Album Notes

Armed with her guitar and a voice that rings out from the caverns of her soul, Jen Shankman will keep you on the edge of your seat. At a mere 5'1", when this New Yorker takes the stage, she is anything but small. With the right combination of bare-boned honesty, carefully-crafted melodies and a wry sense of humor, Jen will make you want to laugh and cry, and above all, she will make you think. She is a force to be reckoned with, a performer who has truly learned to stand on her convictions.

Jen was born and raised in New Rochelle, New York. Her father (a pilot) and her mother (a teacher) always played music in the house. Jen studied viola, clarinet, voice and guitar, but it wasn't until College that she began writing and performing her own material. "I discovered Shawn Colvin first in a line of intelligent songwriters who really focused on melody and song structure. I always knew I wanted to do music, but that is when I first realized my focus." Jen picked up her guitar and a pen and she hasn't put them down since. Having been raised in and around New York City, Jen learned to draw on the highs and lows of both city living and human relationships--catching glimpses of stranger's lives and writing stories, and always drawing on her own experience.

Jen has won fans and left a lasting impression at clubs and colleges up and down the east coast. Most notable venues include Madison Square Garden, the MCI Center, the legendary Bitter End (New York, NY), Club Passim (Boston, MA) and Eddie's Attic (Decatur, GA). Jen has had the distinct honor of playing guitar for Joan Osborne and has appeared with such notable talents as Ani DiFranco, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Patty Griffin, Kay Hanley (Letters to Cleo), Ellis Paul and Jonatha Brooke. She was a finalist in the Lilith Fair Talent Search, and a winner in the Musician's Guide Independent Music Awards. Jen has also appeared with her band on the Oxygen Network, and performed at V-Day 2001 at Madison Square Garden. With her third CD under her belt, Jen has once again proven herself as both a gifted writer and a powerhouse performer. One little girl, one big voice, just listen.