JR

H E A R / B U Y J R M U S I C
[CDs: 'AfriQueen Stare and 'Songs of Angels']

iTunes: http://www.itunes.com
amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com
Tower Records: http://www.towerrecords.com
CDBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/jr
CDBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/jr2

D I S C O G R A P H Y

Oasis Acoustic, Volume 41 [Compilation], 2003
First, Last & Deposit [Compilation], 2003
Buddhaful Soul [Compilation], 2003
AfriQueen Stare, 2003
Songs of Angels, 1999
The Vision of the Fool II, 1997
The Vision of the Fool, 1996
Songs to Swim By [Compilation]

B I O G R A P H Y

JR has been making music for as long as she can recall. Early influences have included the vocal phrasings of Billie Holiday and Joni Mitchell, the spiritual wonderings of Bob Marley and the blues-rock edge of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. A shy girl growing up, she spent many hours alone, sometimes skipping school, to teach herself guitar, piano, bass and music notation to write her own music. Although she’d written music for years before, it wasn’t until studying at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT that she finally performed in front of others.

“I got invited to join this group [The Women’s Singer/Songwriter’s Collective] and the deal was we all first kind of talked and got acquainted,” she remembers. “Then we made a circle sitting on the floor and went around with everyone taking their turn to sing a song. And I was too shy. I was so shy. I closed my eyes and sang my song with my back to everyone!”

Shy and all, JR went on to study music with the guidance of jazz artist Anthony Braxton and in 1991 received a B.A. in music composition from Wesleyan, writing for choral groups, string quartets and jazz ensembles. Consistently a prolific songstress, in 1996, she founded JRRC (JR Recording Company) to release her debut, the vision of the fool, a full-length, solo recording, of 9 original songs with her on guitar and vocals. The following year came the 7-song EP follow-up entitled the vision of the fool ii produced by Brad Houser and engineered by Mell Dettmer, with performances by guitarist Leif Totusek, percussionist Mike Dillon and drummer Matt Chamberlain. In 1998, JR was chosen to perform at Lilith Fair, the international festival celebrating women in music founded by Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan. 1999 welcomed the release of a 3rd recording, Songs of Angels, produced once again by Brad Houser and engineered by Mell Dettmer with a violin performance by Eyvind Kang. This same year four singles - 2 singles each from Songs of Angels and the vision of the fool ii - climbed the MP3.com charts to hold the #1, #2, #3 and #6 positions simultaneously.

Afriqueen Stare is the 4th recorded release by JR. Produced by Mell Dettmer and JR with performances by a family of musician friends including featured performances by singer/songwriter Aiko Shimada, cellist Brent Arnold, violin/viola player Eyvind Kang, slide guitarist Joel Tepp, drummers Mike Stone and Matt Chamberlain and master balafon player Naby Camara and more…

H I G H L I G H T S & A P P E A R A N C E S

NPR 94.9 FM, The Beat Radio Show, 2003
KCTS Connects TV Show, 1999
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians: Opener, 1999,2000
Subset: Opener, 1999
Mp3.com: #1, #2, #3, #6 chart positions, 1999
Lilith Fair: Talent Search Winner, 1998
The Rocket : Cover Story, 1998
Star 101.5 FM: Live Radio Performance, 1998
Anchorage Daily News: Voted Top 5 Concerts, 1998

V E N U E S P L A Y E D [SAMPLE LISTING]

WA:
George - The Gorge Amphitheatre/Lilith Fair
Seattle - Bumbershoot, Experience Music Project,
The Crocodile Café, The OK Hotel, The Tractor Tavern, On The Boards,
Seattle Art Museum

NY:
New York - The Knitting Factory, CBGB’s

TX:
Dallas - The Gypsy Tea Room

AK:
Anchorage - Out North Contemporary Theatre