**** 4 out of 5 stars -MAVERICK-COUNTRY UK (This release is a combination DVD/CD 2 disc set) “A masterful tour de force by a master songwriter and country-rock journeyman." -SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR “A heartfelt presentation by Jack Tempchin of some of his notable material. A fine collection of well-crafted songs. It is a fine way to spend an hour. ” –SEATTLE POST INTELLIGENCER "It's a fun and intimate performance, and the stripped-down versions are often revealing." -SUN209Americana "We as listeners are privileged to hear all of these tunes just as he must have heard them in his head before they found their way on to paper, eventually emitting outward from the mammoth quality of amplified speakers to filled concert halls and stadiums around the globe." -REBEL ROD'S UNDER THE BASEMENT Blog CD/DVD Review by Rick Ostop, SDROCKNROLL.com "A skeleton has nothing to hide. And a stripped-down acoustic run-through of a famous song is similar. Jack Tempchin has penned many of those songs, most notably the Eagles’ “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “Already Gone” and “The One You Love.” On his new CD, Live At Tales From The Tavern, Tempchin reveals the soul of the skeleton. Right off the bat on the opening track “The One You Love,” I instantly find myself humming the Glenn Frey version in the back of my mind. I can’t seem to help it, 80’s rock radio tattooed that one permanently into my brain. However, as Tempchin starts moving through the first verse, with his slow, soft and eloquent approach, I now hear only the words. The subtle accent of the acoustic guitar and a soothing harmonica riff to help sell the famous harmony is a nice touch, further separating the song from its famous Glenn Frey vocals. And suddenly, it becomes the “who ya gonna choose” tragic love song it was all along. And that right there is the strength of the record and the ace in Tempchin’s deck. He’s a master songwriter, a crafter of songs that feel tranquil but run layers deep. With Live At Tales From The Tavern, Tempchin returns a bag full of his famous hits to their roots. No longer is the Glenn Frey Miami Vice theme song “You Belong To The City” a glitzy over-produced pop song. Here, Tempchin strums a moody guitar while creating a lonely longing tale from the streets delivered with a layer of grime. The 1977 Johnny Rivers top ten hit “Slow Dancing,” becomes even more graceful with Tempchin’s reading accenting its romantic underpinnings. And the mega-famous Eagles hit “Already Gone” transforms into a hootenanny sing along of independence celebration. With a comfortable straight ahead approach, Tempchin reclaims these songs, returning them to their rightful owner and exposing the beauty in their craft. Tempchin also gives you a two-song glimpse at his blues abilities. The slide guitar work he does on “Bender” jumps out, and when he throws his head back and howls out the chorus, you can really feel it. The second blues number on the record “Loneliest Piano in Town” not only displays enough of Jack’s comfort with the blues but also shakes up the tempo of the whole CD. Tempchin’s two passes at the blues leave you wondering what an entire record of original penned blues songs coming from him would sound like. The Live At Tales From The Tavern CD rounds out with Tempchin singing “Peaceful Easy Feeling”–a perfect homage to the man’s persona. Tempchin’s vocal timber is warm and inviting, and sung in his thick lower register, it creates the perfect nightcap to the evening. The album package also comes with a live DVD of the night which offers an even more insightful glance at the artist. It’s the full run of the album’s songs with added between-song banter that shows off Tempchin’s dry wit. You also get a glimpse behind the creations of some of the songs. Tempchin’s warm personality and wise sage-like vibe are contagious; once you see the DVD, you instantly miss it when listen to the recording. Tempchin is a San Diego treasure who, for years, has relied on the lasting power and longevity of a well-constructed song to cement his legacy. Live At Tales From The Tavern throws a tight spotlight on Tempchin and his songs and serves as a showcase to his far-reaching talents." CD/DVD Review SEATTLE POST INTELLIGENCER REVIEW By David Bowling "Jack Tempchin is primarily known as a songwriter. His greatest fame came for his songs recorded by The Eagles and Glenn Frey; but other artists such as George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Trisha Yearwood, Tanya Tucker, Kate Wolf, Tom Rush, Richie Havens, and a host of others have recorded his material. Every once in a while he steps out of the background and issues an album of his own. On September 25, he will release his eighth album titled Jack Tempchin – Live At Tales From The Tavern. It is the latest in the Tales From The Tavern series, which records artists in intimate settings at small clubs. Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Jon Dee Graham, Chris Hillman, and Steve Forbert have all recorded for the series and now Jack Tempchin joins their ranks. His new release is a CD/DVD combo which presents him at his simple best as he sings a number of his well known songs and combines them with some newer material. It is just his voice, guitar, and harmonica, which puts a new spin on many of the tracks as it keeps the focus on the lyrics and his skill as a songwriter. Two of his most famous Eagles compositions highlight the album. “Peaceful Easy Feeling” was made for his laid back approach but “Already Gone” is transformed from rock to a folk interpretation. Two songs associated with Glenn Frey, “The One You Love,” and “You Belong to the City,” receives similar treatment. I had forgotten he wrote the Johnny Rivers hit, “Slow Dancing.” Here he presents a gentle version of Rivers’ mid-tempo pop rocker. When you add in such lesser known tunes such as “Bender,” “Loneliest Piano in Town,” “Jazzbird,” and “Jesus and Mohammed,” you have a fine collection of well-crafted songs. Tempchin’s approach is about as laid back as they come, but he is perfect for a small club setting. His patter and stories between the songs only add to the atmosphere. Live At Tales From The Tavern is a heartfelt live presentation by Jack Tempchin of some of his notable material. It is a fine way to spend an hour." QUOTES ABOUT JACK TEMPCHIN "He's a great songwriter. He paints pictures with simple words. He's just really good at it." -Don Henley "Jack is a guy who doesn't get enough credit. What a great songwriter he is!" - Joe Walsh “The first real songwriter I really saw and really got enthused about." -Tom Waits “Jack is one of the greats.” - Steve Poltz, San Diego Union Tribune “Nobody can match Tempchin, the greatest songwriter ever to call San Diego home.” -S.D. News "He’s a true American master.” -Dave Mason PD 105.7 Walrus-FM "Great songs seem to fly to some songwriters like moths to a porchlight... Jack's a searchlight!" -Madison Keith, KPRI-FM "Jack is an amazing songwriter. An interviewer's dream." -Roz Larman, FOLKSCENE Syndicated Radio KPFK 90.7 FM "Jack's body of work is iconic. His contribution as a world class 'muzoid' is undeniable and I remain a lifelong fan." -ASCAP CEO Paul Williams "Sure-footed songwriting craft. Through and through, he's a big deal." -Van Dyke Parks “Jack is officially the nicest guy in show business.” –J.D. Souther