Album Notes

Passaporto by Jenifer Jackson, produced by Brad Jones. March 2005

In the winter of 2004, Jenifer and her dear friend Nashville Brad Jones were catching up on the phone when Jenifer mentioned that she had written a few songs in Italian. Brad became very excited, and suggested with glee that they should record these new canzioni when he came to visit in January.

A few weeks later, the two got together at Jenifer's, watched "L'Oro di Napoli" to get in the mood, opened a second bottle of cheap but delicious Nero Davolo, and began recording. Jenifer's cats Sendy and Vladimir were very well behaved while the "record" button was red. The tracks were beautiful and intimate, and both Brad and Jenifer were very happy and tipsy.

Thus began a year-long project of recording-in Jenifer's apartment in the city, at Brad's friend's Jeremy's apartment in Brooklyn, at Jenifer's folks' bedroom on Cape Cod that summer, and finally down at Brad's in Nashville in the winter of 2005. The collection of grew from a handful of songs in Italian, to an album's worth in Italian, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and English. Brad called in favors from cellist David Henry and flautist and autoharpist Jim Hoke, and added his own lush upright of a few tracks. Jenifer added some piano, vibes, vocal harmonies and a bongo roll.

Passaporto captures the easy joy of two good friends playing and loving the sounds. The pressure is zero and the mood is up-close and personal. It's an album to put on while sipping a little vino rosso with someone special, or to put on your I-pod so that you can listen in the cab on your way to the airport.