Kalimba Magic NEWS

Jenny Bienemann
Kalimba Player and Vocalist Releases CD Girl Friday

A sought-after solo performer, multi-instrumentalist and harmony singer in the Chicago area, Jenny Bienemann has shared the stage with Andrew Calhoun, Kat Eggleston, Gina Forsythe, Sons of the Never Wrong, Sloan Wainwright, and Hans York, among others.

Jenny harmonizes with herself via looping. You never actually see her play the kalimba, but you hear what was fed into the loop before the camera started rolling. Yet, this clip gives you a good idea of what to expect on her new CD Girl Friday which features the kalimba and her delicious vocals and self-harmonies.

Breaking new ground in performing songs built upon layers of vocals, enabling her songs to nestle within a choir of harmony voices, her performances are one-of-a-kind, can't miss experiences.

Jenny Beinemann with Hugh Tracey kalimba

Her acclaimed debut album Late Night Elaborations was chosen as one of 2004's best by WXRT's Local Anesthetic host Richard Milne, and continues to receive national and international airplay.

Her second album, Girl Friday, released in June 2011, was recorded live during rush hour in the Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago. Girl Friday captures Jenny live, performing with only a mic, a Bb Treble Kalimba (in C) with pickup, and a digital "looper," wrapping her rich, poetic images in a mesmerizing envelope of sound.

On Girl Friday, Jenny creates songs through live looping that sound as if she spent hours in the studio. The music is interesting, emotionally meaningful, and complex. Peaceful and exciting to listen to at the same time. And definitely unique, definitely worth listening to.

You can purchase the Girl Friday CD online.

Kalimba players of the world, listen up: this is such a clever way to combine your kalimba playing with vocals. It can be difficult to sing, looking at the audience, and play kalimba, which you will inevitably want to look down at. If you do looping like Jenny, you can get the kalimba part perfected, then look up and sing your heart out without the fear that you won't be able to sing and play at the same time!