Wailin’ Jennys to play at Bethel

By Mayeken Kehr

Individually, Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta and Heather Masse are talented musicians with successful and award-winning solo albums. And together, they create a unified, almost silkily acoustic sound that distinguishes The Wailin' Jennys and has won them awards and much-predicted success as newcomers on the larger folk scene.

The founding Canadian singers, song writers and instrumentalists Ruth Moody, soprano and master of the guitar, banjo, accordion and bodhran and Nicky Mehta, mezzo and maestro of the guitar, harmonica, ukulele and percussion, began The Wailin' Jennys in 2002.

Since then, the third ingredient to the harmonious mix, the "alto who fills out the chordal range of the group's vibrant three-part harmonies," has been less stable.
First Cara Luft, then Annabelle Chvostek added their own flavor to The Wailin' Jennys before choosing to leave the group to pursue solo careers. Moody and Mehta struck gold a third time when new addition Heather Masse, a native of New York who studied jazz vocals at New England Conservatory of Music, first sang with the group in a bathroom—the blend was so perfect she did not need a further audition.

Their debut album, 40 days (2004), not only won a prestigious Juno award, but also contains the song "One Voice," written by Moody, that "remains a metaphoric statement of intent that to this day underlines the group's original mandate: three individuals with unique gifts combining seamlessly into a single beatific entity."

Their second album, Firecracker (2006), received the North American Folk Alliance Award's "Best Contemporary Album" as well as many enthusiastic reviews.

In a time when so much music lacks true talent and attempts to make up for it with digital enhancements, The Wailin' Jennys remind their listeners of the beauty possible in the pure harmony of voices.

Luckily, we can all partake of in the musical blessing of The Wailin' Jennys when they come to Kansas for the Hesston/Bethel Performing Art Series on Thursday, March 6 in Memorial Hall.

In addition, Bethel students will have the opportunity to hear a second performance on March 7 when The Wailin' Jennys perform in convocation.