The Missoulian The Entertainer
Thrusday, December 9-15, 2004 - E11
East of Eden
by Joe Nickell

Jeni Fleming doesn't mind the comparisons to Missoula's Eden Atwood. Actually, she's pretty flattered by them.

But what she finds strange is the misconception, which she claims she's encountered often, that there is some kind of rivalry between the two. "There's been this goofy little thing in both of our towns that we're some kind of rivals," says the Bozeman singer.

"That's just so funny, because we're actually really good friends. Hopefully now that we're performing together, we can put that thing to rest."

So maybe the manufactured controversy is a good thing after all, if it can be blamed for bringing together the two jazz singers for this weekend's concert at the University of Montana - a concert that promises to be a homegrown highlight of the season.

The comparisons between the two are certainly understandable. Like Atwood, Fleming possesses a one-in-a-million voice, the kind of instrument that hits notes with effortless precision, bends them with sensitive intuition, and communicates a range of emotion that goes far beyond what most singers could ever hope for. Fleming has the dramatic sense of a musical theater singer, but with none of the brassy affect that typifies the vocal style of such singers.

A graduate of the music program at Montana State University in Bozeman, Fleming formed the Jeni Fleming Acoustic Trio three years ago with her husband, guitarist/saxophonist Jake Fleming, and bassist Chad Langford. The combination of instruments lends itself both to jazz and folk idioms, a fact that the Trio has taken advantage of from the beginning.

"There are great jazz players and folk players doing their thing here (in Bozeman), but we sort of believe that music is music and if you have something to say [about it], [say] it," says Fleming.

"We've done jazz standards right next to Cyndi Lauper tunes and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band songs and old hymns. The consistency is in our instrumentation and how we deliver the tunes."

That consistency is the key, as demonstrated on the Trio's neweest CD, "Once Around the Sun." The album features a range of cover songs - from Stephen Sondheim's "Send In the Clowns" to the Beattles' "In My Life" - plus a new element not found on the Trio's two previous albums: five original songs by Jake Fleming.

Despite the many voices represented on the record, the album holds together thanks to careful arrangements and tasteful, inspired performances.

For this weekend's CD release concert in Missoula, the Jeni Fleming Acoustic Trio will be joined by a stellar cast of guest artists, including Atwood, drummer Mike Gillan, cellist Kyle Brenner, and guitarist Craig Hall.


The concert will take place at 6 pm on Sunday, December 12, at the Masquer Theater in the Performing Arts/Radio-TV Building on the UM Campus, Tickets are $15, available in advance from Rockin' Rudy's.