Jennifer Ordalen
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Jennifer Ordalen

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"Albert Lea native records her first solo album"

When Jennifer Ordalen was growing up in Albert Lea, she wanted in the worst way to take voice lessons so she could realize her dream of becoming a recording artist. She adored Dolly Parton.

Her parents, Beth and Eddie Ordalen, thinking it was just a passing fad, urged her to be in choir and sing in church.

“So I just kept at it and kept at it,” she said.

She picked up a violin at age 3. At age 5, she joined her church’s choir, and followed through into high school with choir, show choir and musicals.

She said her love of music grew as she performed in a variety of places, which ranged from high school theaters to New York cathedrals, Minneapolis night clubs to grocery store lobbies.

After graduating from Albert Lea High School in 1999, Ordalen attended Valparaiso University, Riverland Community College, MusicTech and eventually The McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul. After years of focusing on nothing but her music, she earned her degree in vocal performance from The McNally Smith College of Music.
The cover of Jennifer Ordalen’s first CD.

The cover of Jennifer Ordalen’s first CD.

And now, she’s recorded her first full-length CD, “Cracks in the Concrete.” A party to celebrate the release will be held from 9 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, March 13, at The Bend in the Road in Manchester. She and the band, comprised of musicians she went to school with (not the musicians on her CD), will perform tracks from the new album as well as other music. There is no cover charge.

She recorded the music in Nashville. There, she said, songwriters pitch their songs to recording artists. “We picked four songs at a time and rewrote them to fit me better, while still keeping the integrity of the song,” she said. “They’re completely me.”

The songs include: “Ain’t Nobody’s Business,” “My First Lover,” “Slow Suicide,” “End of My World,” “I Want It Anyway,” “Another Woman,” “Closed for Tonight,” “Cracks in the Concrete,” “Ain’t No Man,” “Slow Burn,” “You’ve Met Your Match” and “Too Long at the Fair.”
Jennifer Ordalen recently recorded her first solo album, “Cracks in the Concrete.” She’ll perform with her band at The Bend in the Road in Manchester on March 13.

Rebecca Lynne Photography

Jennifer Ordalen recently recorded her first solo album, “Cracks in the Concrete.” She’ll perform with her band at The Bend in the Road in Manchester on March 13.

She describes her music as “vintage grooves, topped off with rock’n’roll, soul, blues and country.” It’s listed as alternative pop/rock.

“I love food, so I thought I could best describe it like it’s a good meal,” Ordalen added with a chuckle.

She worked with acclaimed producer Eddie Gore on this first solo album.

There are 12 songs on the CD. Four have been previously released by other artists and the rest are brand new, never before released.

“They’re all kind of my favorites,” she said. “They’re what I relate to the best.”

She said she chose “Cracks in the Concrete” as the title song because it was one of the more fun songs on the CD. It’s dedicated to the memory of a cousin who passed away a couple years ago.

Ordalen has also been chosen to perform at the Florida Music Festival April 23, 24 and 25.

“A lot of Grammy winners have performed there,” she said, adding the festival is a showcase for both new and acclaimed artists.

She also hopes to get a tour of the five-state region together later this summer or fall.

“I love Minnesota and I think we get lost in the music scene,” Ordalen said.

Copies of her CD will be available at The Bend in the Road the night of her show, from cdbaby.com, from her Web site, jenniferordalen.com or at Stadheim Jewelers. People can also download her music on iTunes. - Albert Lea Tribune


Discography

Cracks in the Concrete (2010)
1. Ain't Nobody's Business
2. My First Lover
3. Slow Suicide
4. End of My World
5. I Want It Anyway
6. Another Woman
7. Closed for Tonight
8. Cracks in the Concrete
9. Ain't No Man
10. Slow Burn
11. You've Met Your Match
12. Too Long At the Fair

*MUSCIANS ON ALBUM:
DRUMS: Doug Belote, William Ellis, Mark Beckett
PERCUSSION: William Ellis, Nick Buda, Eddie Gore
BASS: Dave Roe, Steve Mackey, Craig Young
KEYS & PROGRAMMING: Walt Scott, Eddie Gore
GUITARS: Jeff King, Ilya Toshinsky, Pat Bergeson, Sasha Ostrovsky, Jack Pearson, Bill Hullett, Guthrie Trapp, Tyler Cain
Produced, engineered & mixed by Eddie Gore @ Insomnia Studio
Mastered by Eric Conn @ Independent Mastering

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Bio

Jennifer Ordalen first stepped onto her musical path at the age of three when she picked up a violin. Then, her repertoire consisted of only "You are my Sunshine", but today Ordalen’s music knows no boundaries. As a child she was surrounded by various musical genres—namely country, folk, classic rock, and classical music—and today her music exudes influences from each of these. At age five Jennifer joined her church’s choir, and it was that choir that birthed Jennifer’s passion for singing.

Jennifer was born just north of Iowa in the small town of Albert Lea, Minnesota. She and her younger sister, daughters of a jeweler and a cowboy, grew up with a lake as their backyard and many animal companions. Still to this day, she enjoys nothing more than singing while surrounded by nature.

A versatile musician of both classical and contemporary genres, Jen's love of music grew as she performed in a variety of places. Jennifer’s performances ranged from high school theaters to New York cathedrals, Minneapolis night clubs to grocery store lobbies. Always focused on growing her musical talents, Ordalen attended numerous vocal performance workshops and camps when she was younger.

After graduating from Albert Lea High School, Jennifer went on to attend Valpariso University, Riverland Community College, MusicTech and eventually The McNally Smith College of Music. After years of focusing on nothing but her music, Jennifer obtained her degree in vocal performance from The McNally Smith College of Music. To support her growth as a musician, Ordalen has also taught private music lessons as well as recorded commercial voice-overs and jingles—although her heart always remained with performing.

Today Jennifer splits her time between Saint Paul, Minnesota and Nashville, Tennessee. She recently completed a solo album with acclaimed producer Eddie Gore, on which Ordalen blends soul, blues, country, and rock. Moving and playful, Jennifer Ordalen captures listeners with her richness and purity of voice.

She is currently playing shows in the Twin Cities area and working on a summer tour.