Jenny Scheinman

Biography

Jenny Scheinman, born in San Francisco and raised in a remote homestead community on California's Lost Coast near Eureka in Humboldt County, grew up immersed in folk music within an off-the-grid family environment alongside her three siblings. She began studying piano and violin as a Suzuki student, traveling two hours to lessons in the nearest town, initially focusing more ambitiously on piano until college. After moving to the Bay Area, she honed her fiddling skills in various working bands before relocating to New York in her twenties to join the jazz scene, following friends who formed groups including early Norah Jones projects.[1][2][6][9]

Scheinman's career breakthrough came early in New York when Bill Frisell invited her for a 14-show run at the Village Vanguard, blending jazz with her roots in fiddle tunes and country songs like Hank Williams alongside Sonny Rollins influences. She became a versatile jazz violinist, releasing critically acclaimed solo albums such as 12 Songs (named a Top Ten Album of 2005 by The New York Times), her rootsy vocal debut Jenny Scheinman, and instrumental works like Crossing The Field and the 2024 double album All Species Parade. A fiddler, violinist, singer, and songwriter, she has contributed to Grammy-winning recordings, made her Carnegie Hall debut as a leader, and balanced ensemble work with leadership in projects like her band Mischief & Mayhem.[1][2][3][5][6]

Returning to Humboldt County in 2012 to raise her family, including giving birth to her second child there, Scheinman has continued evolving her sound, merging jazz, Americana, folk, blues, and nature-inspired compositions reflective of her rural roots. Her plainspoken, theme-resolving style draws from jazz, blues, and folk traditions, earning her collaborations across genres while maintaining a presence in New York's creative music scenes.[2][4][5][7]

Fun Facts

• Grew up in the westernmost house in the continental United States on California's remote Lost Coast, in a rowdy homestead community of old ranchers and back-to-the-landers.[6]
• Received her big break as a twentysomething in New York with a 14-show Village Vanguard residency alongside Bill Frisell, featuring unexpected fiddle tunes and country songs in the jazz charts.[2]
• Returned to Humboldt County in 2012 to give birth to her second child, Rosa, balancing motherhood with her career amid the pandemic's influence on her nature-inspired album All Species Parade.[7][6]
• Has arranged music for diverse artists including Lou Reed, Metallica, Bono, Ani DiFranco, Bruce Cockburn, Aretha Franklin, and the Hot Club of San Francisco.[1][3][6]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Bill Frisell - Primary mentor and longest-running musical relationship, starting with a Village Vanguard residency invitation shortly after 9/11 (12 studio albums, over a dozen live recordings, Intercontinentals, 858 Quartet, John Lennon project, Mike Disfarmer score) [1998-present]

Key Collaborators

• Bill Frisell - Frequent collaborator on tours, recordings, and ensembles as guitarist (Multiple albums including Jenny Scheinman trio with Brian Blade, All Species Parade) [1998-present]
• Nels Cline - Band member in Mischief & Mayhem and frequent guitarist collaborator (Self-titled 2012 album, All Species Parade, 2007 Northeast tour with Jim Black & Todd Sickafoose) [2007-present]
• Norah Jones - Early New York scene collaborator, played on debut album (Norah Jones' first album) [early 2000s]
• Lucinda Williams - Touring and recording support as fiddlin’ violinist and background singer (Tours and recordings) [2000s-2010s]
• Rodney Crowell - Road support as fiddlin’ violinist, background singer, and opening act (Tours over five years) [late 2000s-early 2010s]
• Brian Blade - Trio member on vocal album (Sophomore vocal album (tentative The Littlest Prisoner)) [2014]
• Jim Black - Drummer in high-energy band setups (2007 Prospect Park concert, Northeast tour) [2007]
• Todd Sickafoose - Bassist in band (2007 tours) [2007]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia