Jenny Scheinman, violinist/singer/composer, has been voted the #1 Rising Star Violinist for five consecutive years (2003-2005) in the Downbeat Critics' Polls. She has performed and recorded extensively with Bill Frisell as well as Norah Jones, Lucinda Williams, Madeleine Peyroux, Nels Cline, Vinicius Cantuaria and Marc Ribot. In the last several years she has released four recordings of original music: Live at Yoshi's (Avant, 1999), The Rabbi's Lover (Tzadik, 2001), Shalagaster (Tzadik, 2003) and 12 Songs (Cryptogramophone, 2005) which was cited as one of the top ten records of 2005 by the New York Times.
Jenny grew up playing folk music with her family in northern California, studied at Oberlin Conservatory, and has been performing since she was a teenager. After moving to New York City in 1999, her Bay Area ties with producer Lee Townsend (Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Kelly Joe Phelps) and musicians Lee Alexander (Norah Jones) and Adam Levy (Norah Jones) soon led to her appearances on several internationally celebrated recordings including Norah Jones' Come Away With Me (2002, Eight Grammy Awards) and Bill Frisell's Unspeakable (2004 Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album). Most recently, Scheinman penned all the string arrangements for Lucinda Williams' new album, West.
Two cardinal albums rest on the near horizon for Scheinman. Her follow-up to 12 Songs (Cryptogramophone) features Bill Frisell, Jason Moran, Doug Weiselman, Ron Miles, Kenny Wollesen, Tim Luntzel and a chamber string orchestra. The mix of ambitious songs eminently acknowledge the improvisatory nature of her music, and fluid interchange between arching landscape-esque pieces, hard groove, comedic compositions and her farthest-reaching jazz arrangements to date. For her vocal debut, an impromptu venture for the esteemed violinist, she partners with producer/guitarist Tony Scherr. The release will highlight original compositions, old-time country/folk standards and some slightly more obscure covers. Scheinman and Scherr have been premiering their latest endeavor together at various NYC hotspots, and just got off the road hitting Midwest markets with The Flatlanders.