a natural ease to them, but underneath that ease is a deep attention to detail.

In fact, when I asked what has remained constant across all those years of writing songs, his answer was simple and revealing: “Obsessive attention to lyrics.”

That dedication to words is something you can hear when Jim performs. His songs move easily between folk ballads, country storytelling, and the occasional touch of jazz or even something that feels a little like a show tune. But he doesn’t think about that as blending styles. As he puts it, he lets the song take him where it wants to go rather than forcing it into a particular shape.

Jim’s path as a songwriter has taken him through some wonderful musical environments. He has performed on the Kerrville Folk Festival’s New Folk stage and at Nashville’s Bluebird Café, two places where songwriters gather to listen closely to one another. Jim told me that those experiences were especially valuable because he was surrounded by other writers and performers. Hearing how they crafted their songs and presented them to an audience helped shape his own approach.

Closer to home, Jim spent time at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, studying with some of the legendary writers associated with that scene. What he remembers most from that experience is learning the importance of editing. As he put it, you don’t settle until you know you’ve gotten it right.

That mindset carries into how he prepares for a performance, especially in a listening room. Jim told me that when he is planning a set, he thinks about the usual elements of good pacing: a balance of tempos, subject matter, and keys. But when the audience is there specifically to listen, as they are at Wesley’s Place, he adds one more element: practice, practice, practice.

The evening will be hosted by Mark Dvorak, someone Jim knows well and admires deeply. “Mark and I go way back,” Jim told me, describing him as truly the best that folk music has to offer. Whether Mark is presenting a traditional singalong or one of his original songs, Jim says he is always a pleasure to hear. Having Mark host also gives Jim the freedom to stretch a bit musically, since Mark already has the traditional folk side well covered.

At the end of the night, Jim’s hopes for the audience are refreshingly straightforward. He simply wants people to feel that they had an enjoyable evening and would like to come back for more.

On March 13, Jim Gary will share the stage with The Milkman’s Kids, creating a night that combines thoughtful songwriting with lively interpretations of traditional music. It should be a rich and varied evening in the listening room, and I hope you will join us.