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Jenny Scheinman: 12 Songs
ByHaving played on recent Frisell albums including 2003's The Intercontinentals, 2004's Unspeakable, and this year's Richter 858, it's no surprise that Scheinman has enlisted the guitarist's unmistakable voice for 12 Songs. Frisell's relaxed phrasing, rich tone, and quirky sense of humour are in perfect keeping with Scheinman's own lush sound and unhurried approach.
Joining Scheinman and Frisell are cornetist Ron Miles (another Frisell collaborator), clarinetist Doug Wieselman, keyboard/accordionist Rachelle Garniez, bassist Tim Luntzel, and drummer Dan Reiser. You'd think that twelve songs with a septet would run the risk of becoming cluttered, but it's actually rare that all seven players are in the pool at the same time. Instead, Scheinman views them as colors on her sonic palette, using a splash of one here, a lick of another there.
There are conceptual links to Scheinman's last album, 2004's Shalagaster, but despite the occasional nod to music from farther abroad, 12 Songs is an unrepentantly American record. Still, filtered through Scheinman's strangely coloured lens, the music has the same kind of off-kilter unpredictability so prevalent in Frisell's work. Scheinman's writing comes from many times, while remaining completely timeless, ranging from the heartlands of "The Buoy Song to the gentle Aaron Copland-informed introduction to "She Couldn't Believe It Was True, which ultimately evolves into a curious link between a Celtic-cum-bluegrass theme and Jewish hora rhythm.
On the other hand, Scheinman's use of stylistic interconnections and the way she blends instruments is completely modern. The folkloric changes of "June 21 may feel familiar, but her blend of violin, clarinet, and cornet to create long, slow phrases beneath Frisell's slow-hand meanderings creates its own understated innovation. Scheinman's effective arrangements make for an intriguing house of cards. In many cases individual instruments don't appear to be essential, yet remove one and her carefully crafted sound would fall apart.
These appropriately titled 12 Songs may provide some solo space, but at the end of the day they're really compositional vignettes evocative of specific times, places, and emotionsanother clear nexus point for Scheinman and Frisell. It would be easy to suggest she's been influenced by Frisell, but the truth is much deeper. Scheinman's voice was already well-formed before encountering Frisell, and 12 Songs is more a serendipitous case of two artists discovering they share a common space with common goals.
Track Listing
The Frog Threw His Head Back and Laughed; Song of the Open Road; Moe Hawk; Sleeping in the Aquifer; The Buoy Song; She Couldn't Believe It Was True; Suza; Little Calypso; Satelite; Antenna; Albert; June 21.
Personnel
Jenny Scheinman
violinJenny Scheinman: violin; Ron Miles: cornet; Doug Weselman: clarinets; Bill Frisell: guitar; Rachelle Garniez: accordion, piano, claviola; Tim Luntzel: bass; Don Reiser: drums.
Album information
Title: 12 Songs | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Cryptogramophone