“Winter means short days, long shadows. It’s an introspective time,” says Jill Jensen, one half of the duo behind Snow People. Her other half, Jack Grassel, adds, “It’s not all Christmas songs. You hear Christmas songs in stores all the time and people aren’t crazy about it.”
Snow People is a collection of 13 songs that evoke winter (and the holidays) musically as well as lyrically. It includes one original, “Snow Sprite,” a poem by Racine’s Leslie Sobota set to music by Grassel and Jensen, and a batch of mostly familiar tunes performed in largely unfamiliar ways. An outstanding and venturesome jazz guitarist, Grassel channels one of his early influences, Wes Montgomery, on their interpretation of The Mamas & The Papas’ “California Dreamin’.” Jensen has grown into one of Wisconsin’s most accomplished jazz singers and brings playfulness and sensuality to “Merry Christmas, Baby” and “Canadian Sunset.”
“If I’m going to do a song that’s been around a while, I’ll rewrite it,” says Grassel, who plays all instruments on the album. “If you’ve ever been on a sleigh ride, you know it doesn’t feel like you’re in a race,” Jensen jumps in, explaining their rendition of that old holiday chestnut, “Sleigh Ride.” “It’s clunking along behind a slow horse—it’s romantic! Our interpretation has the joy of a sleigh ride but not the frantic-manic thing.”
At whatever tempo, the music on Snow People suggests an evening by a warm fire.
Jack Grassel and Jill Jensen will perform at the Beulah Brinton House, 2590 S. Superior St., on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. The pre-paid $30 event includes food, wine, beer, coffee, soft drinks and desserts. For tickets visit houseconcertsmke.com or call 262-951-1915. They will also perform at the Jazz Gallery, 926 E. Center St., on Sunday, Dec. 9 from 2-4 p.m.
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