2008-08-26, Philadelphia Weekly:
"The Brooklyn singer-songwriter turns interpreter, delving into the meaning of patriotism and the legacy of American protest music with clean, unplugged readings of Springsteen's "American Skin" and "Born in the U.S.A." and Stevie Wonder's "You Haven't Done Nothin'." Backed by bassist-husband Stephan Crump and his elegant, economical Rosetta Trio, Chapin vivifies her acoustic living-room aesthetic with rock-and-soul bite and the aim of a larger narrative, folding three originals into a mix that includes Radiohead's "Backdrifts," John Lennon's "Nobody Told Me" and Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic." (David R. Adler)
2008-07-01, Philadelphia Daily News:
".. Jen Chapin knows how to sell a song with a lemony tart vocal delivery. On her intimate, acoustic-minded disc with the Rosetta Trio, "Light of Mine", Chapin focuses mostly on covers but uncovers nuances not noticed before on David Bowie's "Starman," Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic," Stevie Wonder's "You Haven't Done Nothin' " (a special fave), as well as songs by John Lennon, Joni Mitchell and two from Bruce Springsteen - the shattering "America Skin (41 Shots)" and "Born in the U.S.A.," where Jen works major bluesy changes to make the words jump."
by Jonathan Takiff
2008-06-16, MediaMatters.org:
"I caught a performance by Jen Chapin, a musician-activist, daughter of Harry, at the Jorma Kaukonen-inspired New York country blues festival (or something) not long ago and thought her voice powerful and her spirit infectious. What a delight to discover, on this CD/DVD, Light of Mine on Purple Chair Music, that we have almost exactly the same musical taste. She's got two original compositions and several totally excellent reinterpretations of songs from David Bowie, Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen, and John Lennon."
by Eric Alterman
2008-06-16, The Rogovoy Report:
(Great Barrington, MA) Jen Chapin pulled off the seemingly impossible, by outperforming herself last night in what must have been her half-dozenth or so appearance at Club Helsinki. Accompanied by husband Stephan Crump on acoustic bass, electric guitarist Jamie Fox, and acoustic guitarist Liberty Ellman, Chapin touched on all bases of her career and styles, from her quiet, urban-folk beginnings to her jazzier side to her unique brand of chamber rock, in which her guitar-centric trio rearranges well-worn hits by the likes of Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder and Radiohead into platforms for Chapin to express her individuality through her idiosyncratic delivery and personality.
A political and social conscience has always simmered beneath much of Chapin's work -- both her original and her choice of covers, which are now collected on the terrific new CD, Light of Mine -- and in this election season the bubbled to the surface several times during Chapin's show, without ever becoming preachy or overbearing -- not an easy task.
But as much as it's Crump's boyish enthusiasm, Fox's panoply of sounds and effects, and Ellman's dazzling fretwork that power the arrangements, the focus is always and fully on Chapin, her voice, and her dazzling persona. How apt it was that when someone shouted out in between songs, "You're a goddess," Chapin replied without skipping a beat, "Tell the world."
World, are you listening?
2007-05-24, popmatters.com:
"The Jen Chapin trio is an amazing small group that performs songs that bridge several popular styles?original songs and classic covers?with sly soul. They play funk-folk as rooted in the feet as it is in the head, story-songs with a groove. "
by Will Layman -- so nicely written and interesting!
2007-05-24, Reuters.com:
here's a nice little video slicing stuff you've seen with new interview and performance footage from March 07 in Times Square!
2007-03-07, River Cities' Reader:
"'To the New' is sparkling, spare, and lovely... The album [Ready] is supremely confident, slightly off-center, and instantly compelling."
An article by Jeff Ignatius advancing our 3/17/07 show at the Redstone Room, Davenport IA. To listen to the full interview, check out http://www.qcspan.com/view?id=v6.
2007-02-13, via email:
Thank you for a memorable evening. With Karen gone, I was feeling ambivalent about hosting yet another concert. But the remarkable performance by you , Stephan, and Jamie completely reinvigorated my passion for music, and reminded me why I began doing these house concerts in the first place--to create and nurture a community of music lovers in a warm intimate environment that brings out the finest in both musician and audience. I am truly honored to be able to play host to wonderful performers and people such as you three, and look forward to doing so again.
a kind testimonial from Rob Litowitz, host of the house concert series "Live at Roxy's" in Bethesda MD, where the trip played 2-10-07
2006-12-04, WAMC Northeast Public Radio:
"In her performance at Club Helsinki, Chapin, accompanied by husband Stephan Crump on bass and Liberty Ellman and Jamie Fox on guitars, delivered a string of her own songs touching on love, motherhood, politics, and urban life, with a dynamic intensity and artfulness that takes her out of the realm of folk singer-songwriter and into a unique place where jazz meets contemporary song..."
A radio review of our 12/4/06 show in Great Barrington MA. Click to read or stream.
2006-11-01, JazzTimes:
JEN CHAPIN -- READY Most parents spend the months leading up to a newborn's arrival painting nurseries, dreaming up names and trying to assemble playpens accompanied by indecipherable Swedish instructions. Jen Chapin and bassist-husband Stephan Crump opted instead to anticipate the arrival of son Maceo by birthing their third and best disc to date.
For the uninitiated, Chapin is the daughter of legendary troubadour Harry. These days though, she seems more vocally akin to a couple of other folk-rock icons of daddy's era, suggesting a gutsier Carole King and a more grounded Maria Muldaur.
Understandably, many of the tracks she and Crump crafted for Ready have to do with the hopes, fears, dreams and quiet introspection that fill those seemingly endless days leading up to a blessed event. But, this being Chapin and Crump, a team worthy of Joni Mitchell and Neil Young when it comes to laying it on the line lyrically, there's much more to Ready than merely sweet reverie. Consider, for instance, the course grit of "NYC" (a sort of funkified variation on "Take Me Back to Manhattan"), the cunning political bite of "Election Day," the brave emotional vulnerability of "Strip it Bare" and the raw sexual heat of the title track. Get ready.
great review from Christopher Loudon. For the record though, I should clarify that though Stephan was indispensable to the playing and production of the album, the songs are all mine!
2006-10-18, Playback:
Jen Chapin and her two-man band are preparing for a Thursday night show at the Saint in Asbury Park, N.J. As Chapin softly sings "Little man, little man/I can see you are not such a mystery to me," the opening lines to the ballad "Let It Show," the little man in question, her son Maceo, is 10 feet away in a baby carrier, quietly staring wide-eyed at his mother.
"Jen Chapin -- Keeping it in the Family", feature article
2006-10-10, The Music Box:
"For music fans who enjoy diverse acoustic sounds, strong vocals, and poignant lyrics, Jen Chapin's Ready is real treasure."
2006-09-01, ASCAP Playback:
"A highlight of the evening was singer-songwriter Jen Chapin's version of "Born in the USA," a song that was not included on the seminal album, but was among the group of songs Springsteen wrote for project. Chapin, the daughter of legendary songwriter Harry Chapin, delighted the audience with her transcendent performance."
photo and brief notes on 1/14/06 tribute to Bruce Spriingsteen's "Nebraska," which featured an encore appearance by Springsteen
2006-09-01, Berkshire Living:
"Music for Living", By Seth Rogovoy
On Ready, the stellar follow-up to her breakthrough album, Linger, Jen Chapin continues to carve out a unique niche for herself as a singer-songwriter in bohemian jazz dress. No strummy guitar balladry for her, Chapin favors the more sophisticated textures, intricate chromaticism, and sensual, funky rhythms of acoustic Brooklyn jazz, all of which perfectly support her astute lyrical portraits of life in the metropolis. Whether she's singing a blessing for her toddler son, a knowing but optimistic paean to world peace, a steamy ode to her lover, or a tribute to her hometown, Chapin grabs hold and draws you in with her alluring, Billie Holidayesque vocals and smart phrasing.
2006-08-17, WhatzUp (Heartland Art, Entertainment and Recreation):
"Her voice, both sweet and spicy, wraps itself beautifully around arrangements that are both sparse and lush... Ready both continues her musical journey and takes it up a notch, showcasing an artist who has comfortably found her sound yet seeks to keep it fresh at the same time."
review of "Ready" by Michele DeVinney -- click on link then go to "CD reviews" to read full piece
2006-08-14, Good Times Magazine:
"The concert showed off Chapin's versatility as a songwriter as well as the remarkable sound of her incredibly gifted band. These songs covered a wide soundscape of moods, tempos, instrumentations, and emotions, most of which were cuts from the new record... Those who walked into this show with few expectations -- or without having heard Chapin before -- left the Boulton Center having seen, arguably, one of the finest concerts in the area this summer."
Review of "Ready" July 11th CD release concert, by Bill Reese
2006-08-01, Relix:
Jen Chapin can sing the soul out of a concrete and steel city, her
expansive, controlled vocal range, set above compositions that are as
complex as they are mellow. The New York-based singer/songwriter's fourth
release, Ready, gives the daughter of '70s folky Harry Chapin a medium to
ruminate about the world, her life, and the impending birth of her son. The
results are well-rounded, evocative and unexpected. Tempos shift beneath
serene descriptions ("Strip It Bare"), sinewy violin pulls at the emotions
of an expectant mother ("Let It Show"), and organic bass breaks echo like
traffic in Chapin's home ("NYC"). Ready merges emotion and sophistication
with the help of one of the freshest voices singing today. -- Jamie Lee
2006-07-15, Center Daily Times (State College, PA):
"While deeply passionate and intimate, Chapin's music is more a slow burn than lightning strike.. She doesn't pull any punches when it comes to sexual longing or her political views."
2006-07-12, Pitt News:
"Jen Chapin's newest release, Ready, will either soothe or stimulate your mind, but it's doubtful it will do both for the same person"
2006-07-11, Infuse Magazine: Arts, Entertainment and Faith:
"Jen Chapin is one of New York City's finest singer/songwriters. Her voice is soothing and powerful all at once, making it easy to get lost in her songs..."
an interview with Mark Fisher
2006-01-29, The New York Times:
"On a recent Saturday evening, Jen Chapin performed to a standing-room-only crowd at the Cutting Room in Manhattan and introduced songs from her CD ''Ready,'' which is due out in the spring."
"A Song That Feels Like Home" By Brian Wise
2006-01-16, The Star-Ledger (NJ):
"Jen Chapin's "Born in the USA" was arguably the concert's biggest revelation. It was a guitar-free version, featuring just her voice and standup bass playing by her husband, Stephan Crump. Her grim, focused singing brought the song's tragic lyrics into sharp focus, and Crump's jazzy bass playing was absorbing in its own right."
by Jay Lustig, a review of the January 14th tribute to Bruce Springsteen's album, "Nebraska"
2006-01-15, heartonastick.blog-city.com:
"The best performance of the night didn't involve a guitar, or a song from Nebraska. To further expand the show, the organizers included a pair of songs written during the album's conception but recorded later. Jen Chapin, daughter of the late storyteller Harry, took the usually-misinterpreted "Born in the U.S.A.," stripped it of its stars and stripes and laid it bare before a stunned crowd. Accompanied only by husband Stephan Crump on an upright bass, she successfully de-anthemized the song, putting the pain of its lyrics up front and solidifying its presence among the other songs from the period.
For most of the show, you felt like you were waiting for something to happen. Chapin's performance was, before the end, the only time it felt like something was happening."
there are some very cool pictures on this blog, along with a full write-up of the January 14th tribute to Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska" album
2005-02-20, South Bend Tribune:
"Jen Chapin gave a magnificent performance..Backed by Stephan Crump on bass and Jamie Fox on guitar, Chapin and her two-man band gave a powerful performance that filled the Leighton Concert Hall with sound and energy on the uptempo songs and intimacy on the slower songs.
Chapin's supple voice moved deliberately and often through a wide range of notes and emotions throughout the concert, a bold and demonstrative instrument."
Review of live show at University of Notre Dame, Feb 05
"Chapin, band prove powerful but intimate"
2004-12-08, The Village Voice:
"Chapin's brand of jazz-infused urban-folk fits her mesmerizing Rickie Lee Jones-esque vignettes."
2004-07-01, Baltimore Sun:
"..a pleasant blend of influences: a touch of jazz, some blues, a drop of '70s-style pop and generous amounts of folk. It's a fluid mix that defies easy categorization.. Holding it all together are her cool, airy vocals and introspective, sometimes amusing lyrics."
review of "Linger" by Rashod D. Ollison
2004-04-07, NPR "All Things Considered":
"Brilliant... soulfully poetic urban folk music... [has three] great crazy, sexy, cool love song[s]"
wonderful review of "Linger" from the late, wonderful Tom Terrell -- click link to listen
2004-03-05, Entertainment Weekly:
"..Jen shares interior monologues, essaying common themes with uncommon wit and sweetly supple singing. And her band swings along with her mood: Big bass and hand percussion rumble beneath the lustful desire of "Me Be Me;" a tacky drum-machine rumba lightens the polemics of "Passive People." Makes you want to, well, linger."
review of "Linger" by Larry Blumenfeld
2004-02-27, Billboard.com:
"..The imagery reflects her New York roots as she sings of the city's steady bustle in "Little Hours" and how being a face in the crowd can be comforting and stifling in "City." The bass-funky "Me Be Me" and "Numbers" shake things up a little, and the island melodies of "Passive People" almost echo Jimmy Buffett. These are where her delicate phrasing and compositions are strongest, and "Regular Life" has enough punch that it could turn up on NPR or college radio."
review of "Linger"
2004-02-24, The Boston Globe:
"Once you put it [Linger] on, it can become addictive."
feature article on the day of release of "Linger", by Steve Morse
2004-02-01, Gotham :
"sensational.. a collection of jazzy vocal concoctions delivered in her smoky, sex-addled timbre. Her lyrics are intelligent and socially conscious, exploring everything from the pitfalls of romance to our society's political passivity.."
review of "Linger" by Neil P. Stewart
1997-11-14, Newsday:
".. A jazzy funky performance.. [her] vocal style combined the understated drama of Janis Ian with the cool, sultry, exuberant bebop of Rickie Lee Jones."
this quote is super old (from a review of a show in 1997!) but I like it..