There is something really extra special about getting to see a singer-songwriter whose songs you love when they are infused with all the grace and lush harmonies of Symphony Nova Scotia, which is why I love their Maritime Fusion series so much. The last concert there that I attended was Jenn Grant on March 9, 2019 and it was soaring and beautiful and funny and magical.
I’m always curious how the Symphony chooses the music they play before the guest artist comes onstage because they always manage to capture that artist so beautifully in their choices. The evening began with Alice Ping Yee Ho’s “Jubilation for Spring,” conducted by powerhouse Janna Sailor, and while it did beautifully capture the feelings of anticipation one often feels around March 9th in Halifax for warmer days, it also had much of the whimsy and delightful charm, a sprightliness of spirit, that can be associated with Grant herself. Similarly, Jean Coulthard’s “Contented House from Canada Mosaic” also fit in well with the themes of the evening.
Grant looked adorable in a red jump suit, and was joined onstage by her husband, musician/producer Daniel Ledwell. She began her set with the jazzy “Blue Skies” from 2007’s Orchestra For the Moon arranged by David Christensen. It’s a song that allows her gorgeous voice to wash across the room and envelope the audience in the warmth of it, like the sunshine swathes in through the windows in Spring. Next she took us along to a “Rainy Day,” from the same album, which allows her voice to vividly paint the images of her poetic lyrics.
She also sang “Bring Me a Rose” (arr. Christensen) from her Juno Award Nominated album Compostela (2014), a song that has always been especially poignant as it evokes a daughter’s desire to connect with her mother who has passed away. Lyrics “When I grow up I wanna be/ A picture of my mother holding onto me” suggest the powerful cycle of daughters growing into mothers that connects us all to our ancestors. This was especially heartfelt in the knowledge that Grant and Ledwell have recently become parents themselves. “Mauve,” from the same album (arranged by Chris Palmer) is a hypnotic call to free oneself from heartache, and a cautiously optimistic assurance that despite imperfections love is still going to “save us all.” Grant also sang “Baby’s Been Away” from 2011’s Honeymoon Punch mixed in with “A Week or Two,” (arr. Christensen) in an adorable duet with Ledwell. #CoupleGoals.
From her newest album Paradise (2017) Grant performed the title track, “Galaxies,” “In My Dreams,” and “I Am a River.” Grant’s music is often described as “folk pop” and the songs from this record add an “electronic” element to create a mix that is uniquely hers. She mentioned in an interview with CBC Music that she takes many inspirations from her vivid dreams, and there is a palpable dreamlike ambiance created in these songs. “In My Dreams” is the most literal incarnation of this, a song that speaks to the challenge people have in trying to explain their dreams to others, and how this can be a limitation of human connection, as we have the capacity to experience “dreams that [others] don’t see,” but often we lack the language to be able to adequately bring our loved ones into our dreamworld. “I Am A River” (arranged by Rebecca Pellett) is an empowering portrait of womanhood and her deep connections to nature, which was particularly apt for this concert, the day after International Women’s Day. The anthemic bridge repeats, “We’re everything we think we are. We’re everything, believe it,” which, unfortunately, still seems like a radical assertion sometimes. “Paradise” conjures the fanciful idea of planting seeds of wishes and dreams in the hopes that they will sprout for loved ones in the future. Its lyrics are especially poetic and evocative. “Galaxies” reminds me of this Joni Mitchell quote from “Woodstock:” “We are stardust. Billion year old carbon. We are golden.” It conjures images of people finding connections with each other across miles, or even lightyears, and the inherent strength in those numbers to create community. In a time of continued social isolation, where it can seem that those dreaming of a better world, or those looking for love, are standing on a mountain screaming into the void, “Galaxies” suggests that somewhere all those voices are converging and that there’s inherent power and comfort in that.
Grant also treated us to two new songs, “Favourite Daughter,” written when she was pregnant with son, Gus, and “Sweetgrass,” both strongly rooted in imagery of home, nature, earth and tradition. I especially loved her cover of John Lennon/Paul McCartney’s “Golden Slumbers/ Carry That Weight” (arr. Christensen), which especially showed off Grant’s stunning lower register, and was overall a magnificent showcase of her voice. My favourite of Grant’s songs, “No One’s Gonna Love You (Quite Like I Do)” (arranged by Palmer) was sung during the well deserved encore. For me, this song is utter perfection. There are lots of songs where the singer claims to love someone else “more than anyone else,” but this song so sweetly captures that what makes love so special is the way each person in our lives loves us uniquely, in their own way. It’s a beautiful sentiment eloquently expressed.
Symphony Nova Scotia’s Maritime Fusion with Jenn Grant ushered in the promise of spring for Halifax, and while we may have to wait a few more weeks for the weather to catch up, after this show my heart was certainly full of warmth and the hope that comes from the prospect of rebirth.
Jenn Grant has concert dates coming up in April for Burnstown, Ontario, Tamworth, Ontario, London, Ontario, Gravenhurst, Ontario, Elora, Ontario, St. Catharine’s, Ontario, Paris, Ontario and Wakefield Quebec. There are more dates posted through August and for more information or to buy tickets please visit her website.
You can buy her albums at her store, on iTunes/Apple Music or you can Stream on Spotify.
Follow Jenn on Social Media: Facebook. Twitter. Instagram (@JennGrantMusic). YouTube.
The next Symphony Nova Scotia Maritime Fusion show at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium (6101 University Avenue) is ASHLEY MACISAAC March 29, 2019 to March 31st, 2019 at 7:30pm. For tickets please visit this website, call 902.494.3820, or visit the box office at 6101 University Avenue. For more information please visit their website.
Follow Symphony Nova Scotia on Social Media: Facebook. Twitter. Instagram (@SymphonyNS).
