a song of her own
Songstress Jennifer Matthews is a noted, original singer/songwriter with a powerful dynamic vocal
range. Her songs have been described as melodic, infectious and
haunting.
Matthews studied vocal
performance at the University of Colorado in Boulder and at Denver's School of Music. While in Colorado, she established herself as a solo
artist, performing in local bars and coffeehouses. During this period she developed her unique vocal style and her songs gained recognition, leading
to several awards from the Rocky Mountain Music Association.
After a three-month tour through Japan, Korea and Hawaii, Matthews
relocated to New York where she formed the five-piece band Beautiful Mud. After a highly acclaimed debut release and performing for several years
in New York City clubs, the band separated.
Jennifer moved to Boston to embark on a solo career. She has cultivated a
sophisticated blend of rock with hints of mood & blues on her electric Baritone guitar. While maintaining her strong background in rootsy
rock, she slings her blue Martin, combining both instruments equally into her distinctive style.
Built
from her three previous releases (Treehouse Studios - NY City, Shot To The Wind – Boston and Blue In Blue Out -
Tremolo Lounge, Worcester), her compilation album Best of 96-01 featured
three unreleased songs: "Falling Star", "Heaven To Me" and "..45 Warren Street." The album released by Marc Mathys is an eclectic collection
and shows her depth and diversity as a songwriter as well as a guitarist. Blue In Blue Out
out was produced by Marc Copely.
In 2003, Jennifer was nominated for a poetry award by the Cambridge Arts Council for her
book of poetry released under Somerville's Ibbetson Street Press, "Fairy Tales and Misdemeanors".
In May of 2004 Jennifer teamed up with her current manager Rose Gardina and went on to record
"The Wheel" which was released in May of 2005 on Thundamoon Records (Independent).
Produced by Brian Brown and Jennifer they took the songs to new levels by adding some electronica and loops to her roots rock sound.
She followed up with a West Coast tour including performing at the San Diego Indie Music Festival.
In August of 2005,
Metronome Music Magazine featured Jennifer as their cover story with a full interview. Shaun McNamara writes "...Matthews and artists like Ann Wilson,
Pat Benatar, Doro Pesch and Liz Phair are dissimilar in music style and sound but they all embody an ability to be recognized as straight out rockers.
Not female rockers, not rock chicks, and certainly not advocates for a spotlight of women in music. They have no need for a one trick pony.
They stood or stand in parallel with the likes of Kurt Cobain, Robert Plant, Neil Young and Chris Cornell, respected for their pure musicianship
and charismatic presence..."
In October and November 2005 Jennifer toured England promoting
"The Wheel" and her soon to be released record
"The Sunroom Sessions". Richard Hill of BBC radio
writes "Her melodies are as appealing and azure as her guitar" And Tim Condliffe of
nationalgigguide.com writes "Jennifer's innovative and creative style kept the audience
baited on every word and pregnant pause".
Metronome Music Magazine chose Jennifer's cd
"The Wheel" in their Top 15 picks of the year for 2005 right along with guitar
god Eric Johnson and Elvin Bishop... they wrote... "Jennifer Matthews is sassy, sexy, edgy and above all, talented! Jennifer Matthews rocked the
scene with her album The Wheel !"
In the Sept. of 2006, her much anticipated solo recording
"The Sunroom Sessions" was released and available for sale on the
Thundamoon Records label. TC Krentz of BGG Music writes "A quintessential set of songs which reveal that her beauty of talent truly
runs deep... possibly her very best. " And Brian McGrath of Performer magazine writes "The diversity Matthews displays on The Sunroom Sessions is
truly impressive."
From 2006 to current… Jennifer has been touring local and abroad. She released a DVD “Live at the Piper Club in Rome” in early 2009
and released an EP in the Fall of 2010
entitled “The Lost Recordings”(thundamoon records). Jennifer also finished up her 7th full length record "Tales of a
Salty Sweetheart" that was released in the Fall of 2014.
Jennifer has worked with a well of talent over the years including: Producer & RCA recording artist Marc Copely, Producer/Engineer Chris Anderson, Lovin Spoonful's harmonica player John Sebastian, Producer/Engineer Brian Brown (Natalie Merchant, Juliana Hatfield), Bassist from 'The Band'' Rob Leon, NYC drummer/tabla player Rohin Khemani, Treehouse Productions/Engineer/Photographer Robert Kirk, Engineer/Producer Roger Lavalle, Guitarist Sal Baglio, Boston's Jeff Robinson Trio, Drummer Larry Ciancia (Fiona Apple, Ray LaMontagne, Ben Taylor), NYC Drummer Steve Williams (Sade, David Byrne, Da La Soul, Ivan Neville).
She is also an accomplished poet, photographer, and artist. Her photography has been shown in Boston area galleries. Her artwork is currently available at her shows.
"Jennifer is the specter of Patti Smith meeting Nick Drake, Rumi whirling with Billie Holiday, the perennial Girl-with-a-Guitar, a Radiohead having "better days", a little Joni Mitchell and David Bowie, Yes, multifaceted!"
-- Mike Amado, Open Bark series
"The diversity Matthews displays on The Sunroom Sessions is truly impressive."
-- Brian McGrath, Performer magazine
"Jennifer takes to the studio with only a guitar & microphone to put together a quintessential set of songs which reveals that her beauty of talent truly runs deep. The girl-with-a-guitar era is just about over, but I am happy to report this CD isn’t a display of this tiring genre. Instead the listener is treated to a side of Jennifer at her most intimate & attractively simplistic. Beautifully haunting tracks like Floating and Trees in December are accompanied by the hip & catchy Lemon Peels & Tangerines making for a well-formed collection of Jennifer Matthews, possibly her very best."
-- TC Krentz, Boston Girl Guide Magazine
"Good music keeps your attention. Great music somehow manipulates emotions in you that you otherwise wouldn't be feeling at the moment. This is great music... If only some of our friends in the music biz would pull the band wagon over and delve into something with substance and integrity."
-- Dean Sternberg, Rhythm & News Magazine, New York
[read full article]
"Jennifer is an artist of great versatility with the ability to play any of her songs with great emotion... and musical beauty... Her talent as an artist is not to be ignored."
-- Michael Friedman, Skope Magazine, Boston
[read full article]
"Jennifer has incredible control of her voice as she wanes through octaves with impressive ability."
-- Douglas Sloan, Metronome
[read full article]
"Jennifer Matthews' voice, at once both breathy and forceful, serves as a siren centerpiece spinning out a captivating melody above and around the musical base like a master weaver."
-- B.F.B, Grandma Dynamite
[read full article]
"Jennifer Matthews just came back from a successful European solo tour. She has performed 10 one-woman shows in 2 weeks around Switzerland and has built up an important fan base, paving the way for her next tour..."
-- Northeast Performer
[read full article]
"Jennifer... rocked out to a packed house of local music lovers... She is an artist of great versatility with the ability to play any of her songs with great emotion. She played a two-hour set that the crowd did not seem to want to let her finish. Whether you hear her live or on the CD she never lacks that musical beauty. Jennifer has been spotlighted to let our loyal readers know that her talent as an artist is not to be ignored... for someone who we can't believe has not yet gone platinum..."
-- Skope Magazine, Boston
[read full article]
"Jennifer sings and plays acoustic guitar... and man is she good at it... guess I'm a fan."
-- L.A. Jo, Soundcheck
[read full article]
