LITTLE WORDS – BIG VOICE
THE JENN GRINELS SHOW & CD REVIEW
One of the rare moments occurs when you hear and see someone so fetching to the ear that the experience stands out, in and of itself. On Thursday night down at Cuppy’s, aka Java Jo’z, Jenn Grinels provided the audience such a moment. Hailing from San Diego, Jenn brought the coffee shop to a halt with her stunning vocals and original songs, although she did throw in a cover or two, and even these were done in a very original fashion. Jenn’s voice has a ‘torch song’ soulfulness to it that perfectly conveys the ‘lost in love’ lyrics that she writes. She is very polished in vocal delivery and though she has a very strong voice, she doesn’t overpower the mike. She ‘wowed’ the room and Jeremiah from Panda Media and I were right there to find out info on this extraordinary new discovery as soon as she packed up her guitar. The good news is that Jenn has agreed to roll back up here and sing for the next drum circle at Javas on October 9. Stay tuned for more details on this upcoming show.
Recently the IE Weekly did an article on the growing DIY phenomena that is rewriting the whole mainstream record industry. Jenn Grinels’ CD ‘Little Words’ shows just how much fun the DIY approach can be without the ‘suits’ looking over your shoulder determining this and that. The cover has an proletarian look to it that is professionally done. Inside the original artwork and hand written notes remind one of a bootleg, but then again this belies the professional intent with which this well crafted and very well mastered CD was done. I was loving the CD before I ever listened to it. Listening to it certainly didn’t diminish my expectations either. Jenn’s voice really has to be heard to be believed. It’s jazzy in its pacing, soulful in its delivery, heartfelt in its sensuous tone, and the poetic timing of the words speaks volumes. This is a singer that you know will be discovered, and soon I hope. Jenn is getting ready to embark on a west coast tour but if the drum circle night is her next appearance at Javas, I urge everyone reading these words who lives locally to be there for two reasons. Jenn puts on a heck of a show and really commands the stage when she is on it. The other reason is to pick up a copy of her CD and listen to her voice, which is head and shoulders above most singers you hear, signed or unsigned. As one North County Times reporter put it, she is one of the top singers on a very short list in San Diego, or anywhere else for that matter, and these old ears have heard a ton or two of songbirds over the years. It will be interesting to see how the future unfolds for this soon-to-be legendary singer.