An instructional designer who works with airlines and the FAA to develop training programs for pilots, Jerry's job includes a lot of traveling - and songs about being away from home. He has been flying since age 10 - on his birthday that year he got his first ride in a yellow Piper J-3 Cub. At age 14, he began doing errands at a Pennsylvania grass-strip airport in exchange for flying lessons. He soloed on his 16th birthday.

He learned a little piano from his father but his first serious instrument was a trombone. At 14, he was turned on to jazz. He learned the guitar "out of passion" -whether the passion was for the music or the girls who listened to the music is really hard to tell at this distance. After a number of electric garage bands, Bresee drifted to acoustic guitar and stayed there. He also reports having once been a bass player.

Musical Influences

"Among others, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Dave Mason, Paul Simon,
Cooder and anyone who ever sang harmony."

Importance of Music

"Without music, I become someone I don't like: mean-spirited, narrow, tense, and irritable. Music focuses me. Making music well requires the full attention of the conscious mind. There's no time left over for worry; now takes up all your attention. Some people get this by exercise, inflicting pain on themselves until they can't think past the current moment. I get it from music, inflicting joy on myself until I can't hold a worried thought anymore."

The Washington Music Scene

"I feel like I've not only found my voice, I've also found a community. There's a family of musicians in this part of the world, and they're just part of an even larger community that seems to grow by the day."

Lifeline

"It's not about perfection; it's about connection. If the songs in my newest CD have any theme at all, it's this one. Lifeline is about trying to stay in touch with home when you can't be there. I Will Always Be Here promises that connections will hold, no matter what. Don't Fly Alone is squarely about belonging. Miracle is a sermon that preaches the sacredness of the connections between all of us. The cover tune from Tom Prasada-Rao and Michael Lille, Falling Star, is about a connection that persists in spite of pain. Insane and Silver Bullet are meant to connect with an audience and get their feet tapping."