Album: 12 Songs

Song Title

Time

Frog Threw His Head Back and Laughed, The

Song of the Open Road

Moe Hawk

Sleeping in the Aquifer

Bouy Song, The

She Couldn't Beleive It Was True

Suza

Little Calypso

Satelite

10)

Antenna

11)

Albert

12)

June 21

Album: 12 Songs

Song Title

Time

Frog Threw His Head Back and Laughed, The

Song of the Open Road

Moe Hawk

Sleeping in the Aquifer

Bouy Song, The

She Couldn't Beleive It Was True

Suza

Little Calypso

Satelite

10)

Antenna

11)

Albert

12)

June 21

Performer Notes

Personnel: Jenny Scheinman (violin); Bill Frisell (guitar); Jenny Scheinman; Bill Frisell; Ron Miles (cornet); Tim Luntzel (double bass); Rachelle Garniez (accordion, piano); Doug Wieselman (clarinet); Dan Rieser (drums).
Audio Mixer: Sascha von Oertzen.
Recording information: Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, NY (12/13/2004/12/14/2004).
On Jenny Scheinman's third studio album, the avant-garde violinist offers up a set of inventive, jazz-rooted instrumental compositions. While Scheinman's masterful violin playing is always at the fore, trumpeter Ron Miles and guitarist extraordinaire Bill Frisell also make significant contributions, with the latter lending his unmistakable six-string atmospherics. Though Scheinman is renowned for her klezmer recordings, here that tradition becomes just one of many stylistic influences that she throws into the eclectic mix. Highlights of 12 SONGS include the playful, dream-like opening track, "The Frog Threw His Head Back and Laughed," and the meditative "Antenna," though the record works exceptionally well as a wonderfully consistent and dynamic whole.

Professional Reviews

Down Beat (p.68) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[S]uffused with radiant and seductive folk/worldish melodies....There's much to like here, particularly the way Scheinman orchestrates textures for violin, winds and accordion."

No Depression (p.140) - "[E]verything adheres closely to the character of each song. Soloing does occur regularly, but it weaves itself in by paying homage to the crisp melodies, offering up respectful variations with subtle grace and beauty."