seasons

jean mann

A barefoot walk down the road of life-angelic vocals accompanied by guitar, mandolin, cello, percussive groove

October 2006: Thank you all for helping me to give blue flower friday- "blossom" (my first album) a hugely successful run!! It is presently sold out, out of print. BUT: YOU CAN STILL DOWNLOAD "blossom" DIGITALLY! Right here at CDBABY!

A barefoot walk down the road of life-angelic vocals accompanied by guitar, mandolin, cello, percussive groove

October 2006: Thank you all for helping me to give blue flower friday- "blossom" (my first album) a hugely successful run!! It is presently sold out, out of print. BUT: YOU CAN STILL DOWNLOAD "blossom" DIGITALLY! Right here at CDBABY! cdbaby.com/blueflowerfriday

Bonus: Listen to sneak preview of "daisies and fire" tunes here: www.myspace.com/jeanmann. To see how you can make it come to be even sooner, go here: www.jeanmann.com/music.html

post house concert blog: Last night, we joined Jen Forceful and Sunni-V (and wa whole mess of other folks) for a house concert at Linda S and Mike's place with Jean Mann.

Otis and I had gone to a previous house concert by Jean last June. That was a great time, and this time was just as big a treat. Jean played guitar and sang, and was accompanied by her sideman-sidekick Bill on bass, mandolin, slide guitar, and accordion. Jean performed mostly original tunes, including two numbers (that will appear on her new CD) that got their "world debut" perfomances last night; she also covered some songs by the likes of Steve Miller, Bonnie Raitt, and Joan Osborne (and I think Jean's version of "One of Us" is just fantastic).

The music is what I would call folk-rock if I had to put a label on it, but that's a bit reductive: the song "Pink" has a haiku-like elegance in the lyrics and some vocal bits that are reminiscent of the best of Tracy Chapman; "The Dance" is a haunting waltz which could easily have been lifted from the soundtrack of a French art film. Whether opening with a playful rendition of "Space Cowboy" or introducing her ephemeral "Daisies and Fire," Jean's vocal control and evocative phrasings were captivating. I'd certainly sit her at the same table with Sarah Harmer and Nekko Case at my musical cafe. Check out Jean's website and pick up one of her CDs. It's good stuff that has earned its place in our rotation."

"I am enjoying the CD(Seasons) I purchaced at the lavender fest on Saturday. It was a good thing my downstairs neighbor was out that night. I was blasting your CD and dancing with my cat at one in the morning." -Anneliese

Check out the latest review at soundaffects.net: http://www.soundaffects.net/cdreviews/jeanmann0404.html or read it here:

Jean Mann: Seasons April 2004 By: Sara Zeno soundaffects.net

The airy music and vocals of Jean Mann's Seasons offer a welcome simplicity in our world of continuous noise. Her songs live in a world inhabited by the constant and enchanting presence of the moon, sun, water and trees. Without interruption or flourishes, Mann's lilting (and sometimes haunting) voice muses over the undiluted structure of acoustic guitar.

The Dance, a waltz that invokes visions of the old world, opens the album. It includes the evocative sounds of mandolin and cello, performed by Beau Gordinier and Kim Blanchard, respectively. Their talents pepper Seasons with nostalgia-flavored sounds.

Mann's perspective distinctively colors her songs. Blue Trees, written in remembrance of a friend, allows spirit to shine through loss:

I always know where you are / In mountain mist, a breeze on high carries you home / A drop in the river, in the vein of the earth / Ever flowing on. And all is at peace in your world.

In The World, which Mann refers to as her "love note to the world," gently nudges:

It's always easier for me when the sun shines bright / And the sparkles lay across the water / Hey, I figure if they can dance so, just think what I can do with the day.

Seasons jingles and meanders with possibility:

Spring springs ahead, and still the snow is falling down on my head / But wait a minute, that's pink petals scattered on the ground / Outside, the season of love abounds.

In lieu of silence, Mann's music exudes a quiet peace. Seasons is as soothing as a forest stream By: Sara Zeno

about the artist:

Seattle-based Jean Mann is a noted singer songwriter, guitarist, multi media artist/craftswoman, and chef. A renaissance woman in a modern day world, Jean's self-taught, "alternafolk" has been compared to Ani DiFranco, Norah Jones and Dar Williams. However, with the release of her new cd, Seasons, she is emerging as a voice all her own. "Simple, yet sophisticated... sweet, personal and real."(Hipfish)

The album project: Recorded independently between 2001-2003, the project was co-produced and engineered by Blues Traveler's Brendan Hill. Introduced by a mutual friend, Mann and Hill decided to work together. As Hill was touring more often than not, the project took a while to complete, starting in one studio locale and finishing in another. The result: Seasons is a snippet of history in a body of work, encompassing as much about life, as events unfolding over the time of the recording project. In lieu of lyrics in the liner notes, a chronology appears, with lyrics available at Jean's website: www.jeanmann.com/music.html

The music swells with textures of cello, mandolin, vocal self-harmonies and other "voices" created by Jean with homespun instruments: tinkly bells on "color of your soul", basket with tiny cow bells on "tell me", pre-snipped guitar strings on "blue trees", and Jean's Gibson '66 J-50, as bass line on "seasons".

the players: Jean Mann: co-producer, vocals, guitars, percussion Kim Blanchard: cello Beau (frisky fingers) Gordinier: mandolin Brendan Hill: Isabella Studios Seattle, WA engineer, co-producer, mixer mover and shaker Mastered at Ironwood Studios Donn Devore, engineer Rowan Moore: CD design Photography: Debbie Mc Gibbon, Jean Mann original art: Jean Mann

"seasons" CD release, and what a few guests had to say post-show:

It was a wonderful evening, full and complete in the combination of musical styles and harmony (in more ways than melodic!) It is a joy to experience yourself through various artistic mediums ~ thanks for sharing so much of yourself! -Sarah McEvoy

Bravo! Bravo! Truly a magical evening...well thought out, planned and presented...you've evolved into a real showwoman...style, presence, performance and the inimmitable YOU! Thank you for sharing...and what a turnout! What a perfect evening! -Helen Tanzer

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