Jeanne Jolly

INTERVIEW WITH JEANNE JOLLY
By John Davenport
Video By ENC Media Productions

Jeanne Jolly – Vocals, Guitar, Baritone Ukulele
Chris Boerner – Guitar
Allyn Love – Pedal Steel
E. Scott Warren – Bass
Nick Baglio – Drums

Singer/songwriter Jeanne Jolly broke onto the music scene as the featured vocalist for Grammy Award winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. Touring all through North America she had the opportunity to sing with world renowned symphonies and perform at venues like Carnegie Hall and play marquee events such as the Monterey Jazz Festival.

A diverse, classically trained vocalist, Jolly’s voice is said to embody the “early belting power of Linda Ronstadt” (MetroMusicScene,VA) combined “the delicate lilt of Alison Krauss” (NC Metro Magazine). Born in North Carolina, Jolly was the recipient of Western Carolina University’s Young Alumni Award and has earned a Masters in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory. Upon completing her schooling, Jolly moved to L.A. where her career quickly took off. In addition to working with Botti, she began to explore different styles of music, recording with acclaimed songwriters Lowen & Navarro and country artist Bob Woodruff.

After her tenure with Botti came to an end Jolly found herself being pulled back to her Southern roots. Soon she co-wrote, co-produced, and recorded her first country/Americana EP (Jan, 2008) and started a band inLos Angeles. In 2009, Jolly moved back to North Carolina where she began to focus on developing her guitar skills, sharpening her solo performance, and focusing on writing more of her own songs. It wasn’t long until she once again found herself in the company of Grammy nominated artists, opening up for Sam Bush, Maura O’Connell, Chuck Mead, and many more.

In October 2010 Jolly released her new EP, Falling In Carolina, which has garnered top praise for honest lyrics and quality vocals. Recorded in Durham, NC at Sound Pure studios and released over an 11 day run of 29 shows at the 2010 NC State Fair in Raleigh, the album features Jolly on vocals, baritone ukulele, piano and guitar.  Jolly has also been the recipient of NC Metro Magazine’s award for “Best Local Musician” in 2010, 2011, and was also a featured artist at the 2011 International Folk Alliance in Memphis, TN.  She has recently joined the family of Grammy nominated NC based group, The Foreign Exchange .  Jolly is featured on their live DVD, Dear Friends:  An Evening with The Foreign Exchange and is contributing vocals to support their Authenticity Tour.

Jeanne just finished her own memorable Summer Tour through the Northwest, playing the Red Ants Pants Music Festival along with Emmy Lou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Hayes Carll, Billy Jo Shaver, Taj Mahal, & Mary Chapin Carpenter as well as Sweet Pea Festival in Bozeman, MT, and other venues through Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Utah.  On the airwaves, Jeanne has recently been featured live on WUNC’s “State of Things” (NPR) with Frank Stasio, 100.7 The River’s Sunday Brunch with Kitty Kinnin, G105 The Hit Music Channel’s “Showgram” & “Top Five Downloads” with G105′s Mike Morse, KGLT’s program “Crossroads” out of Spokane, WAas well as WHQR’s “Soup to Nuts Live!” (NPR) with George Schiebner.  Currently, she is gearing up to release her first full length album,  Angels, which is set to release on Oct. 2. 2012.    “She is undeniably a versatile singer with an amazing and rare ability to sing with the sophistication of modern jazz and the simple passion of an Appalachian Americana. Jolly has a gorgeous voice that isn’t something you hear or happen upon everyday” Common Folk Review

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