Jefferson Berry & the UAC - Born Into A Blizzard (2025) [Hi-Res]

Philadelphia’s most prolific songwriter, Jefferson Berry & the UAC display the diversity that is American folk music today on Born into a Blizzard, their fourth broadcast ready album in five years. The songs on Born into a Blizzard touch on themes of city living and these strange modern times. The indulgences of our screen time ("How Could You Think That"), the need to start over ("Leaving Santa Maria"), the homeless condition of the once successful ("Sleeping in Public"), and the lost orientation of street people ("Sand in My Shoes") offer Jefferson’s observations of how things are these days. The album does balance out, however , with fun tunes about summer days on the river ("Guitar on the River"), the way we treat our heroes ("Philly Eats it Own") and Jefferson’s father’s version of he day he was born ("Born on Payday"). Musically, the album is genre defiant with songs ranging from the samba jazz of "Thirty Miles to the Beach" to the pure folk of "This Dawn of Mine.”

The Urban Acoustic Coalition (UAC) has changed with each release, but one constant has been Bud Burroughs on mandolin and keys. Born into a Blizzard is the first, and probably best, UAC bass/drum groove with Uncle Mike and Adam Stranburg. Stroudsburg PA’s Theresa Ratliff has joined the band, both live and in the studio, providing harmonies that make the songs stick to you.