Two new recordings spotlight the rising jazz artist.By Chris Cooke
Omaha, Nebraska – Violinist Jenny Scheinman is one of today's rising music stars. Her new recording, Crossing the Field, continues to establish her as an important artist. It has been released simultaneously this year with her self-titled debut vocal record.
Crossing the Field allows Scheinman, an accomplished violin player, composer and arranger, to more fully realize her enchanting blend of jazz and folk music. The disc presents memorable performances by Scheinman in the company of Grammy Award-winning guitarist Bill Frisell, with whom Scheinman has worked for several years. The presence of jazz-piano extraordinaire Jason Moran and a string orchestra led by founding members of the string quartet Brooklyn Rider serve to deepen the texture of the recording session. From hard swinging jazz trios to sweeping symphonic passages, Crossing The Field does not disappoint.
Her self-titled debut record Jenny Scheinman offers the listener a vibrant, passionate performance. Drawing heavily from her folk roots, Scheinman creates energetic, melodic music that directly connects with the listener. Classic gems are given new readings like "Twilight Time" and "Shame, Shame, Shame" in addition to Scheinman originals "Skinny Man" and "Newspaper Angels".
Jenny Scheinman's early years were spent in a remote California small town playing folk music with her family. Studies of music continued at Oberlin Conservatory and on the streets of San Francisco; she has performed as a violinist/fiddler since she was a teenager. Now based out New York City, the artist has kept a busy schedule of area performances and studio work. In July 2008 Scheinman performed at the prestigious Iowa City Jazz Festival. She crafted an energetic set of music with Bassist Matt Penman, Drummer Rudy Royston, and Guitarist Adam Levy.
The Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll has awarded Jenny Scheinman the #1 Rising Star Violinist title and has been listed as one of Downbeat's Top Ten Overall Violinists for the last five years. Additionally, Scheinman has acquired numerous high-profile arranging credits with artists such as Lucinda Williams, Bono, Lou Reed and Sean Lennon, and has toured and recorded with Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux, Nels Cline, Vinicius Cantuaria, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Mark Ribot. Her two new recordings add to four previous releases of original music under her belt, the last of which, 12 Songs, was named by the New York Times as one of the Top Ten Albums of 2005.
Visit Jenny Scheinman on the web at www.jennyscheinman.com . Photo credit: Monica Frisell. Click on the link at the top of the page to hear an interview with Jenny Scheinman. Recording Engineer: Mike Hansen/KIOS.
Chris Cooke is the host of Last Call on KIOS-FM