music FOGBy Jessie ScottWhat is it about the water in Canada? How could there possibly be such an amazing crop of beautiful, talented females doing roots music? We have had the pleasure of bringing you Music Fog videos from Madison Violet, Catherine MacLellan, Melissa McClelland, Kendel Carson, Lynn Miles, Amelia Curran, Oh Susanna, and Frazey Ford. There are scads that we haven't yet caught up with. On that list is The Wailin' Jennys. Yes, that sounds like a play on words of Waylon Jennings, which is a fine musical role model.The Wailin' Jennys are Juno Award Winners from Manitoba, Canada and New York. You know there is a lot going on musically in the Great White North, where they respect and encourage artists by bestowing grants. And I do believe it is working, thanks to the help of the Canadian Government.The Wailin' Jennys fourth full length album, Bright Morning Stars, (released today) is named for a bit of lyric taken from a traditional song they sing a capella. Ruth Moody, Heather Masse, Nicky Mehta, and Jeremy Penner embark on a tour this month as well.
The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars
CBC Music MattersBRIGHT MORNING STARS is the first studio album from Winnipeg-based roots trio The Wailin' Jennys since 2006 and first non-live recording to feature its third configuration: Heather Masse (pronounced "Massey"), Ruth Moody, and Nicky Mehta. "The Jennys 3.0", as they humourously call themselves, bowed with 2009’s LIVE AT THE MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE, which peaked at #3 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Album chart. The trio’s three previous albums sparked numerous awards, including Junos, North American Folk Alliance, and Western Canadian Music Awards, in addition to earning the praises of media from Exclaim! to Penguin Eggs to the Toronto Star. It’s been an impressive run for the group, which is not even a decade old, and all the more remarkable given the principals’ ongoing careers outside the band. Indeed, previous members Cara Luft and Annabelle Chvostek have also thrived as solo performers. The songwriting is divided equally on BRIGHT MORNING STARS, which was produced by Mark Howard (Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Neil Young) and David Travers-Smith (Jane Siberry, Oh Susanna). The large cast of supporting players includes some of the top names in Canadian roots music. As usual, everything here is first rate, but go with (in order) “Swing Low Sail High”, “Last Goodbye”, “All the Stars”, “Cherry Blossom Love”, and “Across the Sea”.
The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars
Christianity TodayBy Mark MoringIt's been almost five years since this award-winning trio's last studio album—too long to wait for music this sweet, for vocals this lovely. Bright Morning Stars is aptly titled: the tunes brim with brightness, with the hope of new morning, and, at times, seem to point to the Bright Morning Star. The title track refers to the day "a-breakin' in my soul," to fathers "in the valley a-prayin'," and mothers "gone to heaven a-shoutin'." Hints of the gospel are sprinkled throughout: "Storm Comin'" encourages the listener to not run away, but to "let it wash away the tears and trouble" and "let love through your door." Stellar stuff, literally and figuratively.
The Wailin' Jennys Pleasant Pastrel Sound
The Toronto StarBy John TeraudsTHE WAILIN' JENNYSBright Morning Stars (True North)
(out of 4)It's taken more than a year from recording sessions in cabin up in the Haliburton Highlands to this album's release date. This is the first studio album in nearly five years for the Wailin' Jennys, a bluegrass-roots trio originally from Winnipeg, and it's well worth the wait. All but one of the 13 tracks were written by the talented singers: Ruth Moody (who also plays guitar, banjo, accordion and bodhran), Nicky Mehta (guitar, ukulele, harmonica and percussion) and Heather Masse (double-bass). The bluegrass accent is rendered in muted pastels behind the women's signature tight three-part harmonies, and you can practically hear the quiet woods outside the recording studio. The songs are impeccably produced, but maybe the tracks are a bit too relaxed when heard back to back. The highlights: Moody's gospel-style “Storm Comin' ” and the Jennys' haunting, a cappella take on the traditional lullaby “Bright Morning Stars are Rising.”
More Streaming, Touring, and a Juno Nomination!
Things are not slowing down over here. We've added a third new song to the on-line streaming in anticipation of the February 8, 2011 release of Bright Morning Stars. This week, you can hear "Bird Song." You can listen to the track here.For more information, or to pre-order Bright Morning Stars, click here for the United States or here for Canada and the rest of the world.We leave early tomorrow morning for the next leg of touring. This time we visit Montana, Colorado, and New Mexico. And just as we were packing our bags, digging around for passports, and monitoring the "storm of the century," word came out that our own Ruth Moody received a Juno nomination for her beautiful solo album, The Garden. Congratulations Ruthie!!! We look forward to a little (or a lot) of celebrating on the road.Thanks everyone!
Off the Charts: Billings-bound Wailin' Jennys Return to Fine Folky Form
The Billings Gazette - USBy Chris JorgensenIt's been up, up, up for the Wailin' Jennys since forming for a one-off show in a tiny Winnipeg guitar shop eight years ago.Their 2004 debut, “40 Days,” won a Canadian Juno Award and their “Firecracker” follow-up spent more than a year on Billboard's folk charts and landed them a string of appearances on “A Prairie Home Companion.”Where “Firecracker” veered tentatively into a harder-edged alt-country territory, “Bright Morning Stars” gets them back to their traditional folk roots.That's not to say it's all hummin' and strummin', however.The trio of Ruth Moody, Heather Masse and Nicky Mehta each contribute their own songs to the album of 12 originals varying from the gospel-tinged “Storm Comin'” to the jazz-tinged “Cheery Blossom Love” and the ready-for-country-radio “Swing Low, Sail High.”As sweet and soothing and expertly played as these songs are, above all else are the trio's immaculate harmonies, which shine brightest on the a capella title cut and the yearning “Across the Sea,” their voices soaring with an aching trumpet.Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/music/article_b37300c1-d2f8-5ac3-910c-57909c482ca7.html#ixzz1ZUEaZ4hK
Another Song Available for On-line Streaming
Another Song Available for On-line Streaming
Wow. So much activity these days. We've added another new song to the on-line streaming. This week, you can hear "Swing Low Sail High." You can listen to the track here.
For more information, or to pre-order Bright Morning Stars, click here for the United States or here for Canada.
Thanks everyone!
Transitions
Hi everyone!
We have some news we'd like to share with you. Our beloved side-player and fiddler extraordinaire Jeremy Penner has decided to take a break from music for a while and study to become a paramedic. We know Jeremy has just what it takes to do this job - he is smart, dedicated and compassionate, while possessing lightening-fast instincts, and not just when it comes to determining the whereabouts of the nearest source of cheddar cheese, or ensuring that the last piece of sushi on the table ends up in his mouth. No, he has what it takes. When Heather busted the 10 litre water jug last tour and the water came gushing out of its broken spout at alarming speed, it was Jeremy who leapt into action, yelling his commands and laying out his strategy clearly, decisively. He had that spout shoved back in its hole and the leak fixed in seconds flat. We knew at that moment that we couldn't stand in the way of Jeremy and his new chosen path.
We'll miss you Jeremy - your beautiful and emotional playing has contributed so much to our musical journey in the last few years. We wish you all the best in your new endeavours and are happy that you are now able to spend more with your daughter. Thanks for the music and the laughter over the years!
And now we embark on a new phase in our journey, and we are thrilled to announce that Richard Moody, Ruth's brother, will be replacing Jeremy as the Jennys new side-player.
Richard has played on every Jennys studio album to date and is already, well, part of the family. Known first and foremost as a violist, he also plays violin, guitar and mandolin, has been performing on the international roots music scene for over 20 years, and has leant his impeccable talents to hundreds of studio recordings.
With stories of Richard setting up his precious cappuccino maker outside truckstops and forgetting his viola on top of moving tourvans, we know we've landed another wonderfully unique and eccentric Man-Jenny, and feel confident that we will be as entertained as ever in the coming months of touring.
And so we gear up for another year of exciting adventures. We can't wait to share more music with you all, especially in the form of our brand new album, Bright Morning Stars. Montana here we come!!!!!
Love,
The Jennys