‘Jesse’ with Leoni Jane Kennedy

Leoni Kennedy Masterlink Sessions

Jesse – Leoni Jane Kennedy brings a personal story to Masterlink Sessions

Some songs arrive at Masterlink with a story already attached. With “Jesse”, the person at the heart of that story works only a short distance from the studio.

Released on 19 June 2026, “Jesse (Masterlink Sessions)” brings singer, songwriter and guitarist Leoni Jane Kennedy together with Stefan Redtenbacher and Redtenbacher’s Funkestra for a new live-in-the-studio interpretation of her song.

The story behind “Jesse”

Leoni wrote “Jesse” for her friend Jesse Hoff, the amplifier designer behind Lazy J Amplification. The song reflects the support Jesse gave Leoni during difficult periods, often through stories drawn from his own life.

Their friendship began after meeting at gigs in Surrey. In 2019, when Leoni supported Catfish at Guildford’s Electric Theatre, Jesse supplied her with a particularly historic Lazy J rig. It included an extension cabinet previously used by Pete Townshend during The Who’s performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony.

Writing about Leoni, Jesse once put their connection simply: “She connects, and she leaves an impression.” Read Jesse’s account of their friendship on Leoni’s website.

The original studio recording of “Jesse” appeared as a single in 2025. This Masterlink Sessions release is a separate performance, filmed and recorded live with the band in the room.

A very Masterlink connection

For us, the story has another layer. Jesse’s Lazy J workshop is based on the same Surrey complex as Masterlink Productions. Over the years, he has supplied amplifiers to Leoni and to numerous artists who have recorded with Masterlink Sessions.

Jesse has also joined us on the Masterlink Podcast to talk about the search for the guitar sound in your head, amplifier design and a career building equipment used by musicians including Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, Pete Townshend, Joe Walsh and Steve Winwood.

Therefore, this session brings together several strands of the Masterlink community: a songwriter, a trusted friend, a band of long-term collaborators and the people who record and film the music. The person who inspired the song is part of the community surrounding the studio itself.

“Jesse” live at Masterlink Sessions

For this version, Leoni performs vocals and guitar alongside Emily Francis, Fergus Gerrand, Doug Harper and Stefan Redtenbacher. The performance was captured live at Masterlink Productions, with the musicians responding to Leoni and to one another in the room.

The result preserves the personal meaning of the original song while giving it a distinct Masterlink Sessions identity.

Watch, stream or download

Musicians

In alphabetical order of surname

Emily Francis – keyboards
Fergus Gerrand – percussion
Doug Harper – drums
Leoni Jane Kennedy – vocals and guitar
Stefan Redtenbacher – bass

Production and creative credits

Written and arranged by: Leoni Jane Kennedy
Produced by: Leoni Jane Kennedy and Stefan Redtenbacher for Masterlink Sessions
Executive producer: Stefan Redtenbacher
Recorded, mixed and mastered by: James Welch at Masterlink Productions, Surrey, UK
Video: Leo Mansell, Shoot ’n’ Splice Films
Studio assistant: Tyler Davies
Photography: Rob Blackham, Blackham Images
Graphic design: Neil J Hart and Stefan Redtenbacher
Guitar amplification: Jesse Hoff, Lazy J Amplification
Legal: Stacey Haber
Label: RSB Records

Dedicated to Jesse Hoff.

Support future Masterlink Sessions

Masterlink Sessions is independently produced. Watching, listening and sharing the release all help the project reach new audiences.

If you would also like to help fund future filmed sessions, you can support us through a monthly membership on Patreon or make a one-off contribution through Buy Me a Coffee.

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