Jenny Scheinman

Listening to her latest album (s/t) on Lala. Pretty damn good though I hear this folky thing isn't her usual style? Maybe I heard wrong? Anyway, discussion here...

she used to be more into "serious" jazz, but then she moved to NY and went "commercial." A friend of mine used to date her, but it's kinda a taboo subject.

then she moved to NY and went "commercial"

This is some pretty funny trolling. Well done.

people viewed it that way.

It just seems a bit funny to say she went "commercial" at that point - considering she was pretty much completely unknown before that. Did she release anything before moving to NY? Pretty much all her work I'm aware of was done after that.

she had a few albums while she lived in the Bay Area, but it was more of a performing/gigging scene than a recording scene at that point.

OK, I guess I'll take your word for it that she was more "serious" in those days.

it was actually before my time, or rather, before I started paying attention to the local improv/jazz scene. I'm honestly just repeating what other people who were around then have said.

I just think there's a bit of an insecurity complex in the Bay Area jazz scene around musicians who come up in the scene there and then move to NY. I'm not surprised there was some back-biting.

i think it depends what they go on to do.

I guess maybe if they continue to make "serious" music that no one listens to then they're given a pass.

pretty much.

Anyway, I think she's great. I think 12 Songs and Shalagaster are both essential. To massively over-generalize, she tends to favors composition over improvisation - solos are usually a bit restrained and made to serve the composition rather than vice versa. She works in folk and Americana idioms, and occasionally ends up closer to a Copland-esque classical style than to the normal purview of jazz. Sometimes compared to Bill Frisell, but I find her stuff more interesting. The vocal stuff isn't bad either.

No doubt doing duets with Robbie Fulks is viewed by some as going "commercial."

Looks like she had her baby and is now playing the occasional gig again.

String arrangements on genuine "Junior Dad" pretty nice.

Wow, she's playing with Bill Frisell and Brian Blade at the Vanguard in December.

I guess she is already known for playing with Bill Frisell but didn't know about Brian Blade

Cool, I was lucky to catch her at Blue Note with Nels Cline and Steve Cardenas and it was a truly inspired show.

One of these days have to get to one of her shows. Assume she is over the 'rona by now.