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"Authentic, lavish...with romantic longing
only Celtic music can inspire"
Kind Words ~ Reviews
& Quotes
Traditional Music Maker (UK) Simon Jones
All too often in the rush to celebrate the contribution made to
Celtic music by second or third generation Scots & Irish from over
the big water, it's easy to forget the Welsh doing the same thing.
Welcome then Jodee James, who - voice like a nightingale - singing
in her father's tongue and ubiquitous English, spins century old
tales in with her own deft touches to create modern settings for
ancient Welsh music and lore.
Concert Review
Celtic Beat, Arthur Ketchen, December 2009
Jodee James at Studio 99, Nashua, New Hampshire, December 6, 2009
Jodee James' Northeast Welsh Christmas Tour concert at Studio 99 was
a delight and a lesson about Celtic culture. Would that a larger
audience had shown up, but those there got a real insight into the
culture of the Celts. Along with traditional well know carols with a
Brythonic origin, such as " I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In" and
other standards known to all, Jodee gave a concert and a workshop on
what is precisely so Celtic and so Welsh about this holiday….Jodee
related these traditions so clearly and then sang those songs
connected to their legacies. And had the audience singing with her
in what to many unlearned American ears were no doubt sometimes
bizarre customs and songs. In combining these with the more familiar
Christmas songs and customs Jodee James truly gave a great picture
of this Celtic holiday, her lyrical voice lighting up the Nashua
night with carols, and songs from the most ancient tradition such as
"Dinogad's Coat."
Jodee noted in her final song that the author came from that part of
Scotland whence came William Wallace of Braveheart -"Welsh William"
for that part of Scotland: Ayer, Lothian (named after King Arthur's
nemisis King Lot), Strathclyde) were once the British (Welsh)
speaking kingdoms of Gododdin, Strathclyde, and Rheged - among them
the realm of "Old King Cole"- Coel Hen. She sang beautifully Rabbie
Burns' "Auld Lang Syne" in its original traditional format.
At the end one audience member remarked that while the big stage
productions like Celtic Woman are fine and their quality great that
it is the artists like Jodee James who truly get back to the heart
of Celtia and that they are the real thing! AK
Concert Review
The Dave Munnelly Band at The Ark, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Monday, September 13, 2005, Brennan Z. Summers
It is often difficult in the state of Michigan to drive for less
than thirty minutes and feel as though you have entered another
country (unless, of course, you have crossed the Ambassador Bridge
and actually are in another country), but in attending the concert
performed by the David Munnelly Band at The Ark in Ann Arbor on
Monday, September 12, 2005, that was precisely the feeling that one
experienced. Instantly when the music started, the listener was
transported to the Mayo region of western Ireland in the 1920s. The
band’s rendition of “Green Grows the Laurel”, a vocal duet featuring
guest vocalist Jodee James and multi-purpose band member Kieran
Munnelly, was quite well done, and one has to express surprise that
these two vocalists have not collaborated together more. Their
voices are extremely complimentary to each other, and the vocal
harmony, like the overall quality of the entire band throughout the
concert, was very tight. The song itself was one of the least
characteristically Irish tunes of the evening, as it was evocative
more of current popular American country music than what one would
expect from the small republic of the western British Isles. The
small venue of less than three hundred seats provided for a very
intimate setting. Rarely does one have the opportunity to experience
such a lively and utterly enjoyable display of traditional Irish
music in central Michigan, and particularly of the caliber and
ability displayed by the David Munnelly Band.
Quotes
"Singer-songwriter Jodee James lavishes a particularly gorgeous,
vibrato-laden soprano to lovely effect on the almost Middle
Eastern-tinged Welsh folk tune, "Trafaeliais y Byd." Simple,
rhythmic acoustic guitar accompaniment perfectly offsets the
achingly romantic vocals."
CNET Download.com
I can't review your CD (Two Shores), all I can do is GUSH. It is
really excellent. I'll have to wait for the bliss to settle down, or
pass it on somebody who can. Parker Productions, Barneveld NY
The Jodee James Band drew a large and enthusiastic audience,
particularly given the rarity of Celtic music concerts featuring
Welsh songs and tunes on the coffeehouse concert circuit. The
concert was enthusiastically received by all comers - including
those who came because of an interest in things Welsh, those who
considered themselves primarily Irish or Scottish music fans, and
those who just enjoy good folk music in general. Ed Brown, uNi
Coffeehouse Concert Series, Springfield, MA
Jodee James’ performance of Welsh ballads last year delighted the
audience and earned her an invitation to headline the folk concert
again. The Druid’s Call, Green Mountain College, VT
"James' airy voice does ample justice to traditional Welsh folk
songs, which she performs in English and Welsh. Authentic and
unusual with the kind of longing only Celtic folk can inspire."
Sarah B. Listen.com
"Imagine a misty forest, steaming hot coffee, her cat on her lap,
and a woman with a soul as old as time composing her next song. You
have just envisioned Jodee James, one of New Jersey's premier Celtic
performing artists."
The Rising of Women in Music Webzine
"I am a Crowned Bard of the National Eisteddfod of Wales who has
been captivated by your music. You have an obvious understanding of
the true meaning of the songs and that comes out in the translation
and the original words you sing - bendigedig!"
Sion Aled
Select Appearances
Concerts
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
W.A. Singleton Center for the Arts, Richmond, VA.
Irish Arts Center, NYC
Musikfest, Bethlehem, PA
Ames City Auditorium, IA
East Jersey Olde Towne Village, Piscataway, NJ*
Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, Milwaukee, WI
Chandler Memorial Library & Cultural Center, Nashua, NH*
Walt Whitman Arts Center, NJ
The Church for All Nations Concert Series, NYC*
Wheaton Village/ Down Jersey Folk Life Center, Millville, NJ
Plymouth University Medieval and Renaissance Forum, NH
Mercer County Parks Summer Series, West Windsor, NJ
St. Lawrence Arts, Portland, ME*
Five Corners Library, Jersey City, NJ
Historic Poole Forge, Caernarvon Township, PA
Celtic Connections Concert at WSIU, Carbondale, IL
Central Missouri Celtic Arts Society Concert, Springfield, MO
Festivals & Events
New Jersey Folk Festival, New Brunswick, NJ
Celtic Fling, Manheim, PA
Eisteddfod - NY 2007, Festival of Traditional Music, Queens, NY*
Patchogue Celtic Festival, Long Island, NY*
Upper West Side Street Festival, NYC
Blackstone Valley Celtic Festival, Sutton, MA*
Walnut Valley Festival, KS
Pennsbury Welsh Music Festival, PA
Glasgow Lands Scottish Games, Northampton, MA
41st Annual Remsen Gymanfa Ganu & Barn Fest, Remsen, NY*
National Welsh American Foundation, Washington, DC
Borders Books and Music, Nashua, NH & Albany, NY*
Fredericksburg Welsh Festival, Fredericksburg, VA*
Second World, Lowell, MA
Kindred Spirits Festival, NJ*
Iron Heritage Festival, Danville, PA
Daughters of the British Empire, Taste of Wales, Basking Ridge, NJ
Cortland Celtic Festival, Cortland, NY*
Harvest Festival, Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT*
Patch Town Days Festival, Eckley Miners Village, Eckley, PA*
St. David's Society of the Capital District Celebration, Albany, NY*
Virginia Highlands Festival, Abingdon, VA*
The Ship Inn, Milford, NJ*
Yeats Society, NYC
Harbor Celtic Festival, Harbor Springs, MI
Coffeehouses & Cafes
uNi Coffeehouse Concert Series, Springfield, MA*
Godfrey Daniels, Bethlehem, PA
Mine Street Coffeehouse, New Brunswick, NJ*
Watchung Arts Center, Watchung, NJ
Perkasie Patchwork Coffeehouse, PA
Myhelan Arts Coffeehouse Series, Long Valley, NJ
* denotes return engagements
Technical Requirements
Jodee sings and plays
guitar
1 vocal mic, 1 mic for guitar, 1 DI for guitar, 2 mic stands
EQ and light reverb
1 chair or stool
upon request Jodee will email stage plot ~
Artwork on Jodee's CDs
The artwork on Jodee's CD's, in the "gallery" is by Jodee's mom,
Evelyn James who passed away December 2003. She not only decorated
life with her talents, but was a great well of support. Stop by
Evelyn's website to see more of her artwork- including drawings and
info on Welsh castles. Evelyn's Castle Artwork & More
Promo Photos
The thumbnails will bring you to 300 dpi versions of these photos.
they will appear quite large but print out to about 5 x 7.
Thanks so much ~
Jodee James
jodeejames@att.net
(Hope, New Jersey)
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