Joni Mitchell, Bruce Cockburn, James Taylor, CSN and sometimes Y, Ben Folds, Nick Drake, Stephen Sondheim, Laura Nyro, Stephen Schwartz, Harry Nilsson, Morrissey, Cindy Kallet, Chopin, Erik Satie
About the record:
It's not often a new artist emerges with a debut record completely formed and beautifully produced, full of tender and concise language, all executed in a gorgeous, mature voice. Contemporary singer-songwriter Jenny Goodspeed has achieved just that rare feat. Jenny's debut CD Under the Ash Tree is a sparkling fusion of folk, pop, americana, and jazz drawing on influences from 70s era singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell, Bruce Cockburn, and Laura Nyro. Well-crafted lyrics, evocative guitar, and heart-breaking melodies abound as Goodspeed explores the intricacies of love and longing, all definitively steeped in her beloved New England landscape.
Engineered and co-produced by Mark Thayer at Signature Sounds Studio in Pomfret, CT, Goodspeed is joined by an impressive group of musicians including Jim Henry (Tracy Grammer, Mark Erelli) on acoustic guitar, Richard Gates (Patty Larkin, Suzanne Vega) on electric bass, Eric Platz on drums, Duke Levine (Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Jonatha Brooke) on electric guitar, Seth Glier ..boards, and Beth Amsel on harmony vocals.
"Jenny Goodspeed has an angelic voice and writes, hands down, the best melodies you'll hear."
--Beth Amsel, Voices on the Verge
"Jenny Goodspeed is just folk enough to sound authentic and just pop enough to keep the attention of the ever-shuffling iPod crowd."
--Fairfield County Weekly
"This is a sparkling folk-pop album guaranteed to brighten your day...her wry comments about relationships seem personal but universal enough that you'll find yourself nodding your head and thinking, "How did she slip into my life?
-- Minor 7th
About me: ~2008 Rose Garden Coffeehouse Performing Songwriter Finalist
~2008 Plowshares Coffee House Songwriting Showcase Finalist
~2008 Solarfest Songwriter Showcase Finalist
~2008 Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival Songwriting Finalist
In the late 60s and early 70s, thousands of baby girls born in the U.S. were named Jennifer. A subset of that group, myself included, were named, in particular, after Barbra Streisand’s song “Jenny Rebecca.” It’s been scientifically proven that having a song for a namesake destines one to living a life obsessed with music. Really.
I just released my first full-length CD. Why now? When I was three, my mother asked me why I was engaging in some odd activity, like climbing into the kitchen cabinet to commune with the aluminum pots and liquor bottles, and I replied, "Not why mom, just because." Pretty wise for a three-year old. (It’s been downhill ever since.)
All but two of the songs were written when I returned to the Northeast after a 10-year detour in the Midwest and West. So, more than anything, the record is a love letter to New England and its infinite kinds of trees, rain, spring peepers, foggy mornings...everything I felt starved for while out West. I've been back for over eight years now and it never gets old.
Video courtesy of Elijah Rottenberg Jonah - Mocha Maya's, Shelburne Falls, MA
jenny my lovely friend, just thinking about you and wanted to write a little note to tell you, just so. i'm so proud of you for hanging in there and sharing the gifts of your music, heart and soul. love, from one of your biggest fans ;--))xo
You are beautiful and charming. Thanks for being such a good listener! We enjoyed meeting you very much. Can't wait till the paths cross. Be well and happy!
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Hey, if you would like your music to be considered for a feature on our site, be sure to send a couple of review CDs our way. (You can find the mailing address on our page.) We love to share new music with our readers!
I'm gonna get tied up later in the week and will likely forget, so... best of luck at Plowshares. Know I'm there in spirit - and tell Jud and Laurie M. hi for me!
Hi Jenny! You sound great. Looking at your schedule, I see we've played so many of the same venues: hopefully we'll be playing one of them in the future together!
Hi Jenny! Under the Ash Tree just gets better with every listen. We've had two unseasonably warm, sunny days this week and your songs have provided the perfect sound track. Thanks so much for sharing! -john
Hi Jenny - Had a great time last night at Jitters and just hanging out talking and laughing! I look forward to our next adventure on the road! Love, Patti
Hi! I just saw that you're playing at MM on Feb. 15th. I'll see if I can get out of WE early that night so I can come see you. I'm looking forward to hearing you sing again. BTW, the band Alana Martineau is in is playing at Smitty's Pub in Greenfield on Feb. 16th if you feel like trekkin' down here. I used to play with a couple of the guys in the band and they're a great bunch. Hope you're having a great week! ~E. :-)
Congrats on Plowshares! Not sure if I'll see you there or not (depends on finances a lot, right now, and the job situation) but I certainly hope so. I feel a lot better about not getting in myself, when I see some of the extremely talented folks listed as winners and even recognized finalists.
