Electric Ghost - UKBy Lee EdwardsAll three band members Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta, and Heather Masse contribute equally and play a variety of instruments; acoustic guitar, accordion, banjo, and ukulele.The title track, Bright Morning Stars, is a traditional Appalachian hymn that they sing a capella to shimmering and etherial effect. Elsewhere they are joined by the cream of Canadian musicians including Bill Dillon, Kevin Breight, Colin Cripps, Richard Moody plus regular sideman Jeremy on fiddle.The theme of what's been lost, whether the passing loved ones, a lover gone or a family that is far away is emotionally touching.A beautiful and haunting album, from the heart.
Wailin' Away - Canadian Folk Band to Perform in Frederick
Gazette.Net - Maryland, USABy Jordan EdwardsGreenwich Village in the late 1950s. San Francisco in the ‘60s. These are places American audiences associate with folk music. They are communities where friendships and acoustic guitars blended to make memorable songs.Folk is also big up north. In Winnipeg, Manitoba about 70 miles from the point Minnesota becomes Canada, the Wailin' Jennys came together to form a trio known for its harmonies and eclectic songwriting. Nearly a decade after the genesis, Ruth Moody, Heather Masse and Nicky Mehta are some of the most respected folk musicians in the business."One of the great things about Winnipeg is there is a lot of resources for musicians, which helps a lot of cross-genre pollination," says Moody. "[That is] probably why Nicky and I met in the first place. We were in slightly different scenes, but we were both singing backup for a mutual friend. Nicky had a great voice and was a great songwriter."They weren't even supposed to be a real band."We talked about getting together with the other founding member, Cara [Luft], for one show to sing together on each other's tunes," Moody recalls. "It sold out right away, so we added a second show, and that sold out. There was a chemistry and, before we knew it, we were getting offers from folk festivals around the country."This Saturday at the Weinberg Center in Frederick, the audience can hear the Jennys sing music from their latest album, "Bright Morning Stars." The show comes a night after a sold out performance at the Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel. Throughout the 13-song "Stars," the album dips into roots country, bluegrass and jazz. None of the tracks, however, stray far from the tight earthy sound that fans have grown to love on their first two releases."We didn't go in to make it deliberately sound different," Moody says. "I think there's actually a continuity there that is really nice. I think fans will feel that it's a real Jennys record."Part of the album's success is owed to producer Mark Howard, who has previously collaborated with Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris. The songs on "Stars" are polished, but maintain an organic feel somewhere at the intersection of Alison Krauss and Neko Case."He had a really light and relaxed presence," Moody says of Howard. "He was very into creating a vibe and letting those special moments happen. And they did."In 2007, Heather Masse joined the group, replacing Annabelle Chvostek. Masse brought in jazz influences and a formally-trained ear. A native of Maine, she studied jazz at the New England Conservatory of Music. It didn't take long for Masse to blend with Mehta and Moody. She was flexible, too. To add bottom to the Jennys' sound, the multi-instrumentalist learned to play bass."She was just a perfect fit musically and personality-wise," says Moody. "We sang together in a bathroom at a venue where she came to check us out. It felt great. We knew from right there that it was going to work out. It wasn't really a change in direction. It was just sort of adding to the pallet."In Canada, the Jennys have achieved a high level of success, earning multiple Juno (Canadian Grammy) nominations. The Billboard Charts have been kind to the band, too. Both "Firecracker" and "Bright Morning Stars" made noise on the Heatseekers, Bluegrass and Folk charts. Upon its release last month, "Stars" became the No. 1 folk album in America.When they're not contributing to the Wailin' Jennys, all three singer-songwriters work on their own material. Mehta's song "Begin" appeared in the feature film "The Cake Eaters" and the Lifetime Series "Army Wives." Masse, who lives in the Catskills region of New York, has released the CDs "Many Moons" and "Bird Song." With many instruments— banjo, guitar, piano —at her disposal, Moody released her debut LP last April.Despite all the side projects, Moody says the Jennys have no problem balancing both aspects of their careers."The Jennys are my number one priority. While we're touring on the road, it's full time for everybody," she explains. "I try to do solo shows when I can. I made my record when we were on hiatus. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to do that."With a new hit album and a tour bus driving across North America, don't expect the band to break up the harmonies anytime soon.
Album review: "Bright Morning Stars"
The Washington PostBy Geoffrey HinesIt’s always tricky to assemble a vocal harmony group from singer-songwriters. The knack that makes the harmonies work — the ability to blend selflessly — often conflicts with the essential element of songwriting — the ability to offer a strikingly individual perspective.The three women in the Wailin’ Jennys have solved this by writing songs that offer an original vision on universal themes. And it’s at that universal level that their harmonies work on their new album, “Bright Morning Stars.”The dozen original songs — four apiece by Ruth Moody, Heather Masse and Nicky Mehta — are not tethered to the urban world but dwell on such timeless rural imagery as frogs, snow, stars and the moon. These images never lapse into mere sentimentality but are the occasion for meditations on loss and recovery. The three-part harmonies reach for optimism but never lose their undercurrent of melancholy.The one cover is the title track, a gospel hymn that grasps for optimism in a similar fashion, and the a cappella vocals blend hurt and hope with mesmerizing fullness. On the remake of “Bird Song,” from Masse’s 2008 solo album, that fullness gives the song a new dimension. Such camaraderie is necessary against life’s blows, as Moody implies on her song “Storm Comin’, ”: “Don’t run from the comin’ storm / ’cause you can’t keep a storm from comin’. ”
The Wailin' Jennys @ The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
The Times Union - NY, USABy Michael EckTROY – Three voices are better than one.Especially when those voices belong to Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta and Heather Masse, collectively known as The Wailin’ Jennys. The Jennys made their Troy Savings Bank Music Hall debut Saturday, wowing a crowd of over 600 with their wit, songcraft and dazzling harmonies.The group began nearly a decade ago, as a gathering of solo singer/songwriters at a friend’s guitar shop. The energy was instant and Moody and Mehta have been singing together ever since. Masse joined in 2007, after two other members had circulated in and out of the trio’s membership; they all sang as sure as sisters on Saturday.The group is touring behind a new album, “Bright Morning Stars,” and they offered plenty of selections from the disc, including the a cappella title track.Sound problems plagued the early part of the evening, briefly scuttling opener Rose Cousins’ set and slowing the Jennys momentum. Mehta, whose husband Grant Johnson is also the band’s soundman, took things in stride, riffing improvised lyrics about the situation until it was figured out.Once everything was sorted magic happened.The Jennys’ music is sometimes too polite for its own good, but they found an edge at the Hall. “Away But Never Gone,” from “Bright Morning Stars,” for example, set off Mehta’s poignant lyric with the chirp of a ukulele, proving that the little four string is good for more than novelty songs. Masse’s “Cherry Blossom Love” brought her deep jazz vocal education right into Jennys’ territory. And Moody’s “You Are Here” won best in show, pairing her brother Richard’s mandolin with her steady guitar and Mehta and Masse’s sweet backing.Moody and Mehta did dip deeper into the band’s catalog as well. The former got the audience singing along powerfully on “the non-denominational gospel song” “Glory Bound, and the latter offered her own “Arlington” as well as a frankly too peppy take of Emmylou Harris and David Olney’s “Deeper Well.” The male Moody did get a little avant garde on his violin for “Well,” the one time the evening went truly outside, in the jazzman’s sense.Moody and Mehta jumped around from one instrument to another throughout the evening, while Masse stayed parked behind her standup bass.But the audience loved it best when all instruments were laid aside. Lead Belly’s “Bring Me Lil’ Water, Silvy” didn’t sound like a field holler, but it did sound delicious. Moody’s “Storm Comin’,” with rubbing hands for percussion and sharp vocal counterpoint, went gospel again. And the closing round of “The Parting Glass” was sung sans microphones, making use of the hall’s famous acoustics.Cousins’ brief opening set was charming, with her goofy humor offset by the beauty of her songs and her voice.
The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars
Rock 'N' Reel - UKBy Dave WhiteAlbum number four from Canada's Wailin' Jennys and it's their best yet. While each of its predecessors offered some truly memorable moments, earning the band awards and fans around the world, Bright Morning Stars is by far their most cohesive collection of songs to date.The Jennys' gorgeous harmony vocals are present and correct, of course, gracing a variety of material - a dozen self-penned numbers that encompass folk, pop, jazz (a deliciously retro 'Cherry Blossom Love') and even gospel (an atmospheric 'Storm Comin'). The title track, performed a cappella, is a traditional Appalachian hymn mourning the passing of loved ones.Most recent recruit Heather Masse has clearly settled in will alongside original members Ruth Moody and Nicky Mehta. The trio is augmented here by regular sideman Jeremy Penner (fiddle) and an array of fellow Canadian musicians for a full-band sound, though one that remains as light as air and thoroughly refreshing.
The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars
The Uniter - University of Winnipeg Newspaper - CANADABy Robin DudgeonOne thing is certain: when you hear the Wailin’ Jennys, you can’t help but be stunned by the unearthly harmonies of Ruth Moody (soprano), Nicky Mehta (mezzo) and new member Heather Masse (alto). On the Juno award-winning outfit’s fourth studio album, they are still doing what they do best: making gorgeous folk music, blowing you away with their a cappella tunes and impressing you with their honest songwriting. Produced by Mark Howard and David Travers-Smith, Bright Morning Stars is full of beautiful tunes. The gospel-esque Storm Comin’, the stunning a cappella title track and the haunting What Has Been Done prove that each girl can certainly hold her own – no one member overshadows the others. Each is a talented vocalist, songwriter and musician, as is evident in their solo work. All I can say is that after five years without a studio album, it’s nice to see the Jennys are back.
The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars
Leiceister Bangs - UKThe ever popular Wailin’ Jennys return with their third studio album, “Bright Morning Stars”. Close harmony singing has always provided the core of the Jennys’ sound, and nothing has changed here; they’re in great voice for a collection of songs that merge country, bluegrass, folk, blues and gospel. Highlights come thick and fast; “Swing Low Sail High” is sumptuous country soul, “Cherry Blossom Love” is a throwback to the pop-jazz girl groups of the 1950s, and “Storm Comin’” is gritty gospel with an impressive, unhurried guitar solo from Colin Cripps.
The Wailin' Jennys - Bright Morning Stars
www.allgigs.co.uk - UKBy Paul PledgerIt's not often you pop a CD in a player, sit back and become transformed to another place, but I certainly experienced that feeling with this, The Wailin' Jennys third album - and what a little beauty it is too.The source of their music lies in traditional country-roots, delivered effortlessly and harmoniously by three charming and photogenic brunettes in the shape of an alto (Heather Masse), a mezzo (Nicky Mehta) and a soprano (Ruth Moody).All three prove how sickeningly talented they are by playing the occasional banjo, ukulele and guitar, as you do, although much of the musicianship comes courtesy of a crack band of Canadians, plus some deft knob-twiddling by co-producers Mark Howard and David Travers-Smith. If I told you that the former has previously sat in the chair for Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams, you'd assume this was similar territory - and you'd be right, sort of. Hell, the three of them even turn their hands at writing their own feckin' songs!The set opens with the runt of the litter, oddly enough - the almost jolly, almost bouncy opening pop-gambit of "Swing Low Sail High" seems at odds with the rest of the highly emotive and subtle nuances presented on the other languid lullabies, such as "Mona Louise" or "Bird Song". It's good, but far far better follows it, trust me.I suggest that you leap for the CD player's shuffle button to see what that can throw up instead. Ooh, here comes song number two, "All The Stars" - what a fabulous little song this is, you'd have to be a lamp-post not to feel a tiny bit tingly after hearing this. Don't panic - there's none of the usual 'yee-hah schmaltz' commonly associated with pop-country poppets like Leanne Rimes or Shania Twain - they don't impress me much, but this album certainly does (see what I did there?).To pick a highlight from this album would be an unjust act - it's all very worthy, so let me try and offer some comparables. Musically there are elements of the aforementioned Harris and Williams, plus a smidgeon of Kate Rusby (there are elements of folk on here too - check out the title track or "Storm Comin'") and even Christine McVie's contribution to the Mac catalogue. Vocally, they sound like angels of course.Possessing one of the most unflattering monikers since fairy-tales spawned the Brothers Grimm, The Wailin' Jennys don't wail, they soothe, they coo, they gently nuzzle into your neck and massage your mind with simple tales of love and yearning, without overkill and without icky sentiments designed for the nearest toilet-bowl. Note to festival organizers and venue promoters - go and get this lot to play for you as soon as possible!It's a well-worn cliché that has been printed before but, if you only buy one gorgeous harmony-roots album, sung and performed by three angelic voices this year, make it this one.