Rev Dave Brings Jazz to New Single “You Jazz Up My Blues”
Rev Dave is changing his tune, but not his approach to songwriting. The Newfoundland singer-songwriter is moving into jazz after years of country, blues, folk and rock.
His new band, Rev Dave and the Sharp 9’s, plans to release its debut single, “You Jazz Up My Blues,” on Friday, October 23, 2026. Pianist Bill Brennan and bassist Jim Vivian are among the musicians joining him for this new project.
The song puts romance and jazz in the same conversation. It also opens the door to Here Is Love, an upcoming album built around the twists and tensions of human connection.
Quick Details
- Release date: Friday, October 23, 2026
- Single: “You Jazz Up My Blues”
- Artist: Rev Dave and the Sharp 9’s
- Upcoming album: Here Is Love (album release date not announced)
- Musical direction: Jazz, with roots in country and blues
A Jazz Turn Rooted In Country And Blues
Rev Dave is the stage name of Dave Peddle, a songwriter raised in Corner Brook and now based in St. John’s. His music has moved among folk, country, blues and rock, usually with a strong focus on lyrics.
With the Sharp 9’s, he is shifting that storytelling into a jazz setting. That does not mean leaving his earlier sound behind. The single draws a line between his country-blues background and the improvisational character of jazz.
Peddle also spent years teaching and working in philosophy and theology, according to his media biography. That background comes through in the topics he chooses. His songs often spend as much time on uncertainty and contradiction as they do on simple romance.
The Story Behind “You Jazz Up My Blues”
The title sounds like a lighthearted love song, and the lyrics follow that lead. But the idea behind it is more layered. The track treats jazz’s shifting rhythms as a way to describe what a relationship can bring to everyday life.
According to the release notes, the song moves through images of moonlight, ocean tides, wind and water. It also mentions John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Chet Baker and Oscar Peterson. Those references tie the lyrics to the music tradition shaping the band’s new direction.
Rev Dave describes jazz as a metaphor for love, with room for “spontaneity and joy to our existence.” The song connects affection and artistic change rather than sticking to a standard romance narrative.
Musicians Behind The New Band
Bill Brennan serves as pianist, arranger and co-producer on the project. His career has taken him across jazz, classical, folk and other styles. He has also performed with musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, Cab Calloway and Plácido Domingo.
Jim Vivian brings bass to the group. His previous collaborators include guitarist John Abercrombie and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, according to the media release. The press materials also identify Jacob Slous and Terry Campbell as players involved in the wider album project.
That lineup matters because the new record is more than Rev Dave singing over a jazz backing track. It places his lyric-led approach alongside musicians with backgrounds in jazz performance and arrangement.
How Rev Dave Got Here
Before the Sharp 9’s, Peddle was best known for Rev Dave and the Sin Eaters. That band released Dark Water in 2020, followed by Beams of Love in 2022 and Clouds Like Buffalo in 2025.
Beams of Love received two East Coast Music Award nominations, in the country and blues recording categories. The Sin Eaters also earned a 2026 MusicNL Alternative Artist of the Year nomination.
That history helps place the new single in context. Jazz marks a change in approach, but cross-genre songwriting has been part of his work for years. Fans of his earlier recordings will still find an emphasis on storytelling and relationships.
What To Know About The Upcoming Album
“You Jazz Up My Blues” is the first song the group is sharing from Here Is Love. The album focuses on love’s pull, its contradictions and the challenges that can follow human connection.
The announcement does not give a firm album release date. The October 23 single is the immediate news, with further album details still to come. For now, listeners can follow the artist’s channels rather than rely on an unconfirmed launch date.
Where Rev Dave Is Playing Next
Rev Dave continues to perform in several configurations outside the new jazz group. His official schedule lists an October 30, 2026, set with Sean Murray at Crows Nest in St. John’s.
It also lists a solo appearance at Folk Night at The Ship Pub on November 4. These dates are not advertised as Sharp 9’s shows, so fans should check the specific billing before making plans.
“You Jazz Up My Blues” is scheduled to arrive October 23. Check Rev Dave Music for release information and updated live dates as the new band’s rollout continues.
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