jrl

After a number of years playing out as a solo artist; Jonathan Reuel started JRL in 2005, launching it with the record, "Seconds to Sunrise". Joined by Nate Butler (drums), Amber Butler (bass guitar and vocals), and Kimberly Glick (oboe, vocals) Reuel for a year of local shows, short tours and recording based in Charlottesville, VA. The band recorded "Caught in the Paydirt," released August 2006.
After Paydirt, the band split up and Jonathan hit the pavement full time in support of the new record. Summer 2007 Reuel hit the studio, releasing of jrl Now that winter, Jonathan's first studio record recorded live with just a guitar and harmonica.
After the release of Now, Reuel began thinking seriously about a change of musical direction. He decided to quit touring and promoting his music and focus elsewhere: on songwriting as well as his work with artists and leaders.
In his words,
"I've got a confession to make. For months now I've been wrestling with a big change in my life and and what it means for JRL. No, I'm not dying and we're not having a baby. On a metaphorical level I've run into sandwich board signs with "the end is near" written on them. On a practical level I can't keep doing everything I've been doing. And JRL has started to feel cramped. . .
So is this the end of JRL? If so why?
Yeah, it ended, and Reuel didn't do much music at all for two years. And then out of nowhere in May of 2011 he came out with Watershed and toured as a power trio, switching from acoustic to electric guitar and surprising audiences from Ohio to Texas, like his mentor before him. Although no one yelled "Judas" at him, he did get a few "I wish I could hear the words" comments -- and a lot of people digging the new direction.