Album Notes

Elizabeth Jaakola (Anishinaabe, enrolled member of Fond du Lac band of Lake Superior Ojibwe) has had a varied musical background, preparing her for a career in music education and American Indian studies at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Earning her Bachelor of music degree (1992) in vocal performance, Elizabeth chose teaching at a tribal school as a music specialist before embarking on a performance journey. Performing and writing in many styles/genres, she’s difficult to pigeonhole, but these cameleon-like traits are only natural for a Native woman who readily embraces her mixed heritage. Elizabeth’s past includes performances in the Rome Operafestival (Mezzo Soprano), Choral music at Carnegie Hall, Traditional ceremony singer, Jazz scat singer, Blues siren and Regional soloist in many venues of Northern Minnesota. Her Native-based compositions have been heard on radio stations, television, video, and many stages near to her home on the Fond du Lac reservation in Minnesota. She’s currently compiling her Native-based choral pieces that have been used in college performances, gigging around town in her Blues band (The High Bridge Flyers), recording her fourth solo project, preparing for a performance with Duluth’s Light Opera of the North 2006 production, Die Zauberflote, and hopes to take a wee break to celebrate earning her Masters in Music from University of Minnesota-Duluth inbetween teaching and being a single parent of a beautiful six-year-old son.

Recordings from Lyz Jaakola: (with guitarist Barry Pirkola)
cassette: “Bridging Two Worlds” 1996 (no longer available)
CD: “Ways of the Wheel” ©2000

(Totally solo projects)
CD: “Finndian Summer” ©2005
CD: “Anishinaabemowin Nagamodaa!” ©2006

This CD is a fun collection of some non-traditional arrangements of traditional Anishinaabe melodies, some non-traditional lyrics to traditional American kids songs. Some tunes are mellow lullabies, others are a challenge for language buffs... overall it's an introduction to the Ojibwe language for kids of all ages!