Jeannie Hoffman- The Folk Type Swinger

DSCN1153This was $3.00.  I knew of this album from the Website Spaceage Pop (link below).

Not much is known about Jeannie other than what I pulled off the Spaceage Pop web page as well as the liner notes and a few articles on the net.  Originally from Portland Oregon, she studied at Juliard where I believe she decided to work in jazz.  She moved to San Fransico and played nationally on the night club circuit.  I believe this is the only major label album she put out.  She would later partner with jazz bassist David Friesen for a series of albums as well as a 35 year run of Christmas concerts in the Pacific Northwest.  She would die of a stroke I think in 2007.  Friesen had these words to say about her:

“There’ll never be another Jeannie Hoffman, she was a unique individual. Jeannie Hoffman’s music was filled with joy! Unpretentious, unpredictable and very unique with her own special way of navigating through a piece of music. She had the technical proficiency (she studied at Julliard School of Music in NYC) to articulate difficult passages of music and the ability to transcend the technical aspects and produce glorious music coupled with her vibrant personality. The result through the years has left an indelible stamp upon every individual’s heart that has ever heard her play and sing”

Friesen and Hoffman
Friesen and Hoffman

This album showcases her jazz vocal stylings against swinger interpretations of folk tunes.  Her voice is beautiful and the album is a great performance of vocal jazz.  Her piano is also quite good. The song selection is pretty good as well.DSCN1154

“Sing Hallelujah” is the best song on the album and I believe it was issued as a single.  However, Spaceage Pop has this as a sample on their site and I do not believe in repeating the work of others.  But fear not as you can link to it here and download the tune.  You can also check out their site and download other space pop gems.  Do you people download the songs on my site?  That is why I started this in the first place and quite frankly, I am surprised you are even reading this. All you have to do is left click on the mouse the song and “Save Target As”.  It is that simple.   Email me if you need technical assistance. Anyway, before I get too introspective on this, here is the link:

Download “Sing Hallelujah”

Therefore, for a sample, I was torn between “Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies” and “Lass from the Low Country”.  I went back and forth with this for some time but decided to go with “Lass”.  No reason.  It could have gone either way.

This is a Top Rated album for me.  Glad I found it.