Jennifer Tefft

Artist Information

Biography

Jennifer Tefft is a fired up, energizing presence who pulls earthy music from its roots and breathes fresh, soulful, rock and roll life into them. Her music combines kickin’ rock songs with melancholy textures and haunting vocals that wind easily from ethereal to outspoken.

After getting her start playing for change in the subway tunnels and streets of Cambridge, MA, Tefft has gone on to release four CDs on her own Gypsy Spin Music label. Jennifer’s releases have received critical acclaim such as a Boston Music Award nomination for Best Female Vocalist, and a “Boston’s Best Unsigned Band nod by local press. Shift was awarded “Best Alternative Album” by the Just Plain Folks association in Hollywood, CA. Songs from all 4 releases have been and continue to be used on National Television shows such as CSI, MTV, Stargate Universe, One Life To Live, The Young & The Restless and many others.

With the landscape and pace of the music world changing quickly, Jennifer is now recording and releasing songs as soon as they are completed, rather than waiting to record an entire collection as an album. The first of these singles, “All of These Crimes” was used extensively on daytime TV. The second, “Breathe” spent 4 weeks in the top 5 on WZLX’s Boston Emissions Local Top 5 list and was signed to an exclusive publishing deal. The newest single, “Madame Catastrophe” was just recently released!

Jennifer and her band have toured extensively, sharing the stage with bands like Aerosmith, The Lilith Fair, Ours, The Sheila Divine, Missing Persons, The Bogmen and many others. The intensity and energy of the live show, whether it be a full band performance or a more intimate acoustic gig, often takes people by surprise and when people leave a Jennifer Tefft show, they are already making plans to come back!

Instrumentation

Jennifer Tefft: Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
John Parrillo: Lead Electric Guitar
Jeff St. Pierre: Bass
Phil Antoniades: Drums

Discography

Madame Catastrophe - single
Breathe - Single
All Of These Crimes - single
Time Is A Thief, 2007
Shift, 2001
B-Sides To Nothing, 1998
Dig This Thing, 1997

Official Website

http://www.jennifertefft.com

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• MySpace
• Official Jennifer Tefft Website

Audio

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Caught Around Town [+ Show ]
  

  Jennifer Tefft Band at the Attic in Newton: Jennifer Tefft is one of the great undiscovered secre...Jennifer Tefft Band at the Attic in Newton: Jennifer Tefft is one of the great undiscovered
  secrets around Boston. She has a belter’s voice, a theatrical flair, a knack for melody, and a
  hard-driving spirit that infuses her original material as well as such offbeat covers as Soft Cell’s
  “Tainted Love.” She knocked the crowd out with tracks such as “Control Freak” (which she
  joked was her autobiography) and “Wrecking Ball.” The Medfield-based Tefft has a perfectly
  fitted band in John Parrillo, Jim Hollister and Dave Cardin. Highly recommended.
  -Steve Morse
  

• Rock Notes [+ Show ]
  

  An electric surprise: Because she used to do acoustic gigs and play in local subways, Jennifer Tef...An electric surprise: Because she used to do acoustic gigs and play in local subways, Jennifer
  Tefft has been labeled as an{acoustic} act. But she’s hardened her sound in recent years, and the result is the aptly named “Shift,” a new album (on her own label, Gypsy Spin Music) that shakes the house. “I used to write songs on acoustic guitar, but the last couple of years I switched to elec-
  tric guitar, and it opened up possibilities for my writing,” says Tefft, who celebrates the CD with
  a show at the Middle East Upstairs tonight...
  The new CD is Tefft’s 3rd, but the first that she’s really happy with. “The last two were a snap-
  shot, but the live show was very different. This record sounds more like we do live.” And that
  means powerhouse vocals from Tefft, a Medfield native who belts at times like Tracy Bonham;
  and strong tension and release arrangements from bandmates John Parrillo (guitar), Jeff St.
  Pierre (bass) and Phil Antoniades (drums & loops).
  The songs range from the hit-potential “Control Freak” to love-on-the-run “Fly Away” (“You
  have the scent of a stranger and wit like wire,” goes the perceptive lyric about a one-night-
  Romeo) and the Sarah McLachlan-like “Beyond This,” which ends the CD on an up note. It’s one of the strongest, most commercial Boston Records in recent memory, and was produced
  by Fran Flannery, who has engineered for Aerosmith and Creed. --Steve Morse
  Gypsy Spin Music P.O. Box 113 Medfield, MA 02052
  info@jennifertefft.com www.jennifertefft.com myspace.com/jennifertefftband

• Go! Friday [+ Show ]
  

  Shift Gears. Her band line-up may change, but talented local rocker Jennifer Tefft’s song remains ... Shift Gears. Her band line-up may change, but talented local rocker Jennifer Tefft’s song remains the same. her new CD “SHIFT” is fiery and insistent, packing a sonic wallop of
  yowling guitars, fuzzy bass lines, and Tefft’s own throaty vocals. Tonight in the shadowy confines of the Middle East upstairs, Tefft and bandmates John Parrillo, Jeff St. Pierre and Phil
  Antoniades celebrate the release of the disc, which was recently picked up by MTVfor it’s late
  night romp “Undressed.”
  --Hayley Kaufman

• Soundcheck [+ Show ]
  

  I’d always had it in my head that Jennifer Tefft was a contemporary acoustic artist so either I’ve ...I’d always had it in my head that Jennifer Tefft was a contemporary acoustic artist so either I’ve
  been wrong or she did play that circuit at some point- whatever the case may be doesn’t matter
  because Jennifer Tefft and her new CD Shift absolutely rocks! I was pleasantly blown away by the fired-up, energizing presence displayed in this 11- song album. Jennifer should be proud of this
  recording for the quality of the songs, the stellar production, and her own illuminating performace.
  She takes each song anddimensionalizes (I think I
  just invented a new word) each one - like pulling earthy music from its roots and breathing fresh, soulful rock and roll life into them. I was utterly impressed and I’d have to say excited to hear a local female singer kickin’it like this. Not since I
  heard Jenn Trynin’s material years ago have I felt this good about a Boston femalel rock performer-
  someone who can stand on her own, write strong and catchy songs, and be astute enough to find an equally talented, energy filled group of musicans to be in her band - Phil Antoniades on drums and
  groovebox, John Parrillo on guitar, and Jeff St. Pierre on bass, plus Christopher Constantine pro-
  vided additional percussion and Jennifer plays guitar as well as providing her strong vocals. The
  standouts on this CD in my book are: “Painless,” Control Freak,” Fly Away,” and “Wrecking Ball,” but honestly each song stands very well on its
  own. With the obvious care, time,and heartfelt passion put into this recording, Jennifer Tefft’s tal-
  ent deserves more widespread attention and that ever-sought-after next level.”
  -Debbie Catalano
  Gypsy Spin Music P.O. Box 113 Medfield, MA 02052
  info@jennifertefft.com www.jennifertefft.com myspace.com/jennifertefftband

• NY CD Release [+ Show ]
  

  For the last couple of years, Boston-based rocker Jennifer Tefft has been grow- ing a local followin...For the last couple of years, Boston-based rocker Jennifer Tefft has been grow- ing a local following for her guitar-driven pop-rock through semi-regular shows at
  Troy watering hole Positively 4th Street So it’s fitting that Tefft and her self- named band will celebrate the New York release of her third album, SHIFT, with a performance at Positively 4th Street tomorrow (Friday September 15th).
  SHIFTis bar far Tefft’s mostambitious recording yet, the polished and impassioned disc was produced by Fran Flannery, who has worked with Creed, Aerosmith and Joydrop among others. Described by the Boston Globe as one
  of Beantown’s “great, undiscovered secrets,” Tefft wins fans because of how her creamy, full voice rides over fierce rock grooves, putting her music on the heavier edge of the Lilith Fair spectrum even though it’s accessible and radio friendly. So if you’ve caught some of her previous gigs, or are curious to see why the singer has been embraced by local-music fans, head to Positively
  4th Street this weekend and help Tefft launch SHIFTin style.
  

Setlist

Jennifer Tefft is a versatile performer. Shows can be booked as four piece band, an acoustic trio or solo acoustic. Sets can range from an hour and fifteen minute set of originals by the entire band or an entire night of covers and originals by either the trio or Jennifer solo.

A typical full band original set would draw from all four of her releases.

A solo or trio cover / original set would also draw from all four releases but would also include a strong variety of covers from such artists as Adele, Joan Osbourne, Neon Trees, The Script, Fun, Concrete Blonde, Gin Wigmore, KT Tunstall and many, many more.

Basic Requirements

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