Biography
Joe Jencks in performance with Brother Sun at the Sanders Theater, Cambridge MA
J O E J E N C K S
"Joe Jencks is the type of musician that will cause you to drop that morning newspaper or pull your car to the side of the road when you hear his songs. He is the type of artist that will turn heads in his direction when he walks onto a stage. His voice will instantly draw you into his passionate songs. He is the type of musician whose music will become a part of you." -Ron Olesko, WFDU –FM Teaneck, NJ
Joe Jencks is an international touring performer, songwriter, entertainer, and educator, based in Chicago, IL. From venues like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, to coffee houses, festivals, spiritual communities, and schools, Joe Jencks has spent the last 12 years touring full time. His songs have traveled to every continent via his own performances, radio, CDs, web casts, and other musicians. He is noted for his unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration. Jencks weaves a diverse web of stories with brilliant musical skill, ensnaring even the most rigid of hearts, inviting them to open. His songs invite us to live inside of our passions and our beliefs.
In 2010, Jencks formed a dynamic new trio called Brother Sun, with colleagues Greg Greenway and Pat Wictor. The trio performed widely throughout the United States in 2011, and their eponymous debut recording "Brother Sun," rose to the top of of the Folk DJ chart. Brother Sun made the "Best of 2011" list for over a dozen radio stations in the US, including WUMB- Boston, WFUV - NYC, and WFMT - The Midnight Special - Chicago. The trio has already booked nearly 100 dates for 2012 and beyond, and is in the process of working on their next recording. Fusing, Folk, Roots, Blues, Pop, Jazz, Rock, and a cappella singing, Brother Sun is an explosion of musical diversity and harmony, in the finest of male singing traditions. For more information, please visit: www.brothersunmusic.com.
In addition to his performance work, Jencks' skills as a vocal harmony arranger are in demand. With over 30 appearances as a guest vocalist and arranger on various studio recordings, he brings a unique rich sound to the work of other artists.
On the stage, in the studio, or in the classroom, Jencks applies conservatory training to contemporary genres, bridging styles and techniques. Drawing on his Irish heritage (dual U.S./Irish Citizen), Jencks uses his lyrical voice to enchant, heal, and inspire. Jencks has won numerous songwriting awards and is also highly regarded as a song interpreter. Joe's latest solo release, Links In A Chain, highlights this aspect of his work.
Links In A Chain is Jencks' 7th solo CD, and was released in the fall of 2009, and rose to the top of the folk DJ Chart. The recording features six new original compositions and six songs written by some of Jencks' mentors and influences. Included are songs by folk legends Phil Ochs and Bob Gibson, as well as a vivid rendition of the American classic, Joe Hill. In his original compositions, Jencks explores a wide range of topics, including family history, staying in love, and a brand new piece in the Irish tradition called On Eireann's Shore. This beautifully lilting love song genuinely honors his heritage, and sounds as if it could have been written a century ago. A Grammy winning team of engineers and supporting musicians contribute to make the recording an exceptional piece of work from start to finish. Guests include: Jon Carroll (Mary Chapin Carpenter's pianist) on keyboards, Pat Wictor on slide-guitars, Jim Robeson (Bass & recording engineer) and Charlie Pilzer (mixing and mastering engineer).
Joe's 2007 release The Candle And The Flame, gained international acclaim and also made it to the top of the Folk charts in the US. This recording combines many facets of Joe's diverse musical background and weaves them all together in an aural tapestry that is warm and exquisite. Jencks has the passion of Gospel singer, the knowledge of a classical vocalist, and the soul of an Irish Tenor. And at the center of Joe's music is an abiding love for humanity that transcends the everyday and boarders on the mystical.
Joe Jencks is a member of the A.F.M. Local 1000: North American Traveling Musicians Union, and the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance.
Discography
Brother Sun CD - Brother Sun, Acoustic/Fusion - 2011 Brother Sun Music
Links In A Chain CD Acoustic/ Singer Songwriter 2009 Turtle Bear Music
The Candle & The Flame CD Acoustic/ Singer Songwriter 2007 Turtle Bear Music
Rise As One "Live Concert CD Folk/Labor History 2005 Turtle Bear Music
The Wonder Deep Within CD Folk/Spiritual 2004 Turtle Bear Music
I Hear Your VoiceCD Folk/Social Justice 2003 Turtle Bear Music
What Kind Of Brother CD Folk/Traditional 2000 Turtle Bear Music
The Phoenix CD Folk/Rock 1995 - Turtle Bear Music
Joe has also appeared on numerous CD Compilations including National Public Radio's "Car Talk: Born Not To Run."
Contests & Awards
2011 - Brother Sun - Best of 2011 - WUMB Boston
2011 - Brother Sun - Best of 2011 - WFUV - NYC
2011 - Brother Sun - Best of 2011 - WFMT - Chicago - The Midnight Special
2008 - Kerrville Folk Festival - New Folk Finalist
2008 - Dirty Linen Magazine's Best of 2007
2007 - Falcon Ridge Folk Festival - Emerging Artist Showcase, NY
2005 - Songwriting Contest Winner - Plowshares Songwriting Competition - Phoenixville, PA
2005 - Songwriting Contest Winner - South Florida Folk Festival, Margate, FL
2004 - Songwriting Contest Winner In Two Categories - Walnut Valley Music Festival, Winfield, KS
2004 - Songwriting Contest Winner - Tumbleweed Music Festival, Richland, WA
2003 - Songwriting Contest Winner - Tumbleweed Music Festival, Richland, WA
Quotes
"In these times, we need the singers who will do the homework and tell the stories! Joe Jencks is among the fine next generation singers who are ready to carry on the tradition as well as look into the future" "Holly Near, Ukiah, CA
"The key to the future is people joining in. The music of Joe Jencks captures this essential spirit. Joe is a fantastic singer who carries on the traditions." -Pete Seeger
"Listen to Joe! A clear tenor voice; a heart that's in the right place, close to the skin; a sense of justice tempered by a sense of humor; and a CD that captures it all in rich tasty arrangements. How can you go wrong?"
•Charlie King, Songwriter and Performer, Shelburne Falls, MA
"The next time someone says that folk music has lost its conscience, lacks great protest songs, or has lost its connection with its causes, I will sit them down and play Joe Jencks' CD, I Hear Your Voice. Jencks sings with a superb tenor voice, and picks flashy guitar… that doesn't obscure the beauty of his voice or the words of his well-crafted songs." -Sing Out! Magazine, Rich Warren "Host of 'The Midnight Special' WFMT "FM Chicago, IL
"Joe Jencks is the type of musician that will cause you to drop that morning newspaper or pull your car to the side of the road when you hear his songs. He is the type of artist that will turn heads in his direction when he walks onto a stage. His voice will instantly draw you into his passionate songs. He is the type of musician whose music will become part of you. His craft and artistry will remind you of the best efforts of Phil Ochs, Stan Rogers, and Woody Guthrie. The troubadour tradition is alive and well in the 21st century with the music of Joe Jencks."
•Ron Olesko, WFDU "FM Teaneck, NJ
"I find that Joe embodies the spirit of Pete Seeger. In much the same way, Joe has his finger on the pulse of our grassroots social conscience, and passes it on for us to scrutinize. Every generation needs a voice for social justice and Joe Jencks is one of those very important voices." -Judy Matzen, Off the Square Concerts, Woodstock, IL
"Joe Jencks is one of the Northwest's best-not-kept secrets; a singer-songwriter with a warm, smooth, powerful voice, and memorable finely crafted songs that have something to say. He moves freely between the worlds of contemporary acoustic pop and traditional folk, alternating and combining them into a rich and satisfying musical mosaic!" "Richard Middleton, Victory Music Review, Seattle WA
Sharing The Stage With…
Pete Seeger Holly Near John McCutcheon Utah Phillips
Susan Werner Red Molly Red Horse (Gorka, Kaplansky, & Gilkyson)
Greg Greenway Pat Wictor Ollabelle Spuyten Duyvil
Peter & Bethany Yarrow Rod MacDonald Bill Staines Pat Humphries
David Roth Willie Porter Tret Fure Steve Seskin
Kim & Reggie Harris Joe Crookston John Flynn Rebel Voices
Tao Rodriguez Justin Roth Kym Tuvim Wishing Chair
Reggie Garrett Joe Glazer Brad Warren Mark Spittal
Charlie King Anne Feeney Chris Chandler Dave Nachmanoff
And many others....
Contact & Bookings
Turtle Bear Music Toll-Free (877) 485-2479 or (206) 619-4104
joejencks@hotmail.com
www.joejencks.com
"Joe Jencks is the type of musician that will cause you to drop that morning newspaper or pull your car to the side of the road when you hear his songs. He is the type of artist that will turn heads in his direction when he walks onto a stage. His voice will instantly draw you into his passionate songs. He is the type of musician whose music will become a part of you." -Ron Olesko, WFDU –FM Teaneck, NJ
Joe Jencks is an international touring performer, songwriter, entertainer, and educator, based in Chicago, IL. From venues like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, to coffee houses, festivals, spiritual communities, and schools, Joe Jencks has spent the last 12 years touring full time. His songs have traveled to every continent via his own performances, radio, CDs, web casts, and other musicians. He is noted for his unique merging of musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual exploration. Jencks weaves a diverse web of stories with brilliant musical skill, ensnaring even the most rigid of hearts, inviting them to open. His songs invite us to live inside of our passions and our beliefs.
In 2010, Jencks formed a dynamic new trio called Brother Sun, with colleagues Greg Greenway and Pat Wictor. The trio performed widely throughout the United States in 2011, and their eponymous debut recording "Brother Sun," rose to the top of of the Folk DJ chart. Brother Sun made the "Best of 2011" list for over a dozen radio stations in the US, including WUMB- Boston, WFUV - NYC, and WFMT - The Midnight Special - Chicago. The trio has already booked nearly 100 dates for 2012 and beyond, and is in the process of working on their next recording. Fusing, Folk, Roots, Blues, Pop, Jazz, Rock, and a cappella singing, Brother Sun is an explosion of musical diversity and harmony, in the finest of male singing traditions. For more information, please visit: www.brothersunmusic.com.
In addition to his performance work, Jencks' skills as a vocal harmony arranger are in demand. With over 30 appearances as a guest vocalist and arranger on various studio recordings, he brings a unique rich sound to the work of other artists.
On the stage, in the studio, or in the classroom, Jencks applies conservatory training to contemporary genres, bridging styles and techniques. Drawing on his Irish heritage (dual U.S./Irish Citizen), Jencks uses his lyrical voice to enchant, heal, and inspire. Jencks has won numerous songwriting awards and is also highly regarded as a song interpreter. Joe's latest solo release, Links In A Chain, highlights this aspect of his work.
Links In A Chain is Jencks' 7th solo CD, and was released in the fall of 2009, and rose to the top of the folk DJ Chart. The recording features six new original compositions and six songs written by some of Jencks' mentors and influences. Included are songs by folk legends Phil Ochs and Bob Gibson, as well as a vivid rendition of the American classic, Joe Hill. In his original compositions, Jencks explores a wide range of topics, including family history, staying in love, and a brand new piece in the Irish tradition called On Eireann's Shore. This beautifully lilting love song genuinely honors his heritage, and sounds as if it could have been written a century ago. A Grammy winning team of engineers and supporting musicians contribute to make the recording an exceptional piece of work from start to finish. Guests include: Jon Carroll (Mary Chapin Carpenter's pianist) on keyboards, Pat Wictor on slide-guitars, Jim Robeson (Bass & recording engineer) and Charlie Pilzer (mixing and mastering engineer).
Joe's 2007 release The Candle And The Flame, gained international acclaim and also made it to the top of the Folk charts in the US. This recording combines many facets of Joe's diverse musical background and weaves them all together in an aural tapestry that is warm and exquisite. Jencks has the passion of Gospel singer, the knowledge of a classical vocalist, and the soul of an Irish Tenor. And at the center of Joe's music is an abiding love for humanity that transcends the everyday and boarders on the mystical.
Joe Jencks is a member of the A.F.M. Local 1000: North American Traveling Musicians Union, and the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance.
Discography
Brother Sun CD - Brother Sun, Acoustic/Fusion - 2011 Brother Sun Music
Links In A Chain CD Acoustic/ Singer Songwriter 2009 Turtle Bear Music
The Candle & The Flame CD Acoustic/ Singer Songwriter 2007 Turtle Bear Music
Rise As One "Live Concert CD Folk/Labor History 2005 Turtle Bear Music
The Wonder Deep Within CD Folk/Spiritual 2004 Turtle Bear Music
I Hear Your VoiceCD Folk/Social Justice 2003 Turtle Bear Music
What Kind Of Brother CD Folk/Traditional 2000 Turtle Bear Music
The Phoenix CD Folk/Rock 1995 - Turtle Bear Music
Joe has also appeared on numerous CD Compilations including National Public Radio's "Car Talk: Born Not To Run."
Contests & Awards
2011 - Brother Sun - Best of 2011 - WUMB Boston
2011 - Brother Sun - Best of 2011 - WFUV - NYC
2011 - Brother Sun - Best of 2011 - WFMT - Chicago - The Midnight Special
2008 - Kerrville Folk Festival - New Folk Finalist
2008 - Dirty Linen Magazine's Best of 2007
2007 - Falcon Ridge Folk Festival - Emerging Artist Showcase, NY
2005 - Songwriting Contest Winner - Plowshares Songwriting Competition - Phoenixville, PA
2005 - Songwriting Contest Winner - South Florida Folk Festival, Margate, FL
2004 - Songwriting Contest Winner In Two Categories - Walnut Valley Music Festival, Winfield, KS
2004 - Songwriting Contest Winner - Tumbleweed Music Festival, Richland, WA
2003 - Songwriting Contest Winner - Tumbleweed Music Festival, Richland, WA
Quotes
"In these times, we need the singers who will do the homework and tell the stories! Joe Jencks is among the fine next generation singers who are ready to carry on the tradition as well as look into the future" "Holly Near, Ukiah, CA
"The key to the future is people joining in. The music of Joe Jencks captures this essential spirit. Joe is a fantastic singer who carries on the traditions." -Pete Seeger
"Listen to Joe! A clear tenor voice; a heart that's in the right place, close to the skin; a sense of justice tempered by a sense of humor; and a CD that captures it all in rich tasty arrangements. How can you go wrong?"
•Charlie King, Songwriter and Performer, Shelburne Falls, MA
"The next time someone says that folk music has lost its conscience, lacks great protest songs, or has lost its connection with its causes, I will sit them down and play Joe Jencks' CD, I Hear Your Voice. Jencks sings with a superb tenor voice, and picks flashy guitar… that doesn't obscure the beauty of his voice or the words of his well-crafted songs." -Sing Out! Magazine, Rich Warren "Host of 'The Midnight Special' WFMT "FM Chicago, IL
"Joe Jencks is the type of musician that will cause you to drop that morning newspaper or pull your car to the side of the road when you hear his songs. He is the type of artist that will turn heads in his direction when he walks onto a stage. His voice will instantly draw you into his passionate songs. He is the type of musician whose music will become part of you. His craft and artistry will remind you of the best efforts of Phil Ochs, Stan Rogers, and Woody Guthrie. The troubadour tradition is alive and well in the 21st century with the music of Joe Jencks."
•Ron Olesko, WFDU "FM Teaneck, NJ
"I find that Joe embodies the spirit of Pete Seeger. In much the same way, Joe has his finger on the pulse of our grassroots social conscience, and passes it on for us to scrutinize. Every generation needs a voice for social justice and Joe Jencks is one of those very important voices." -Judy Matzen, Off the Square Concerts, Woodstock, IL
"Joe Jencks is one of the Northwest's best-not-kept secrets; a singer-songwriter with a warm, smooth, powerful voice, and memorable finely crafted songs that have something to say. He moves freely between the worlds of contemporary acoustic pop and traditional folk, alternating and combining them into a rich and satisfying musical mosaic!" "Richard Middleton, Victory Music Review, Seattle WA
Sharing The Stage With…
Pete Seeger Holly Near John McCutcheon Utah Phillips
Susan Werner Red Molly Red Horse (Gorka, Kaplansky, & Gilkyson)
Greg Greenway Pat Wictor Ollabelle Spuyten Duyvil
Peter & Bethany Yarrow Rod MacDonald Bill Staines Pat Humphries
David Roth Willie Porter Tret Fure Steve Seskin
Kim & Reggie Harris Joe Crookston John Flynn Rebel Voices
Tao Rodriguez Justin Roth Kym Tuvim Wishing Chair
Reggie Garrett Joe Glazer Brad Warren Mark Spittal
Charlie King Anne Feeney Chris Chandler Dave Nachmanoff
And many others....
Contact & Bookings
Turtle Bear Music Toll-Free (877) 485-2479 or (206) 619-4104
joejencks@hotmail.com
www.joejencks.com