Joe Jencks

Joe Jencks Moves to Chicago & Fall Tour

*** About 6 of you asked to be removed from this list last spring. It has been a crazy summer and I lost those requests. My sincere apologies. To be removed from this list, simply reply with a note that says Please Remove, and I will get on that straight away. Thanks! "JJ

In This Issue:

  1. Joe & Lynn move to Chicago
  2. New Staff at Turtle Bear Music
  3. Performance Highlights
  4. Current Tour Schedule




Dear Friends.

It has been many months since I have written to the list. You have my apologies for the long silence. It was a busy, marvelous, and tumultuous summer involving transitions both personal and professional, a move to Chicago, and numerous professional engagements. It is all good, but time consuming and at times fatiguing. Lynn and I moved to Evanston, IL this summer (More on that below), I played several festivals, and then hung up the music for a few weeks and succumb to move details. Blessedly, that is all taken care of now and we are well nestled in to our new pad in Evanston, 1/2 a block from Lake Michigan.

The most amazing news is that my wife Lynn has accepted a full five-year fellowship to North Western University in Evanston, IL! She graduated this past spring from Xavier in Cincinnati, with a Masters in Theology. She begins the PhD in Medieval Church History in just a few weeks. I am unbelievably proud of her! And thrilled for this rare and amazing professional opportunity that she has been awarded. To her credit, she has EARNED it! I have never seen any student work as diligently as she has in the last few years. Anyone wanting to send a congratulatory or encouraging note is welcome to do so via: lynnbejencks@msn.com. Congratulations Lynn! Well deserved. I love you!

Unfortunately, this also means that Lynn will no longer have the time to work for Turtle Bear Music and help out with Joe Jencks tour support. To this end, my long-time friend Anna Ratliff will be coming on board to handle a great number of administrative tasks. Anna has long-term experience in fine arts management, music education, and arts administration. She and I grew up in the same town (Rockford, IL) attended the same conservatory (Millikin University), and then fell out of touch. I was delighted when Anna showed up at a concert in New Jersey a few years ago and we have been in close contact ever since.  Lynn has graciously codified the systems she has created for me in the last six years, and has written a Turtle Bear Music Administrative Manual. Wow. My friend Pinkie said I am the only person she knows that now comes with an Owners Manual.  Sweet. Thanks Lynn! And Welcome Anna! If you need to reach Anna Ratliff for any reason, feel free to send her a note via: syrinx95@verizon.net or call her cell (908) 247-2711. Welcome!

In addition, I am beginning to work with Kathy Sands Boehmer (Harbortown Agency) www.harbortownmusic.com. She will begin to support my booking efforts this fall. We do not have an exclusive arrangement as we are both overworked, but she has a tremendous affinity for the mission of my music and will be helping out, as she is able. Welcome aboard Kathy!

So what ever happened to the New Chautauqua Ramblers? Well, Karen, Helena and I had a great tour in Canada in January and February. And we have done some more shows since in various incarnations but it seems unmanageable to function as a band presently. Good fun, but financially and logistically improbable. I offer my sincere gratitude to both Helena and Karen for their adventurous spirit and tremendous talent. As I head back to my solo career, Karen begins a Doctorate of Music in Cello Performance in Athens, GA. And, Helena has moved to Texas to pursue a personal relationship and to get acquainted with the music scene in Austin. I wish them both all the best.  Karen and I will be doing a few shows together in November, and I will be joined in performance by Helena for several shows this coming January in TX. I look forward to the music.

A special shout out to the following folks and organizations for amazing experiences this summer: Kerrville Folk Festival, Old Songs Festival, Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival,  Cedar Run Song Workshop & Eric Garrison, SUUSI (everybody) and all the folks who helped with the move!!!!! THANK YOU!!!

September is a busy month and the fall continues to blossom. Tour Dates are listed below, but some highlights include shows with Jon Carroll, Pat Wictor, Iain Campbell Smith (back from Australia for a few weeks) and several appearances at conferences.  A big show in NYC next weekend (September 13th) and a long overdue return to Swallow Hill " Denver, CO, in October. As always the full tour schedule is up on the web site at:  https://www.joejencks.com/index.php?page=calendar

One of the coolest shows I will do all fall however is tonight in Laurel, MD. My dear friend Charlie Bernhardt celebrates his 25th Anniversary as Cantor for Oseh Shalom Synagogue. He graciously asked me to perform for him on this auspicious occasion! What an honor. Congrats Charlie! You are a mensch!

I will get back to the monthly (or so) schedule for the newsletter now that things are settling down. But in the meantime I will share one last bit of excitement. (Drum roll please) I have been offered a main stage performance at the Kerrville Festival for next summer! Yahoo! Check the website for more details soon.

Thanks as always for your continued support and encouragement. The music keeps flowing. I have several new songs I cant wait to share with you all and I look forward to seeing you down the road soon!

In Gratitude and Song

•Joe Jencks   :-)

206-619-4104 -cell
www.joejencks.com


Joes Fall Tour 2008

September

6th " Bernhardt Anniversary Concert
Concert at 7:00 PM
Oseh Shalom Synagogue
Laurel, MD
soupandsong@earthlink.net
301 604-8449

7th " Accotink UU Fellowship
Sunday Service 10:30 AM
Burke, VA
Rev. Scott Samler-Michael
703-503-4579 "office

7th Accotink UU Fellowship
Joe Jencks in Concert at 7:00 PM
With special guests Jon Carroll and Rev. Scott Samler-Michael
Burke, VA
703-503-4579 "office

8th Hirsch House Concert
Joe Jencks in Concert at 7:30 PM
8762 Carriage Hills Drive
Columbia, MD 21046
Phone # is (301) 596-2017
iriscat@comcast.net

12th - Karl-Lam House Concert
House Concert with Pat Wictor and Joe Jencks
Ossining, NY  10562
6pm potluck
7:30pm Concert
Suggested donation:  $20 door / $15 adv.
Hosted by Melissa Karl-Lam
For reservations, address and directions, please contact
Gil Backerman:  email Gbackerman1@verizon.net, or call 914-271-3563
For advance seating, send a $15 check payable to "Pat Wictor" c/o:
  Dr. Gil Backerman
  127 North Riverside Avenue
  Croton-on-Hudson, NY  10520
  (Note:  This is NOT the location of the concert! :-)

13th " Madison Square Park Concerts
Joe Jencks in Concert
With special guest- Pat Wictor
3:00 PM
Hosted by: Maggi Landau
Madison Square Park Conservancy
One Madison Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10010
T:  212.538.5058
Info: mlandau@madisonsquarepark.org
Directions: www.madisonsquarepark.org

14th - UU Fellowship of Northern West Chester
Joe Jencks provide music for Sunday Service
10:30 AM
More Info at: www.uufellowship.org

14th " Nazareth College
Joe Jencks Provides music for the Evening Service
Nazareth College Chapel
Pittsford, NY (near Rochester)
7:00 PM
` Hosted by: Lynne Boucher
585 389-2305
lmbouche@naz.edu

15th - Nazareth College
Joe Jencks In Concert
Nazareth College Chapel
Pittsford, NY (near Rochester)
8:00 PM
` Hosted by: Lynne Boucher
585 389-2305
lmbouche@naz.edu

17th " Rauterkus House Concert
Joe Jencks in Concert
7:00 PM
108 South 12th Street,
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
RSVP to Mark Rauterkus: Mark@Rauterkus.com or call: 412 298 3432
Suggested Donation: $10.00

19th  - Duick House Concert
Joe Jencks in Concert
Hosted by: Theresa Duick
8061 Denune Road
Johnstown, OH 43031 (Near Columbus)
740-967-2165
Suggested Donation $15.00

October

3rd-5th " South West Regional Folk Alliance Conference
Austin, TX
www.swrfa.org

14th  - Salina Concert
15th  - Salina Peace Rally
17th -  Swallow Hill Concert Association (Tuft Theater)
Joe Jencks in Concert With special guest, Australian singer-songwriter Iain Campbell Smith
Denver, CO

19th 1st UU Church of Denver
Joe Jencks provides music for Sunday Services
Denver, CO

19th " University of Colorado
Methodist Campus Ministry
Joe Jencks provides music for Evening Worship
(In the Methodist Campus Ministry Chapel)
5:00 PM
Ft. Collins, CO
Hosted by Steve Eulberg
970-472-1352

19th  " University of Colorado
Joe Jencks in Concert
With special guest Steve Eulberg
(In the Methodist Campus Ministry Chapel)
7:30 PM
Ft. Collins, CO
970-472-1352

23rd-26th "Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Conference
Ottawa, Ont. Canada
www.ocff.ca