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Humble virtuoso: Ella has always loved to sing —“and I would in my room really loudly and obnoxiously”— and picked up guitar at age 9.
Her first “real gig” was at the Bunker in Ybor City: “It’s crazy because I played there a while back, and I took a picture, the same picture I took when I was like 10.”
Tuneful healer: Brett started playing cello while attending John Hopkins Middle School; he’s a mostly self-taught musician and has “lots of other instruments” in his arsenal, including guitar and keys. Right now he’s picking up credits from St. Pete College. “I want to eventually get to FSU and study music therapy.”
Surprisingly nutritious: In December, Ella Jet graduates from the charter high school she attends in downtown St. Pete, and she’ll join Brett at SPC. But she has another love: “I kind of really want to be a nutritionist.”
Old school ties: Ella and Brett only started putting their talents together to deliver a warm folk 'n’ blues sound about a year ago. “He’s in another duo called Acoustic Valley, and they were playing at Ale and the Witch,” Ella explains, “and I walked in there and saw him playing and I kind of just immediately asked him to join my band.”
Dylan by association: Ella and Brett played the support stage for Bob Dylan’s show at Ruth Eckerd Hall this past April. "People were putting us and Dylan in the same sentence," Ella recalls with wonder. "It was crazy!”
Work for hire: Ella and Brett play anywhere from five to more than a dozen gigs a month.
Deep roots: Ella’s dad and uncle, Stephen and Robert Vessenmeyer, were the siblings behind popular rootsy soul outfit Experimental Pilot and members of ’90s-era rock band Men from Earth with blues guitarist Jeremy Thomas. It was her connection to him that got her onto the Jannus Live stage. “I opened up for Jeremy Thomas Band. He’s known me since I was born, and he hooked me up with that gig when I was 14.”
Vinyl fever: Uncle Rob got Ella a fine vintage stereo system for her 15th birthday. She’s been curating her own personal vinyl collection ever since. Her pride and joy, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, hangs on the wall of her “hippy jam room” (the nickname her uncle has given the converted garage apartment Ella shares with her older brother).
Coming up: Ella and Brett play the support stage in the Ruth Eckerd Hall courtyard prior to the Rob Thomas show at REH on Fri., Aug. 21. Ella performs solo at The Chattaway on Sat., Aug. 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is free. Burgers are optional.
Clik here to view.
Humble virtuoso: Ella has always loved to sing —“and I would in my room really loudly and obnoxiously”— and picked up guitar at age 9.
Her first “real gig” was at the Bunker in Ybor City: “It’s crazy because I played there a while back, and I took a picture, the same picture I took when I was like 10.”
Tuneful healer: Brett started playing cello while attending John Hopkins Middle School; he’s a mostly self-taught musician and has “lots of other instruments” in his arsenal, including guitar and keys. Right now he’s picking up credits from St. Pete College. “I want to eventually get to FSU and study music therapy.”
Surprisingly nutritious: In December, Ella Jet graduates from the charter high school she attends in downtown St. Pete, and she’ll join Brett at SPC. But she has another love: “I kind of really want to be a nutritionist.”
Old school ties: Ella and Brett only started putting their talents together to deliver a warm folk 'n’ blues sound about a year ago. “He’s in another duo called Acoustic Valley, and they were playing at Ale and the Witch,” Ella explains, “and I walked in there and saw him playing and I kind of just immediately asked him to join my band.”
Dylan by association: Ella and Brett played the support stage for Bob Dylan’s show at Ruth Eckerd Hall this past April. "People were putting us and Dylan in the same sentence," Ella recalls with wonder. "It was crazy!”
Work for hire: Ella and Brett play anywhere from five to more than a dozen gigs a month.
Deep roots: Ella’s dad and uncle, Stephen and Robert Vessenmeyer, were the siblings behind popular rootsy soul outfit Experimental Pilot and members of ’90s-era rock band Men from Earth with blues guitarist Jeremy Thomas. It was her connection to him that got her onto the Jannus Live stage. “I opened up for Jeremy Thomas Band. He’s known me since I was born, and he hooked me up with that gig when I was 14.”
Vinyl fever: Uncle Rob got Ella a fine vintage stereo system for her 15th birthday. She’s been curating her own personal vinyl collection ever since. Her pride and joy, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, hangs on the wall of her “hippy jam room” (the nickname her uncle has given the converted garage apartment Ella shares with her older brother).
Coming up: Ella and Brett play the support stage in the Ruth Eckerd Hall courtyard prior to the Rob Thomas show at REH on Fri., Aug. 21. Ella performs solo at The Chattaway on Sat., Aug. 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is free. Burgers are optional.
