", All she needs, then, is $200,000 to get the project completed. "I want to make a lot of money because I want to make really great art," the former Westwood High School student declares. It was training ground for where I am now., READ MORE:Jackie Venson, Austin360 Artist of the Year for 2018, Jackie Venson asks the Austin music scene, What are you willing to do?, Jackie Venson, Austin360 Artist of the Year for 2018, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. What's the one effects pedal you couldn't do without, and why? "No, no. Faster Than Sound: Jackie Venson Solos Local blues hero goes solo to cut costs, city polls on use of $12 million earmarked for the arts, and the U.S. State Dept. Local blues hero goes solo to cut costs, city polls on use of $12 million earmarked for the arts, and the U.S. State Dept. The three musicians who werent singing all wore masks. She introduced her drummer, Rodney Hyder, as the family drummer, since he has a long history in Andrew Vensons band. Surveying material by everyone from Jimmy Reed and Lloyd Price to Charlie Rich and Webb Pierce to Willie Nelson and Doug Sahm, Vaughan erases genre boundaries with help from an ace cast of locals including drummer George Rains, horn players Ephraim Owens and Kaz Kazanoff and soulful singer Lou Ann Barton. Vintage Machine is first and foremost a pop record, shaped in part by explorations into electronic music while still drawing heavily upon her creative guitar work. You see I grab pen and paper. As a songwriter, she is quite willing to expose her deepest thoughts and desires. "@context": "https://schema.org", Performing a number of songs from her upcoming new album Vintage Machine, Venson and her five-piece band opened with Awake, a slow-grooving thumper frosted with her delay-soaked Epiphone Les Paul. "Guess what?" "This is not a sob story. { "I used to fall asleep underneath the chair he would sit on while playing bass.". Venson released her debut studio album, The Light In Me, in 2014. Dont try to put Jackie Venson into a genre box. Make Me. In fact, Blue Mist represented both the achievement standard and almost exclusively the sole source of her music exposure until she went off to woodshed in Boston. I play the guitarTexas and guitars go hand in hand like Idaho and potatoes. They're on the road year-round, making a living doing music. [4] In 2016, she released the EP Jackie Venson Live,[4] and the live album Live at Strange Brew. Josh is a freelance journalist who has spent the past dozen or so years interviewing musicians for a variety of publications . One of the songs was recorded at Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, but the rest were recorded in Austin, TX, at either ORB or The Bubble, she says. "I get really lost in the beat and I focus on the subdivisions of the beat," the electric soulstress describes. [8] Parade called Venson a soul/pop guitarist and vocalist. Venson returned to the stage a few minutes after the show ended for a short interview with Austin City Limits executive producer Terry Lickona, who asked her about studying at Bostons prestigious Berklee College of Music, growing up in Austin with a musician father Hyder was the drummer in her dads band before he began playing with Jackie and the challenge of taping the show without an audience. Asked about the more significant potential of the moment Black female guitarists are having, she offers telling thoughts. Austin360 On The Record is a weekly roundup of new, recent and upcoming releases by local and Austin-associated recording artists. She compares it to "a box of things I thought I'd never need again, so I put them away.". [1] In her live performances, she uses a Pioneer DJ sampler to create a layered sound. "[6] The Chicago Sun-Times said Venson brings "formidable instrumental chops and a musical message of positivity", with a "singing voice that radiates warmth and spirit". While her influences are wide and varied, she looks to Buddy Guy as an idol and to her father, Andrew, as a primary inspiration for her musical journey. She has been cited as drawing influences from Buddy Guy, Sade, and Alicia Keyes, and had the opportunity to tour with Gary Clark, Jr., Earth, Wind & Fire, and The Doobie Brothers, to name a few. Whats the greatest guitar tone youve ever heard? Debt isn't the only hurdle musicians must overcome to reach their desired destination. Black Rock Coalition. Some of the tracks on your album have very different sounds from each other, yet they all go together cohesively. George Benson, he's so agile. Probably Derek Trucks. The Austin native released this albums first single, Make Me Feel, in late February, just before the pandemic largely shut down the city. Venson is at a point of unusual calm and focus in her career, but she's also squarely focused on mastering her iconoclastic style. If we cant all stand on the same moral ground, then the fabric of our society is threatened. Over the years, she has seen a lot of changes in her style while working through various genres of music. Jackie Venson, Vintage Machine. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 has been an extraordinarily active year for Venson, who turned 30 in early February. The Milwaukee show represented the bands second public outing since 2019an experience described by Quinn-Broadus as both anxiety-inducing and exhilarating. This was the third Austin City Limits taping done without an audience during the coronavirus pandemic, after a Sept. 10 show with Rufus Wainwright and a Sept. 22 performance by the Mavericks. Are you writing more music? All but five cities are a crapshoot where she might "lose her ass.". With the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the cancellation of her entire tour schedule, Jackie committed herself to releasing more music than ever before and connecting with fans directly via a live stream she hosts every single day across various pages, including Facebook, Twitch and Reddit. Her music over the years shows her growth as an artist and her willingness to experiment. Ms. Venson is now an ascending star of the blues. We chatted with Venson at Winter NAMM about her decision to switch to guitar, and she told us, I played classical piano for the first decade or so of my musical career, and then I decided that I wanted to do something a little freer. Jackie Venson: Guitars, Music, and Inspiration, Giveaway: Win 1 of 3 Luna Guitars Enter to Win, All She Ever Wanted: Go-Go Kathy Valentine Pens A Memoir. 5. Equally enchanting, the second track from Joy, "Keep On," got picked up by the Spotify playlist "A Perfect Day" shortly after Joy's April release. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. I let the song decide the arrangement, and this method has led me to some really great songs that resulted in awesome shows and memories. Thrilled to be on the Road Again Jackie Venson is. Thursdays milestone was Vensons biggest yet: Taping Austin City Limits at ACL Live. It wasn't until after Jackie graduated from Berklee that she decided to pick up the guitar and began a new musical career. [1] Venson was not very disciplined in practice, noting: "It took me three years to put the focus in enough to where I could put my hands together on the piano, and it took me an additional two and a half to three years after that to even want to practice for more than 45 minutes at a time, which you have to if you want to learn how to do anything." Afro-Americana. In the live realm, Venson's sets have never been better. 0. I think next year I will be back to touringwe just have to take this all one day at a time. Venson has released four studio albums, The Light In Me (2014), Joy (2019), Vintage Machine ( 2020) and Love Transcends (2021).In addition to four studio albums, Venson has also released four live albums, Live at Strange Brew (2016) Live in Texas (2020), Jackie . "My dad had his rehearsal space in the house," the second-generation talent recalls with a smile on her face. . Because of this, she's in the process of trying to turn that performance into a live concert special. And yet, there's only one and there's like 20,000 people trying to climb it. Blind Willie Johnson (January 25, 1897 - September 18, 1945) was an American gospel blues singer, guitarist and evangelist. Thats the world we live in; thats the country we live in. [1] Venson's mother, Dr. Diane Brinkman, encouraged her to begin playing piano at age eight. Given that her Joy to the World Tour revs up on European shores less than two weeks from the date of this interview, travel expenses come up more than once in a long-ranging, two-hour summit. Here, we caught up with Jackie to hear all about her essential gear and the awkward moment when her piano-playing skills were called upon at the last-minute. Check out her studio albums, including Joy (2019) and Vintage Machine (2020), and watch her live performances on YouTube to get a flavor of this passion. [2], Venson attended Westwood High School (Austin, Texas) and the Berklee College of Music, where she majored in composition and studio production. "I was expecting it to be one thing and it ended up being another thing and I was really depressed probably for the entire time I went there. I don't think it's always going to be like this. A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austins independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the communitys political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. All of us, we are a revolution. Jackie Venson operates in facts and reality. A semi-retired professional musician with over 40 years of experience, her father, now 75, demonstrated the ability to gig, parent, and keep the lights on thanks to the capital's vibrant music. I am going to be alive on this earth for a time period, so everything is just a natural progression for me that directly correlates with the timeline of my actual life. "We documented the starting line," she says passionately. I just write songs and whatever arrangement fits best is the arrangement I go for. Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you. She has benefitted from being a veteran of Austin's vaunted live music scene who has released nine albums and six EPs in a decade. Jackies father, Andrew Venson, had a 40-year career as a professional musician. The journey has been fraught with her attempting to authentically define herself as a hyper-intellectual creative. View all concerts. Here, we take a closer look into the evolution Venson went through during her career so far, her influences, how she perceives music, and what advice she has for aspiring female musicians who are willing to take their chances in the music industry. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the hi-fi, ethereal and intensely groovy Evolution of Joy. We matter. Having my dad as a professional musician, its like you can do this, its hard but you can do this. There's no one way to climb it, because other people screwed around with it, then the internet blows off a few rungs, and it's just a really hard ladder to climb. Jackie Venson is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Austin, Texas. She is equally comfortable playing in huge venues as well as small spaces and has opened for and appeared with numerous legends including Gary Clark Jr. and Buddy Guy. It has about ten to eleven tones available, she tells us. "[2] At a social gathering, Venson was inspired by the ease with which a schoolmate performed the guitar, noting that the student "looked like he was having so much fun, and I was like, 'Dude, I dont have that much fun doing anything related to music'". On April 20th, Jackie will be releasing a new EP titled "jackie the robot vol 1" composed entirely of remixes that reimagine Jackie's critically acclaimed catalogue, and showcases her growth as both a musician and producer. Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories and includes a local jazz events calendar. Every time I release a new record, Im kind of honing in on what I liked about the last one and leave out what I didnt like. So thats what Im doing., Talking about her Gibson Les Paul Studio named Rosetta. Manager Louie Carr suggested the name in response to concertgoers' glee at her instrumental gifts. Her marvelous voice is enchantingat times soaring gracefully, almost wistfully, and then crashing back to earth as she rips through her introspective songs. Jackie Venson is back on the road again and could not be happier! Don't worry so much, just enjoy the ride and keep practising, keep performing live and be sure to love every minute.. And what's the next piece of gear youd like to acquire? You must have had to spend quite a bit of time in the studio working on the album. Venson plays with an infectious abandon that sweeps her audience up in her passion and emotion. What attracted you to the unique mixture of blues, rock, and soul that youre playing now? At the moment, Vensons music is inspired by more than one specific genre. [2] Venson said she had a bad experience at Berklee with the ultra-competitive environment the staff fostered, describing it as "American Idol the school". Jackie Venson. A semi-retired professional musician with over 40 years of experience, her father, now 75, demonstrated the ability to gig, parent, and keep the lights on thanks to the capital's vibrant music scene. Daniel Corey is a writer and comic book creator based in Los Angeles, CA. [Related], how I play the guitar showcases my best, most unfiltered self. That has looked increasingly possible over the past couple of years, as the native Austinite has been on a steady career rise with acclaimed albums, sharpened artistic instincts and a growing live-show fan base. Vensons new EP Transitions spans funk, soul and hard-rocking pentatonic riffs, all delivered with her trusty Fender Elite Strat - the guitarists genre-hopping dexterity even caught the ear of Gary Clark Jr, who enlisted her support for his 2017 tour. Heres the track Make Me Feel: Sideshow Tragedy, After the Fall (Spaceflight). She even ad-libbed a tune about cheese curds and beer. Dont think of Jackie Venson as just another blues guitarist or accuse her of emulating anyone. I'm looking at different types of looper pedals - haven't settled on one yet but I'm looking. Trained at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in composition, studio production, and piano, she decided to pick up a guitar during her last year. Jackies touring equipment was equally spare, with her alternating between two Epiphone Les Pauls. You're going to be able to see it, because it was literally filmed. Instead of a full band I am experimenting with the help of my fantastic drummer Rodney Hyder. Indeed, Vintage Machine finds Venson pushing out in new directions, essentially inventing her own style after years of performances on local stages refining her blend of blues, folk, soul, hip-hop, jazz and more. These days, the two Vensons sometimes share the stage, including a May 30 appearance together at Austin City Limits Radio's Unplugged at the Grove series. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe (opens in new tab). What does joy look like for you? Jackie Venson is carrying on the torch of the Austin blues scene like her predecessors, including Gary Clark Jr. and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Venson is not just an incredible artist, but a versatile performer as well, who leaves nothing to chance when it comes to giving the crowd a fantastic show. Jackie Venson is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Austin, Texas. "I got a picture of the marquee: 'Sold Out,'" he says with exaggerated Southern enunciation of the phrase "sold out.". The closing track Young Forever is a bittersweet cathartic release, perhaps answering Bob Dylans classic tune Forever Young with a question: Is this what it feels like to be forever young? Joining Singleton (guitars, bass) and Harrell (drums, programming) on the sessions were horn player Ben Senerfit and backing vocalists Storey Littleton, Casey Ramos and Cally Mansfield. Whats the worst thing thats ever happened to you onstage? Meanwhile, Jackie jokes about Kanye West swiping her bass player for the rapper's Sunday service. She fantasizes about landing it on Netflix, but would settle for any of the big streaming services. [3][4] She opened for country artists Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw and James Taylor. Jackie Venson joins a growing Black female guitar revolution MUSIC Jackie Venson's bluesy sound adds to a growing Black female guitar 'revolution' The Austin, Texas native is growing in. She described the upcoming release as 51% blues. One of the joys of the album for Jackie was laying down the bass tracks on her fathers 67 Fender Jazzmaster. "name" : "Jackie Venson", Interested? Be patient.. [Video courtesy of Brandon Evans]. Im so unbelievably proud of this record and grateful for the folks that helped make it happen. Those unfamiliar with Venson should prepare themselves for what. Formerly backed by a threepiece blues ensemble, the guitarist now works primarily off of a sampler, playing over a live backing track that's controlled by a foot pedal. Jackies touring entourage is spare. Wearing a black dress designed by her sister bearing a multitude of names of Black victims of police violence, with the words Say their names written down her arm, Venson made a statement even before launching her magnetic set. "url": "https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/jackie-venson" If I play something, it's genuine. Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Jackie has traveled the world playing to massive crowds both as a headliner and as support for major acts such as Gary Clark Jr, Melissa Etheridge, Aloe Blacc, and Citizen Cope to name a few. Support the free press, so we can support Austin. Jackie Venson's stunning ACL debut October 2, 2020 photo by Scott Newton Austin City Limits began as a showcase in 1973 to highlight the fertile Austin, Texas regional music scene, and we returned to our origins last night, showcasing the debut of Austin standout Jackie Venson. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. February 23, 2022. "I'm trying to figure out if I want a lights person or a bass player," she calmly states about an upcoming headliner set in November at UtopiaFest. In addition to four studio albums, Venson has also released 4 live albums, Live at Strange Brew (2016) Live in Texas (2020), Jackie Venson Live at Austin City Limits and Joy Alive (2021). Should Behringer release the Behremin, its $99 Theremin interpretation, or should it keep its hands off? Whether or not the person is known for certain effects like distortion or fuzz comes into play as well, but even through that, theres a foundational tone that exists only in the hands., Jackie Vensons advice to the young women looking to get started in the music industry, Jackie Venson is an inspiration to hundreds and thousands of young women who are willing to work in the music industry. Then came this summers Blues on the Screen controversy, when Venson initially was dropped from the virtual version of ACL Radios popular concert series but stuck to her demands for a more diverse lineup and ultimately ended up curating the entire bill. My dad gave me the perspective of always seeing everything as rehearsal, she said. Combining Vaughans 2010 and 2011 albums Blues, Ballads and Favorites and More Blues, Ballads and Favorites, this triple-LP, two-CD set showcases the Austin blues legend at the top of his game, reeling off 31 tracks of American music classics that mine the common ground between blues, R&B and country. Disc 1 is the studio album, disc 2 is the live album recorded with Jackie Venson and the original performers from the studio album. We had a chance to catch up with Venson recently to talk a little more about her album, Joy, her songwriting process, and whats next. Lorna Shore Guitarist Adam De Micco "Returns To Nothingness" with Shutter 16, Merle Fest Day 2 Brings Sunshine and Storms, Peace Out! His landmark recordings completed between 1927 and 1930thirty songs in totaldisplay a combination of powerful "chest voice" singing, slide guitar skills, and originality that has influenced generations of musicians.Even though Johnson's records sold well, as a . [4] The Austin Chronicle wrote that Venson's "willingness to stand naked lyrically and vocally" is an "admirable" trait, while her "smoldering and honest" voice "won't blow doors off buildings, but if she could, it would be overkill. Heres the title track, originally a 1957 Vee-Jay Records single for Billy The Kid Emerson: James McMurtry, Blasted From the Past EP. Numerous national and international festivals have added to her extensive performance schedule. All About Jazz musician pages are maintained by musicians, publicists and trusted members like you. Comments lit up on the livestream with one viewer raving, Never heard Jackie before, tuned in because I follow Austin City Limits, this is fantastic. The perpetually grinning Venson turned to the subject of lamour for Keep On, a reggae tune that still left plenty of room for her frisky axe work. I want to provide that experience for them.". "Everybody who comes up goes back down, so you climb it for as long as you emotionally and physically can.". and added that her playing "leaves that addictive bugaboo 'speed' off the table upfront, without dismissing it a priori.". Upcoming:John Mayer is bringing his acoustic tour to Nashville this spring, Peter Cooper: Celebration of life planned for late journalist and musician. The artist IS the genre, especially if they write their own music or at least have a large part in writing their own music. [4][9] Her voice has been compared to Joss Stone and Amy Winehouse.[2]. This dreamer holds clear-cut goals well above the poverty line of mediocrity: She strives to reach a point where she can regularly sell out 1,200- to 5,000-capacity venues nationwide. Privacy Policy | We do not sell or share your personal information | 2023 All About Jazz & Jazz Near You . Otherwise, I wouldn't. Winner of February's Austin Music Awards plaque for Best Guitarist and the first black woman to win the award, Venson knows that climbing ladders for a living isn't necessary to feed, house, and clothe oneself. She rarely went Downtown outside of occasional trips to the historic Paramount Theatre. The Continental has been closed since March because of the pandemic; McMurtry offered up this EP via Bandcamp to benefit the club during this difficult stretch. I want to get some exercises from him - also, I'd like to know more about jazz.. I miss all of that (playing to a crowd) but I feel like this crazy year when I landed this amazing opportunity, where I dont have an audience, it was so serendipitous that I spent four months streaming for cameras without an audience. }. The ultimate beginner's guide. These thoughts that early on in my life were huge for me and left a lasting impression on song form, arrangement, and lyrical style..

Noise Ordinance Time Louisville Ky, Joffrey Ballet Little Mermaid, Run Down House For Sale Piscataway, Nj, Annabelle Walker Garcia, Articles J