Current Economy in Mind, Texas Songstress Harkens Back to Depression Era Music and Art with New Album

Jennifer Grassman Draws on 1930’s Period Influences for Her New CD, Serpent Tales & Nightingales, in an Effort to Comfort

Houston, TX – January 8, 2010 – Midst a global economic recession, Texas singer, pianist, and songwriter Jennifer Grassman decided to give her newest album, Serpent Tales & Nightingales, special historical and cultural relevance by selecting songs and designing artwork reminiscent of The Great Depression.

“Our world is in a state of financial turmoil,” explained Grassman, “and I know first hand the desperate straits so many of our friends and family are in. I researched Great Depression era music and found that most hit songs of that period were either extremely depressing (like ‘Stormy Weather’) or defiantly silly (like ‘Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?’). I modeled Serpent Tales & Nightingales to feature songs from both extremes.”

Grassman researched legendary musicians such as Duke Ellington, Dinah Washington, and Frank Sinatra while composing and considering arrangements for her new songs. Guest musicians on her album include saxophonist Todd Oxford, whose virtuosity as a soloist and chamber musician has taken him across the globe.

Grassman’s allusions to The Great Depression era do not stop at her songs; Grassman also designed the album packaging to be reflective of that period.

“I have always admired Art Deco paintings,” stated Grassman, “and, when I came across this fabulous Polish painter named Tamara de Lempicka, I found the stylistic inspiration for my self-portrait on the CD cover; the jagged shapes, stark shading, and exaggerated proportions. It’s all thoroughly 1930’s.” In addition to the cover, the inner booklet features a number of fanciful and surreal illustrations by Grassman’s sisters, Lindsay and Kaitlin Grassman.

“It is my hope that if 1930’s era music got people through The Great Depression, my CD will help sustain people through this recession,” stated Grassman.

Grassman’s desire to bolster her listeners is even reflected in the CD track order. She categorized her songs by topic according to The Five Stages of Grief; Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. In this way, the CD embodies an evolution from confusion, frustration and sadness into joy, peace and empowerment. In fact, the last words on the album are “My heart is at peace and finally resolved are my mind and soul. The scattered pieces of my self have combined to form a whole.”

About Jennifer Grassman

Jennifer Grassman is a classically-trained vocalist, pianist, composer and recording artist, whose award-winning music video, Pretty Girls, produced by Houston’s own Zenfilm, premiered worldwide in 2009 and received Best Music Video at the 2009 Los Angeles film festival, Dances with Films. Grassman’s music effortlessly fuses diverse elements of classical, Celtic, gothic and rock styles into a beautiful, moving genre all her own. Grassman’s most recent CD project, Serpent Tales & Nightingales, is due for release in Spring 2010. She resides in Houston, Texas with her husband and two cats. To learn more, please visit www.JenniferGrassman.com