Jennifer Crook vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, small harp
'A Few Small Things' Musicians:
Bethany Porter cello, vocals; Robert Harbron english concertina; Clive Gregson acoustic guitar, hammond organ; Maclaine Colston hammered dulcimer; Robin Davis double bass, acoustic fretless bass; Miranda Sykes double bass, vocals; Alan Burton duduk; Josh Clark cajon, percussion, drums; Andy West vocals; Chris Blanden electric bass; Jane Langley vocals.
Influences
Live, I've never failed to be inspired and uplifted by Eddi Reader, Ron Sexsmith, Eric Bibb, Slaid Cleaves, Karine Polwart, Boo Hewerdine. Songs that can heal and comfort. Guy Clark. John Prine.The beautiful sound of The Wailin'Jenny's. Gillian Welch. Shawn Colvin. Songs so sad I can hardly bear to listen. Patty Griffin or Beth Nielsen Chapman. Gritty songs. Songs that embrace the contradictions of life. Darrell Scott. Joni Mitchell. Tom Waits. Jimmy Webb. Mary Gauthier. Songs that take you home. Sandy Denny. Clive Gregson. Steve Knightley. Andy West. Songs that need to be turned up loud. The Dixie Chicks. Sheryl Crow. The Indigo Girls. Will that do for starters....?
Sounds Like
"Spellbinding" Acoustic Magazine
"An enchanting album...repeatedly delights and captivates."
fRoots
"A wonderfully entertaining evening of well-crafted songs beautifully sung from the heart. Highly recommended."
The Blue Walnut Cafe, Torquay
"Jennifer Crook's beautiful and atmospheric songs held the audience in thrall at The Rondo. The musicianship was superb and the performances were sensitive, yet energetic. A fantastic evening - we'd certainly have Jennifer back for a return visit."
“A vocalist of sublime power...gently luring the listener into a web of disarming surrender”
John O’Regan, Folk Roots
"Jennifer has taken elements of English folk music and arranged them in a modern, minimal, spacious way that might even be termed Anglicana. It works beautifully.
Her lyric writing is done with real craft and care, and her melodies are tunes you can remember. There are even a couple of songs that sound, in the best sense, like pop hits.
Though there are legions of North Americans mining this neo-traditional territory loosely termed Americana, there surprisingly aren’t many English singer-songwriters following a parallel course. Most seem to be either hung up on imitating American songcraft or sticking to a purist version of English folk.
A Few Small Things is unique, a breath of fresh air, and hopefully the way forward."
Charley Dunlap May 2008
‘A Few Small Things’ is Jennifer’s debut release as a singer-songwriter. With her chamber folk background and alt. country influences, Jennifer has crafted a captivating album of beautifully evocative songs with a rich acoustic atmosphere.
Jennifer first came to prominence as a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Tradition Award in 1993, appeared on national television and radio, and went on to work in a variety of acclaimed acts. Her collaborations have ranged from the virtuosic hammered dulcimer and harp duo Cythara (who performed the soundtrack for BBC series ‘The Private Life of Plants’) to the festival mayhem of world-dance fusion band Elephant Talk, taking time to form the lively pop-folk outfit Madigan, and a top class duo with multi-instrumentalist Henry Sears along the way.
However, in a brave new departure, ‘A Few Small Things’ is Jennifer’s first completely solo project and the first to contain entirely original material.
"I wanted it to be quite understated. There are no epic stories or grand statements here - just snapshots of a moment in time when a feeling turned itself into a song."
Hi Jen, Like your page it's lovely! Glad to be back in touch.Good luck with your new album & gigs. I will endeavour to visit when I come South one day! Good luck with this summer..
Well done for getting the album out and for a successful launch at the Rondo (how DID you manage to get Beethoven on Hammered Dulcimer?!...). Loved your "Jane" song... amazing to see her again. x
... and Bob says she'll have the bike back if you don't want it... (glad it provided a useful lyric though)
Hi Jennifer, great to meet you here in cyberspace. I respect and admire your musical talents, "A Stranger In Love" struck home with me, but it's all wonderful stuff. Best wishes, Duncan.
Ehi great Jennifer, very lovely music. thanks for the add, you have a very charming voice,inject peace. Please excuse me for my english, i hope to meet you on my space. Manfro
Thanks for the add, Jennifer. I really like what you're doing. Great songs, thoughtful lyrics, a very nice list of influences, which are apparent in the music!
