“Like Ennio Morricone jamming with Brian Eno as the house band of a rundown cantina in the Nevada desert, Stevens’ work evokes the beauty and loneliness of wide-open skies in fuzzy swathes of distorted sound and gorgeous keening timbres.” THE ONION AV club.


Morriconez is the project of Jeffrey Wentworth Stevens (george&caplin, Wentworth Kersey). The project is largely inspired by the sonic experimentation that began in his youth while building crystal radio sets with his grandpa, meanderings through the American southwest, his work with inner city immigrant students, and an obsession with 60’s/70’s film. Everything from chopped and screwed trumpet improvisations to manipulated cassette deck loops create a soundtrack for the liberating expansiveness of the western landscape as well as the experience of pioneering through the borders of American culture.
Long time friend and george&caplin band mate, Jason Iselin, is an integral part to the soundscapes cutting across all Jeff’s projects; a guitarist committed to the creation of new sound palettes via sampling techniques and the mutation of guitar tones . Other project collaborators include Joe Sampson (Bad Weather California) and Corey Ryan (Sandusky).
Jeff’s other musical endeavors include the bands george&caplin (Beta-lactam Ring Records) and Wentworth Kersey (Plastic Sound Supply Records). Through these projects, he has toured, composed film soundtracks, and worked with the Norwegian National Ballet. Recent solo tracks (jjango cleefworth morriconez) were used in the soundtrack for the film documentary “Hanna Ranch” (2012).


Past Projects:
Wentworth Kersey: 2007–present (Plastic Sound Supply Records)


George&Caplin: 2001–present (Beta-lactam Ring Records)


Discography:
Jeffrey Wentworth Stevens – “Highway Driveway” (2011)
Jjango Cleefworth Morriconez – “The Poquito Pioneer” (2011)
MORRICONEZ – “Cloud of Dust, Cry of Death” (2012)


Press!

Westword Magazine (6/24/2011)

“While we don’t generally talk about cover art reveals or preorder deals, this one is simply too good to pass up.  For its part, Highway Drive is a meandering electronic record inhabiting the space somewhere between a psychedelic freak-out in the desert and an inspiring vision quest lead by a generous but ungrateful wolf. It’s a solid cohesive album that bangs along to a slightly different drum than one might expect from Stevens.

The Poquito Pioneer, in contrast, is rooted more in what you might expect from Wentworth Kersey. There’s more going on here lyrically, and guitars are a bit more prevalent, but it’s still not a traditional rock record by any means. “Me and the Lonesome Road,” is probably one of the most upbeat tracks on the record, with a whistling track that holds the whole thing together it feels like something out of an Ennio Morricone soundtrack. Don’t take our word for it though — listen to both EPs right now.”

THE ONION’s AVclub (6/27/2011)

“Quasi-ambient electronica and dusty, fly-blown Western Americana may not seem like natural bedfellows, but in the hands of Jeffrey Wentworth Stevens, they mix like gin and tonic—two strong, distinctive flavors that somehow combine into something greater, and far more delectable, than the sum of its parts. Like Ennio Morricone jamming with Brian Eno as the house band of a rundown cantina in the Nevada desert, Stevens’ work evokes the beauty and loneliness of wide-open skies in fuzzy swathes of distorted sound and gorgeous keening timbres.  In effect, they work as two sides of a single album—and a quite good one, at that.”

LAND MAGAZINE (07/08/2011)

“Jjango Cleefworth Morriconez is the latest moniker of Jeffrey Wentworth Stevens, following on his releases as George&Caplin, Wentworth Kersey, and Runway Estates, and adding new material to his construction of a new western aesthetic that speaks to the sounds and themes aroused by its historical landscape. The new moniker is christened by The Poquito Pioneer, on Wil-Ru Records July 13th,  and arrives alongside his solo debut Highway Driveway, on Plastic Sound Supply.  Both albums are high concept pieces; psychedelia with a country tinged croon and ringing drones that reference Spanish horns, exploring the artifacts and decline of the traditional “west”. Set amidst “teetering border towns” and – in The Poquito Pioneer – ultimately leading to the narrator’s childhood home in the decrepit skeleton towns near the over-salinated Salton Sea, it’s a tremendously compelling song cycle and Stevens’ evolving vision.

The Poquito Pioneer and Highway Driveway will both be available July 13th,  on a cassette from Wil-Ru here and a CD from Plastic Sound Supply here, respectively.”