JEN KRAATZ: Ashes

Jen kraatz

Ashes

© 2003 Jen Kraatz Music (623667207263)

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" Sweet enough to distract and edgy enough to seduce, the music of this singer, songwriter, performer, artist stands the chance of becoming truly classic" PopFolkCanadiana

tracks

1 Tracks
2 Old Man
3 Rockin' Horse
4 Square
5 Off to the Mill
6 Shady Grove
7 Here Today
8 Homebrew
9 Ashes
10 Nearly Grown
11 Cocoon
12 Tapping Stone

notes

"Ashes", the second CD release from Jen Kraatz is a validation of her unique sound and presence. Five years have passed since her first disc,"Trudge", but that is not to say this disc was five years in the making. A second disc was at one point on its way to the studio when Kraatz had a feeling that it was not truly time for the project. Back to the guitar she went and set into a whole new crop of tunes that have become "Ashes."

The title track along with, "Rockin' Horse", and "Nearly Grown", are some of the favorites from live performances included on the disc.

A quiet perfectionist, Jen Kraatz is not the sort to draw a lot of attention to her own work. Several months will often pass with little heard from her and then out of nowhere she appears again with a handful of new material. Each return to the spotlight becomes an event eagerly awaited and entirely satisfying. With cause to record a single tune for a project, Kraatz put together a sparse version of a song called, "Tracks." Jen sent a copy to Alberta radio station CKUA. Just a home burned copy of the loan song, the tune quickly became a favorite amongst the DJs. "Tracks" is of course included on the new CD.

Lyrically Kraatz is akin to the likes of Julie Miller or perhaps Victoria Williams. A keen blend of prose and poetry tells simple stories in ways that encourage a listen. Vocally the mix is the sweet part of Emmylou and the edgy part of Iris Dement. There is a long tradition of strong women in the realm of music that Jen inhabits. She is poised to carry on that tradition.

"Ashes" has come together rather like a sequel to "Trudge". Much of the ensemble cast of the first disc, released in 1998, are back for more and most have the maturity of several projects together under their collective belt.

Scott Franchuck at Riverdale Recorders has produced Kraatz since the days of the basement tapes. Shuyler Jansen (guitar), since the release of "Trudge", has grown immensely as a musician and songwriter within the renowned Alberta group, Old Reliable. Franchuck is the producer of Old Reliable's three releases.
Paul "Duke" Paetz is a veteran of the local and national alternative scene having played a pivotal role in such bands as, Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra, Jr. Gone Wild, The Almost Leather Band and as a session drummer and vocalist. Franchuck was the producer of The Almost Leather Band's release. New to the cast by fortune of a visit to Edmonton in the Fall of 2002 is the smooth and powerful bass player from Austin TX, Andrew Duplantis, whose time is spent between his duties with Alejandro Escovedo and his own group Sin Pelo.

A vetran of clubs, coffee shops and festivals, Jen Kraatz is a dedicated lifer in the music business.

If the road is the home of the songwriter, with "Ashes" in hand Jen Kraatz will soon be headed home.

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THE BRISTOL AGENCY
30 - 10625 117 St
Edmonton AB T5H 3N2
780 482 2552

reviews

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  • Poetic release which reinforces Jen's signature eclectic sound with blues, folk,
    author: Joe Ross

    Canadian Jen Kraatz's second album, "Ashes" is a poetic followup to her 1998 release, "Trudge" which reinforces her signature eclectic sound that draws influence from blues, folk, jazz, and soul music. The opener, "Tracks" even conveys an acoustic country sound with John 'Woody' Woroschuck's dobro and Ben Sures' acoustic guitar. "Old Man" has an almost Dixieland jazz feel with honky-tonk piano. Her title cut states, "the fires will keep you burning and you will stop this hurting whether or not my ashes remain." Kraatz's own fire is the muse that draws her to sing, and she gets some able and creative instrumental assistance from Andrew Duplantis, Paul 'Duke' Paetz, Shuyler Jansen, Robin Hunter, Graham Guest and others. Six background vocal accompanists also contributed. Jansen is well known with the Alberta-based band, Old Reliable, while Paetz is a veteran of the alternative music scene with Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra, Jr. Gone Wild, and The Almost Leather Band. From Austin, Texas, Duplantis plays bass with Alejandro Escovedo and his own group called Sin Pelo. The result on "Ashes" is an interesting and innovative presence that falls nicely into the grooves. While there are plenty of opportunities to strut their stuff, there's no grandstanding by the accompanists, and Jen's fluid vocals always remain the center of attention. If I'd been mixing the project, I might even have put them up a notch or two as Kraatz' vocal technique is at times a bit subdued and quiet. Shawn Jonasson co-penned two numbers ("Tapping Stone" and "Homebrew") with Kraatz. While her melodies are fairly simplistic, her lyrics require a fair amount of thoughtful contemplation to tune into her messages. Albums like hers should include the lyrics in the CD jacket, although they are available on her website (jenkraatz.com). Kraatz's sophomore effort continues to push the eclectic envelope and shows that she can cover many musical moods from sensual to locomotive. With a decade of performance experience at concerts and festivals, Jen Kraatz seems more confident now with her music. She has shared the stage with Martin Sexton, toured North America with The Rambling Roses Revue (with Luann Kowalek and Wendy McNeill), and hosted a weekly open stage. She's poised to build an even larger fan base as "Ashes" gets radio airplay throughout Canada and the United States. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

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