The Wailin' Jennys

Infobox musical artist |
Name = The Wailin' Jennys


Img_capt =
Img_size = 170
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = flagicon|Canada Winnipeg, Manitoba
Genre = Folk Folk rock
Years_active = 2002 – Present
Label = Jericho Beach
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.thewailinjennys.com/ www.thewailinjennys.com]
Current_members = Ruth Moody
Nicky Mehta
Heather Masse
Past_members = Cara Luft
Annabelle Chvostek

The Wailin' Jennys are a Canadian folk trio from Winnipeg, Manitoba and New York, consisting of soprano Ruth Moody, mezzo Nicky Mehta, and alto Heather Masse. All members also play instruments (acoustic guitar, electric upright bass, mandolin, banjo, accordion, bodhran, drums, harmonica, and violin). Recently, the Jennys have also toured with fiddler and mandolinist Jeremy Penner. The Wailin' Jennys have released several albums, and tour regularly through North America and Europe. Their album "Firecracker" made it to number two spot on the Billboard Bluegrass charts in 2006.

The group is featured regularly on Garrison Keillor's show "A Prairie Home Companion". The group's name is a pun on the country singer Waylon Jennings.

History

The group was founded in 2002 when a guitar shop in Winnipeg called Sled Dog Music [http://www.sleddogmusic.com/ Sled Dog Music] ] brought three soloists (Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta and Cara Luft) together for a joint performance. The show was well received, and the owner scheduled a follow-up which was also a great success. The owner then "offered that they might go on tour and call themselves the Wailin' Jennys." [http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2005/05/21/guests.shtml Notes the 2005-05-21 episode] of "A Prairie Home Companion", viewed 2006-10-10]

In 2004, Luft left to pursue her solo career and was replaced by Annabelle Chvostek, a singer/songwriter from Montreal.

In 2005, the group won a Juno award for their 2004 CD "40 Days" in the category of "best roots/traditional album (group)". [ [http://www.guilford.edu/about_guilford/news_and_publications/releases/wailin_jennys.html Article] at Guilford]

In 2006, the group was nominated for two awards at the North American Folk Alliance, one for contemporary artist of the year and for best contemporary release, "Firecracker". [ [http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2006/12/21/folk-nominees.html Folk Alliance nominees] article from CBC.ca Arts (downloaded 2007-02-13)]

In 2007, the Jennys received a Juno nomination for "Firecracker" (in the category of "Roots & Traditional Album Of The Year: Group), and their producer, David Travers-Smith was nominated as "Recording Engineer of the Year" for his work on "The Devil's Paintbrush Road" (composed by Chvostek) and "Prairie Town" (composed by Moody). [ [http://www.junoawards.ca/07_nominees.php 2007 Juno nominees] (downloaded 2007-02-13)]

In 2007, Chvostek left to pursue her solo career, to be replaced by Heather Masse, a Maine-born singer with a background in jazz and blues as well as folk who also fronts the Brooklyn-based Heather & the Barbarians.

In September 2008, the band announced that they are currently taking an 'extended breather' from time on the road, in order to 'rest, write and start planning the new album'. [ [http://thewailinjennys.com/ The Wailin' Jennys - What's New] (entry Wednesday, September 17, 2008, downloaded 2008-09-27)] They insist, however, that they will return in a few months at full strength.

All of the members of the Jennys maintain solo careers in addition to their efforts with the group.

Discography

* "The Wailin' Jennys EP" 2003
* "40 Days" 2004 won a Juno Award in 2005
* "Firecracker" 2006

References

External links

* [http://www.thewailinjennys.com/ The Wailin' Jennys' official site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thewailinjennys The Wailin' Jennys' Myspace]
* [http://www.ruthmoody.com/ Ruth Moody]
* [http://www.nickymehta.ca/ Nicky Mehta]
* [http://www.caraluft.com/ Cara Luft]
* [http://www.annabelle.org/ Annabelle Chvostek]
* [http://www.myspace.com/heathermassemusic/ Heather Masse]
* [http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/article.asp?xid=981 Wailin' Jennys set off a firecracker] , story at Country Standard Time, 2006