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Jane Eamon: Real
Janey Girl JG004
With
her fourth album, Kelowna singer/songwriter Jane Eamon has shifted her focus away
from gospel to acoustic guitar-strummed storytelling. In fact, the Japanese kanji
symbols on her new CD mean storyteller while the album title Real, tells you something
about the gist of Eamon’s writing. She
is a very personal performer where she insightfully talks about her disillusionment
dealing with the Nashville music “business” on Looking For Glory. Eamon
also autobiographically addresses personal loss on Missing You, faith on When
Darkness Comes, romance on Yellow Moon and bon homie on Friends. It
just doesn’t get any more real on this refreshing album honestly titled Real.
Her mellow guitar interplay with
life-mate Gordie Brush is absolutely beautiful throughout, but especially on the
pretty Until Now. Finally, Eamon
proves to be equally adept at sultry, jazzy blues. Check out the cool acoustic
blues grooves of my fave track High Horse which may be an indicator of the ever
searching Jane Eamon’s next muse. A
fine follow-up CD that ought to ensure her tons of work at this next summer's
folk festivals around the continent. ~ Bruce Mitchell, Kelowna Capital News,
October 29, 2008 B
Jane
Eamon - Deep Water Janey Girl 003
God bless Jane Eamon. With wisdom, humor and quiet spirituality, this Okanagan’s
album Deep Water revives the gospel-tinged tradition of rock-solid uplifting songs
that might best be called “spirituals.” Not that this is a religious album: there
is no mention of Jesus, Buddha, salvation or damnation. Rather, using the gospel
tradition and choruses that demand to be sung along with, these are inspirational
songs that explore the battles between right and wrong and between commitment
and defeat. These are the sort of songs that are collected in Rise Up Singing
and are sung joyfully around living-room pianos and campfires. The themes
are optimistic and universal: for example, the chorus to “Good Earth” reads “There’s
a wisdom in the river/There’s a blessing in the wind/When I feel the good earth
under my feet/I know I’m safely gathered in.” “Deep Water” calls out, “Lord I’m
weary, but I will stand/Freedom’s calling from a promised land.” The songs are
energetically but tastefully delivered in Jane’s passionate alto voice with the
help of guitar, fiddle, pedal steel and keyboards. Jane also respects silence
and patience, and delivers some of the songs a capella or with minimal accompaniment.
As Jane sings in “One Last Song,” “I’ll sing one last song before I
go/A simple melody – one we all should know/And if you care to come sing it with
me now/That one last song before I go.” Here’s hoping that these simple heartfelt
tunes become “one last song” at folk clubs and campfires for years to come. –
SS, Spring 2007 issue of Sing Out! Magazine Jane
Eamon - Deep Water by Philip Harries,
Penguin Eggs, Winter 2006 Jane Eamon from Kelowna, BC is fairly
new to the music scene with her first release back in 2002. Deep Water, her third
and latest release, is a blend of traditional music forms like spirituals, bluegrass,
gospel and blues with old-time melodies that work very well. Her sweet voice,
well-crafted songs, poignant and timely messages and charming instrumentation
make for a beautiful and heart-warming listen. Recommended listens include Black
Wind Blowin’, a protest song against the Bush government’s handling of the New
Orleans hurricane tragedy, Move On Down, a song about human struggle and hope,
and Long Way Down, a spiritual with a uniquely jazzy twist.
Deep Water - A Wonderful
Musical Journey By Charlie Hodge, BC Musicians’
Magazine - November 2006 One of the marvels of music
is that it can transcend mental, emotional … take you to places of comfort or
pain, places you know, and the places you have never been. I travelled
Deep Water today and it was a wonderful journey. Deep Water happens
to be the latest hot-off the mix CD creation by superb Okanagan folk singer/songwriter
Jane Eamon – and it also happens to be a superb example of what wonderful tour
guides a guitar and voice box can be. Through her multiple talents and insights
Eamon immediately transcended me back to my teenage travels through Mississippi,
Alabama and other deep South states, filling my head and heart with the rhythms
and religious roots of that unique home of soulful songs. Calculated or not, Deep
Water has a strong connectiveness to the spiritual searching side of us all, and
from the lyrics and all original song list through to the colours and album design
– Eamon has created a folk-roots masterpiece. Deep Water is a 12-song
celebration of faith, friendship and facing fears. It’s an album that remains
on your CD player for days with a distinct worn look on the play or repeat button.
And while each and every time is the inspired creation of the terrifically talented
Eamon – there is a wonderfully warm and familiar feel to this album – like you’ve
musically been here before. Whether that is due to the mastery Jane has applied
in crafting a traditional roots/folk/gospel sound and feel – or simply Jane’s
simple straightforward lyrical and melodical style I am not sure. Regardless it
works very, very well. While Deep Water is all Jane Eamon, the
popular Okanagan artist has once again surrounded herself with some of the best
in the business creating her latest collection of originals including: Scott Gamble,
Gord Brush, Gord Milne, Brian Wiebe, Ellie Young, Graham Ord, Zachari Smith, Al
Hildebrand, Sherri Funk, Sandy Groening, Joanne Stacey, Corey Doak, Michael Garding,
Vic Ukrenitz and Malcolm Petch. And just to complete the perfect package Eamon
cajoled Andrew Smith to produce the album while having Brian Wiebe master the
puppy at Solar Nest Arts studio in Kelowna. There is no rock and
roll feel to this album. It is purely folk/roots chocked full of inspiration and
introspections, and yet it is both motivational and amazingly calming in its appeal.
It is already one of my favourite new Canadian CD’s and guaranteed to bring Eamon
heaps and heaps of musical attention and respect. There are several
exceptionally strong songs within the dynamic dozen displayed, however my two
particular favourites are cut number three Good Earth and the opening selection
Move On Down. I suggest that both tunes will wind up in the running for Song of
the Year at next year’s Okanagan Musician Awards. Eamon snagged
a FACTOR grant for the production of this CD showing once again that FACTOR has
the ability to recognize a musical gem within the massive musical slag and stones
that come their way. If you have a love for folk, roots, gospel
and/or just good music then hesitate not – immediately add Deep Water to your
CD collection.
Jane Eamon is an heroric
figure on the local and growing Canadian scene and it is easy to hear why - Kelowna
Capital News, Bruce Mitchell - November 1, 2006
Jane Eamon is an heroic figure on the local
and growing Canadian scene and it is easy to hear why from this excellent new
album. On Deep Water she explores new-folk
with a dash of blues and a lot of understated but righteous gospel. While
her profound spirituality is found all over this strong CD, there is a sense of
integrity and inclusiveness with songs of encouragement and empowerment rather
than hellfire and damnation. That isn’t
to say Eamon doesn’t hold strong opinions. She references Woodie Guthrie on Black
Wind Blowing that mentions war and hurricanes with what is a none too subtle swipe
at Prez Bush. But she also maps out reprievement on the spiritual warning shot
Long Way Down while Eamon is uplifting even on the break-up song Let Me Take Care
Of The Rest with “think of me fondly.” I
particularly liked her poignant and moody narrative about a lonely drunkard on
Singing Hallelujah even though the organ got mixed way too far in the background.
But check out Eamon’s marvellous range on
the bluesy Move On Down, the bluegrass-tinged Good Lordie Momma, the experimental
jazz-folk of I Will Fly and the a cappella title track. A
cool, restive and somewhat meditative album more in the Christian folk realm than
a new age one—and, I must add, Factor Arts Grant money very well spent.
You can hear Jane Eamon live on Friday night
at the Creekside Theatre and pick up this wonderful new album. B+
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