In a 2007 interview entitled "Who Norah Adores," Norah Jones, asked to name her three favorite artists, cited violinist Jenny Scheinman, who among her numerous high-profile credits, appears on Jones' multi-platinum, Grammy... more »-winning, groundbreaking Come Away With Me. Jenny has been the Rising Star violinist in Down Beat's International Critics Poll for several years. She has appeared and recorded with artists as diverse as Lucinda Williams and Bill Frisell, Wilco's Nels Cline and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Her residencies at Brooklyn, NY's Barbes with a rotating cast of some of the greatest players in jazz, rock, and country/folk/bluegrass are becoming the stuff of legend. She also sings; and her move into vocal music, coupled with her unique and original presence as a commanding new voice in instrumental music, make Jenny Scheinman's story one of the really important ones in 2008. Jenny's self-titled vocal debut is a spellbinding take on contemporary Americana, featuring interpretations of songs by Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, blues immortals Mississippi John Hurt and Jimmy Reed, and Tom Waits; as well as folk songs, originals and the standard "Twilight Time." The moods range from rocking ("Come On Down") to romantic ("Rebecca's Song) and from raw back porch gut bucket ("Shame Shame Shame") to heartbreakingly poignant ("Newspaper Angels.") The album as a whole signals the emergence of an unforgettable new voice in American music; and coupled with the simultaneous, digital-only, release of her new instrumental collection, Crossing The Field, announces Jenny Scheinman as a unique, undeniable force. To paraphrase Norah Jones, someone lovely and new.« less
In a 2007 interview entitled "Who Norah Adores," Norah Jones, asked to name her three favorite artists, cited violinist Jenny Scheinman, who among her numerous high-profile credits, appears on Jones' multi-platinum, Grammy-winning, groundbreaking Come Away With Me. Jenny has been the Rising Star violinist in Down Beat's International Critics Poll for several years. She has appeared and recorded with artists as diverse as Lucinda Williams and Bill Frisell, Wilco's Nels Cline and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Her residencies at Brooklyn, NY's Barbes with a rotating cast of some of the greatest players in jazz, rock, and country/folk/bluegrass are becoming the stuff of legend. She also sings; and her move into vocal music, coupled with her unique and original presence as a commanding new voice in instrumental music, make Jenny Scheinman's story one of the really important ones in 2008. Jenny's self-titled vocal debut is a spellbinding take on contemporary Americana, featuring interpretations of songs by Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, blues immortals Mississippi John Hurt and Jimmy Reed, and Tom Waits; as well as folk songs, originals and the standard "Twilight Time." The moods range from rocking ("Come On Down") to romantic ("Rebecca's Song) and from raw back porch gut bucket ("Shame Shame Shame") to heartbreakingly poignant ("Newspaper Angels.") The album as a whole signals the emergence of an unforgettable new voice in American music; and coupled with the simultaneous, digital-only, release of her new instrumental collection, Crossing The Field, announces Jenny Scheinman as a unique, undeniable force. To paraphrase Norah Jones, someone lovely and new.
"I need to 'fess up, I was driven to write this review as a backlash against the lousy 2 star review. The hombre who penned that number has no idea what Scheinman has constructed/moved towards so far in her path as a muso. I have all of her solo albums thus far, and a few featuring her as a guest. From the Yoshi's date, through Shalagaster and 12 Songs, there is an open affiliation with material from a 'folk-song' background. Whether it's Klezmer groove, or standard popsong structure(12 Songs), she has worn her musical heart very much on her left-field sleeve. Longterm postings with the Norah Jones/Frisell/Peyroux scene seem to have deepened her understanding of the lexicon of Yankee popular song.
This is a voice & mind that has absorbed much of what resonates with lovers of emotionally candid music-and can convey those special things, lyrical punch/sparse melodicism, with transparent ease. Unadorned blues/roots music, that needs to get over primarily on feel - which Ms. Scheinman has in abundance. Speaking of voice, it is special and uncommon to find an instrumentalist who decides to give the pipes a workout so deep into her years as an artist. In this instance, it is a step forward for someone who has quietly and solidly been building her repertoire & confidence over many years and a wide range of genres - gypsy jazz, downtown, klezmer, avant-garde, etc.
Does someone have to sound like someone else to make them approachable?. I hope not, or else when someone as brave as JS comes along their own individually forged path, we'll ignore them and miss out on something truly remarkable and special."
Surprising and Affecting
BrianR. | NYC | 07/21/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A CD that burns slow and steady but gets warmer with each listen. Her vocals are assured and delivered with great sensitivity to the material. She "gets" the songs, whether her own compositions or the eclectic covers that seamlessly fit into the flow of the record.
Excellent support from her collaborators, and great violin woork (duh!) by Ms. Scheinman.
An acquired taste, perhaps, but truly a CD as a labor of love, love of music, love of words, creating a mesmerizing release."
Invested songcraft
a listener | New Jersey, USA | 07/05/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Jenny Scheinman clearly has a lot to express and plenty of craft to back it up. You hear the surprising ways that she decides to phrase each word - it is often not the kind of sublimation that one would expect from classical player; nor it is a show-off of a vocal technique; rather she inhabits the character's depths and uses subtleties of her musical art to expose the brittle edges with rough honesty. Is her craft going to improve even further? Of course, and she is still finding her way around things, but it is remarkable even now. Now, waiting until she becomes as good as Lorraine Hunt Lieberson before buying this album is silly, because she already can be as devastating."
Stirring, ancient tones with a new voice
Call Me Ishmael | 07/20/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The spare but rich sound of this album supports a spectrum of songs that while varied find a unified voice in Jenny Scheinman. From wistful renderings of songs by Dylan to a quietly aggressive take on a Lucinda Williams tune accented by a brilliantly growling guitar. What strikes me most about this album are the original songs written by Scheinman such as the haunting track The Green. Her voice and violin meld with the faraway and vivid imagery of her lyrics. These originals already have the indelible feel of new standards. This is an album that you know from the first time you hear it will stay with you for a long time."
Great change
David Jones | 07/01/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a sensational change of direction for someone who's made a string of excellent predominantly instrumental albums. "12 Songs" flagged where she might be heading, but this is the full flowering - a terrific record that combines stunning songs, confident, crystal-clear singing and terrific, sparse arrangements. I've played it over and over again - it comes up fresh every time."