Jenny MacDonald

Artist Information

Biography

“MacDonald sounded like the proverbial ‘old soul in a young body’" – (Stephen Cooke/The Chronicle Herald)

Known as ‘the small girl with the big voice’, Jenny MacDonald is making her mark as a charismatic, audacious, and prolific songwriter and performer - skilled beyond her years. Working alongside high-profile musicians such as Grammy Award winning Gordie Sampson, Steve MacDougall (Slowcoaster), The Hupman Brothers, Ian Sherwood, and Carleton Stone, “MacDonald’s craft is developing in all the right ways.” (Stephen Cooke/The Chronicle Herald).

Nominated for two Nova Scotia Music Awards, including 2011 Blues Album of the Year, and 2011 Digital Artist of the Year, MacDonald's fan-funded sophomore release, "Bye, Bye, Mr. Bluesman" weaves through stories of 'hellos', 'goodbyes', frustrations, and butterflies in a mix of blues and 20s-inspired swing.

"Just put your disc in...I am so blown away...This is a trip into the best part of music. Rock, blues, roots you name it, all perfectly packed into one song, then into the next!...I know this will break you out! Out!" - (Jerry Neville/Annapolis Valley Radio)

Recorded by East Coast Music Award recipient Scott Hupman (The Hupman Brothers), the album features a number of prominent Canadian musicians including; Ian Sherwood, Rob Crowell (The Mellotones/Deer Tick), Matt Myer (Gypsophelia), Ryan Hupman (The Hupman Brothers), Caleb Miles (The Hupman Brothers Band), and more.

The 2011 release, alongside MacDonald’s debut, “Jenny Kissed Me” (2008), receives regular airplay among local, regional, and national stations and has been featured in many press and media avenues such as: CBC Radio One’s “Definitely Not the Opera” (DNTO), CBC Radio One’s “Atlantic Airwaves”, Q104’s “Route 104”, AVR’s “Morning Show”, 1015 The Hawk’s “East Coast Rising”, 989XFM’s “Sounds Atlantic”, KRock’s “Blues Show”, Eastlink Television’s “Eastlink Magazine”, CKWS’ “Kingston News”, The Chonicle Herald (Halifax/Daily), The Casket (Antigonish/Weekly), North Oakville Today (Oakville, ON/Daily), The Grapevine (Annapolis Valley/Bi-weekly), and more.

A graduate of the Nova Scotia Community College's Music Arts and Music Business program, receiving the program's "Highest Achievement Award", Jenny MacDonald has studied under a number of musicians, composers, studio engineers, promoters, and music business professionals in and outside of the college's walls including; Gordie Sampson (Songwriter), Tom Easley (Hot Toddy), Waye Mason (Halifax Pop Explosion), Matt Charlton (Pigeon Row Publicity), Erin Costello (Songwriter/Performer), Jorge Chicoy, Avi Garcia, and Silvio Pupo (Los Primos - CUBA), and many more.

From intimate performances in soft-seat theatre venues, to high-energy bar shows, MacDonald delivers a whole-hearted performance whether driving her way through the blues, stomping her way through dirty rock songs, swinging through jazz tunes, or resting peacefully in a touching love song. A songwriting style that weaves its way between everyday life and a world of make-believe, it will leave you wondering which stories are really true, and which are a creation of her imagination.

The Chronicle Herald’s, Jeremy Webb sums it up; “…MacDonald is clearly going places”.

Instrumentation

Jenny MacDonald - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Songwriting
Greg Melchin - Bass
Brendan Melchin - Drums
Ryan Hupman - Guitar
Caleb Miles - Guitar
Rob Crowell - keys
Ian Sherwood - Saxophone
Ariana Nasr - Saxophone, Clarinet
Matt Myer - Trumpet

Discography

2011 full-lenth: "Bye, Bye, Mr. Bluesman"*

2008 full-length: "Jenny Kissed Me"

*Nominated for "Blues Album of the Year", and "Digital Artist of the Year" (for successful fan-funding) at the 2011 Nova Scotia Music Awards.

Links

• Facebook
• Youtube Channel
• Twitter

Audio

• Bye,Bye,Mr.Bluesman
  Listen  
• Dancing with Me
  Listen  
• Warm Hands Cold Heart (Jenny_Breagh)
  Listen  
• Other Direction
  Listen  
• Speechless
  Listen  
• Beautiful Things
  Listen  
• Dreaming of Something Beautiful
  Listen  
• Coffee
  Listen  
• Goodbye Love
  Listen  
• Harder to Breathe
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Warm Hands/Cold Heart
• Dirty Laundry
• Dancing With Me
• Perfect Line
• Antique Shop
• Dear John

Video

Jenny%20MacDonald%20-%20CBC%20Radio%27s%20%22Atlantic%20Airwaves%22.mp4

Jenny MacDonald - Dancing with Me featuring The Hupman Brothers - AMPFestival 2010

Photo Gallery

Press

• 2011: Annapolis Valley Radio [+ Show ]
  

  "Just put your disc in, and the sound is nothing like I thought it would be. I am so blown away! Thi..."Just put your disc in, and the sound is nothing like I thought it would be. I am so blown away! This is amazing! I love the whole sound. This is a trip into the best part of music. Rock, blues, roots you name it, all perfectly packed into one song, then into the next! And you know what? It gets better as I listen. Great job, and I know this will break you out! out!"

• 2011: Ottawa Blues Week Special Event [+ Show ]
  

  "...A small, but mighty force, Jenny MacDonald offers a performance that is at once bold and brass...
  "...A small, but mighty force, Jenny MacDonald offers a performance that is at once bold and brassy, delicate and fragile, and quirky enough to leave you smiling, laughing, and crying. With a personality as generous as her talent comes a charismatic performance - fulfilling from start to finish"
  

• 2011: Jenny MacDonald sings, "Bye, Bye, Mr. Bluesman" - Album Preview [+ Show ]
  

  Jenny MacDonald sings, "Bye Bye, Mr. Bluesman" Album Preview In a room lined with sweaty bodies,...Jenny MacDonald sings, "Bye Bye, Mr. Bluesman"
  Album Preview
  
  In a room lined with sweaty bodies, noise, and smoke, appears the tiny silhouette of a delicate looking young woman - seemingly no match for the rugged crowd. She opens her mouth; the room goes silent.
  
  Although new to the Annapolis Valley region, Jenny MacDonald is no stranger to the stage. Releasing her debut album, "Jenny Kissed Me" in 2008, MacDonald has since performed alongside a number of Canada's favorite artists including; Gordie Sampson, Charlie A'Court, Ian Sherwood, Coco Love Alcorn, and Christina Martin, and has become a favorite among CBC listeners.
  
  MacDonald's upcoming release, "Bye Bye, Mr. Bluesman", weaves through stories of 'hellos', 'goodbyes', frustrations, and butterflies in a unique mix of blues and 20s-inspired swing - with a mix of country and folk sprinkled on top.
  
  Jenny explains that she has been writing these songs since her first release in 2008, and fifteen tracks were chosen out of "probably hundreds" of original compositions. The title track, "Bye Bye, Mr. Bluesman" was written somewhere in the middle of those years, and was chosen as the title to offer the listeners an idea of what they can find on the album, both in genre and content.
  
  "This is the first time I went into the studio with a very clear idea of what I wanted to come out with - although I had no idea it was actually going to work!" Jenny laughs. "I think of each track as it's own entity, and somehow they just seem to tie together in the end. I guess I approached it in an 'organized chaos' sort of way - kind of like real life. It's raw and rough in some spots, quirky and funny in parts, and it's gentle and sensitive in others; it's kind of a reflection of myself I suppose!"
  
  The album was recorded by East Coast Music Award recipient Scott Hupman (The Hupman Brothers), and features a number of the east coast's favorite musicians including; Ian Sherwood, Rob Crowell (The Mellotones), Matt Myer (Gypsophelia), and the valley's own Ryan Hupman (The Hupman Brothers), Ariana Nasr (T@B), Caleb Miles and more.
  
  "I really love working with Scott [Hupman]. He believes in making honest music, which is one of the reasons I wanted to work with him. Music should sound like real people playing real instruments...One of my favorite things when listening to an old, live album is when you hear one of the players yell 'YEAH!' after something really exciting happens. You can put all the notes and words and rhythms together, but it's passion that makes good music and connects people."
  
  For more information please visit: www.jennymacdonald.com

• 2010: Songwriter Circle April 9th [+ Show ]
  

  "Audiences and performers stand to benefit from an upcoming songwriters’ circle at Bauer Theatre. ..."Audiences and performers stand to benefit from an upcoming songwriters’ circle at Bauer Theatre.
  
  “The idea behind the show is not only to support local acts, but to also bring acts from other parts of the province into Antigonish that people might not have had a chance
  to see, and help musicians who may not have played in that area” performer and organizer Jenny MacDonald said.
  
  “The best way that the music industry is run is through helping each other out instead of competing.”
  
  MacDonald, Betsy MacDonald, Mike Aube and The Hupman Brothers will perform April 9 at the Bauer. MacDonald said audience members can expect the performers to add a little something to each others’ songs..."
  
  (see link for full article)

• 2010: Bauer Theatre Preview [+ Show ]
  

  "When Jenny picks up her guitar, it’s incredible to discover that her husky voice and thoughtful lyr..."When Jenny picks up her guitar, it’s incredible to discover that her husky voice and thoughtful lyrics can come from such a tiny frame.
  
  ...She has made a name for herself amongst talented Nova Scotian musicians with her ability to swing between rock, jazz and the blues, and always writing soulful and
  quirky lyrics."
  
  Tara MacInnis
  

• 2010: Jenny MacDonald featured in Bang Bang! Burlesque [+ Show ]
  

  "...excellent live performances such as Jenny MacDonald's haunting renditions of Johnny Cash's 'God'..."...excellent live performances such as Jenny MacDonald's haunting renditions of Johnny Cash's 'God's Gonna Cut You Down' and 'Bang Bang, My Baby Shot Me Down'..."
  
  (See link for full article)

• 2008: Artist Releases Debut [+ Show ]
  

  Jenny Kissed Me -Artist releases debut- An Antigonish musician is celebrating the release of...Jenny Kissed Me
  
  -Artist releases debut-
  
  An Antigonish musician is celebrating the release of her first CD.
  
  Jenny Kissed Me, Jenny MacDonald’s debut album, features 12 songs penned by the artist. Antigonish music scene mainstays Mike Dalton, Greg Melchin and Drew Martin fill out her band for the record. R.M. Scott of Mishra’s Dream appears for one song.
  
  “Recording the album was a lot of work, but a lot more fun than work, I think,” MacDonald said.
  Jenny recorded the album at Scott Ferguson’s Ferguson Music Productions in Dartmouth.
  
  “It was the perfect match,” MacDonald said. “We both had the same vision for the album.”
  
  MacDonald’s syrupy voice will be spreading across the nation when she embarks on a Quebec and Ontario tour later this month. The songstress will be back for two Festival Antigonish shows August 23 and 24.
  
  “It’s a summer full of dates,” she said.
  
  The NSCC music performance student said she got her start with Antigonish theatre. Her next album may be on the way soon, she added.
  
  “It’s already going in my head, but financially, It’s a big step.”

• 2008: Dwayne Keller - 98.9FM The Fox [+ Show ]
  

  "...beautiful voice, great talent, and great new album." "I've listened to the album beginning to..."...beautiful voice, great talent, and great new album."
  
  "I've listened to the album beginning to end. My wife completely loves it...hats off to [Jenny; she] did a great thing!"
  
  Dwayne Keller - 98.9FM The Fox

• 2011: Lunenburg Spells Magic (Lunenburg Folk Festival Review)
  

  “MacDonald sounded like the proverbial ‘old soul in a young body’" - Stephen Cooke

• 2011: Off the Leash
  

  “…MacDonald is clearly going places”. (Jeremy Webb)

• 2012: Roots Music Canada [+ Show ]
  

  "Jenny MacDonald, originally from Antigonish, Nova Scotia but now living in Wolfville, appears to be..."Jenny MacDonald, originally from Antigonish, Nova Scotia but now living in Wolfville, appears to be a sweet, young, frail thing but she pulls a big voice out of her well-worn boots and a lot of sound from her over-sized guitar...her voice is so much larger than you’d expect.
  
  Songs like “Homesick” and “Warm Hands, Cold Heart” suggest an artist who loves the lifestyle and gets her material from life on the road. Another closet jazz vocalist, her folkish charm would detour into areas of gentle swing, country blues or toughen up with a more aggressive rock stance.
  
  A young talent, she’s clearly refining as she goes and the world will ultimately prove to be her oyster. You can bet on it.
  
  All in all, an exceptional night of far-ranging entertainment and truly an embarrassment of riches. Nothing could be finer.

Setlist

-Sample Set List-

Set 1:

1. Bye, Bye, Mr. Bluesman
2. Speechless
3. Coffee
4. Perfect Line
5. Dreaming of Something Beautiful
6. Long Lost Love
7. Box of Books and Cigarettes
8. What Love Is
9. How Do I Get to Him?
10. Harder to Breathe
11. You Ain't Never Loved a Woman
12. Other Direction

Set 2:

1. So Carelessly
2. A Song for Alicia
3. A Hundred Reasons
4. Death of Us
5. Wishin'
6. City Life
7. Beautiful Things
8. Antique Shop
9. Long Lost Love
10. Man Without a Conscience
11. Peace & Quiet
12. Dancing with Me

Basic Requirements

Calendar