Pepper and Sassafras

Inside the song: “Write Again”

February 11, 2020March 26, 2020

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

Sometimes it's hard to pinpoint the inspiration for a song—it seems to materialize out of the ether. But in the case of my song "Write Again," released on the album Live and Listening, I can point precisely to the image above: a photo and poem by my friend Jack O. Bocchino. Here's the album track....

“Side by Side” guitar and flute duet

September 12, 2018August 12, 2019

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

I've been writing and recording songs with vocals and words for a long time. But not until today have I released an actual instrumental composition. May I introduce "Side by Side," which is also the first official release under the name of my duo, Pepper and Sassafras. Plus it's the first song I am publishing as...

Cheap Trick cover with Phil Henry Acoustic Trio

July 13, 2018July 7, 2019

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

Here's a song I never expected to cover: Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me," a collaboration of the Phil Henry Acoustic Trio with my duo Pepper and Sassafras—officially released today as a single and available for streaming and download on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and CD Baby. The idea of covering this song popped up...

Spring tour with Maria Gillard and Martin Swinger

February 27, 2018April 9, 2018

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

Coming soon to upstate New York... https://youtu.be/ebrXnseQyoo This tour brings together four songwriter friends—Maria Gillard, Martin Swinger, Wendy Sassafras Ramsay, and Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers—for a collaborative showcase of fresh, festive acoustic music. Thursday 4.12: Seneca Street Brew Pub, Manlius NY. Part of the Words and Music Songwriter Showcase series. Facebook event. Friday 4.13: Mission Hall, Rochester NY. More info....

Grateful Dead guitar workshop and concert review

March 19, 2017March 18, 2017

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers concert review, Grateful Dead, guitar workshop, press

A recent tour brought me to the Berkshires to teach a workshop on Grateful Dead for Acoustic Guitar at Wood Bros. Music in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and then play a Pepper and Sassafras duo show at the historic Dewey Hall in Sheffield, on a bill with the great young bluegrass trio Jordan Tice and Horse County....

Pepper and Sassafras perform at the Turtle Hill Folk Festival

New Voices winner at Turtle Hill Folk Festival

September 13, 2016September 13, 2016

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

A happy moment from last weekend's Turtle Hill Folk Festival, where Wendy Ramsay and I—aka Pepper and Sassafras—had the honor of being voted audience favorite in the New Voices showcase, and performing in the finale onstage with David Wilcox, Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys, Gathering Time, and more. Thanks to Dave Townsend for the...

Emerging at FreshGrass and Turtle Hill Folk Festival

September 6, 2016September 13, 2016

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

In September, I'm thrilled to be performing with my duo partner Wendy Sassafras Ramsay—we're now officially known as Pepper and Sassafras—at two top-notch festivals. On September 10, we'll be in the Rochester, New York, area, performing in the New Voices showcase at the Turtle Hill Folk Festival along with fellow musicians Austin MacRae and John Sonntag. The following weekend brings...

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Inside the song: “Write Again”

“Side by Side” guitar and flute duet

Cheap Trick cover with Phil Henry Acoustic Trio

Spring tour with Maria Gillard and Martin Swinger

Grateful Dead guitar workshop and concert review

New Voices winner at Turtle Hill Folk Festival

Emerging at FreshGrass and Turtle Hill Folk Festival