Product Description

Sisu is the second album from award winning composer and pianist Jennifer DeFrayne. This album is dedicated to her Finnish heritage and has already received praise from noted reviewer Bill Binkelman who stated Jennifer DeFrayne's 'Sisu' is not just better than her debut ( By a Wire ), which is already high praise, but it is a work of such emotional depth, technical artistry, and self-assuredness, that I am left wondering 'Where has this remarkable woman been all this time?' Sisu is a deeply personal musical voyage that you will want to take many times, exploring the nooks and crannies in each track. Sisu is a Piano with Instrumentation album that includes a stellar line up of accompanying musicians, including; Jeff Haynes (Performed with Pat Metheny, Pete Seeger), Premik Russell Tubbs (Sting, Santana, Jeff Beck), Michael Manring (Montreux, Michael Hedges), Jill Haley (Will Ackerman, Fiona Joy), Sara Milonovich (Daisycutter, Pete Seeger), Jeff Pearce (Stars End, Paul Avgerinos), and Jeff Oster (Laura Sullivan, Will Ackerman). The Finnish term sisu is a universal capacity which we all share Perseverance, Courage, Endurance, Determination, Grit, Fortitude, Bravery, Spirit, Resilience, Inner Strength and more. Jennifer DeFrayne, a self-taught pianist, has this to say about how the songs on the album came about: Each song embraces the spirit of sisu, reflects its many characteristics, and is in honor of my Finnish heritage.

Review

Jennifer DeFrayne's new album Sisu is dedicated to her Finnish heritage. So, what is Sisu you may ask? Well I had the same question with immediate thoughts of what the album title meant.

As defined by Wikipedia: Sisu is a Finnish word which loosely means stoic determination, grit, bravery, resilience and hardiness. It is held by Finns themselves to express their national character. It is generally considered to not have a literal translation into English.

Sisu by my own definition is beauty, grace, strength, and the many colors of life intersecting within each song.

So, with great determination Ms. DeFrayne has released her second collection of tracks titled Sisu. She gets some assistance from the brightest and most talented people in the music business including Jeff Haynes, Premik Russell Tubbs, Michael Manring, Jill Haley, Sara Milonovich, Jeff Pearce, and Jeff Oster.

There is a lot of instrumental piano based music that I cover hence I have concerns that eventually it will start sounding redundant. That is my biggest challenge not only as a listener but the person that needs to conceptualize and or visualize what the artist is projecting in their music. This music never allowed me to wander off course or feel there was not enough variety to keep me interested or demand my attention.

Jennifer's music uses her talents with the ivory keys as the foundation of every track and then it is accentuated by other sounds and textures to give it a worldlier crossover feel to it. The title is normally the centerpiece of the table that is set and this album is no exception. Sisu is bold yet tasteful like a cup of good strong coffee, the music lingers in the air once it is made and the aroma is still there afterwards. This is good way to explain what this music sounds like and how it will affect you.

Jeff Oster's horn makes the most beautiful sounds and helps to make the track 'Beyond' more exceptional with his contributions. I am sure it would be wonderful with just Jennifer's key strokes but the addition of that soothing and inviting horn gives it another layer of contrast and beauty. That is but one example of what awaits the listener that wishes to explore and experience thought provoking and relaxing music.

In an artistic sense music is much like a painting in that it speaks to everyone in a different way, and everyone feels and sees something different through their own eyes and soul. Every color splashed on the canvas of the painting holds a different meaning and atmosphere. The picture comes shining brightly through the music in a shout or whisper, dependent on your mood and interpretation.

As my love for music becomes more important with each passing day, I become that much more appreciative of music from albums like Sisu. My respect and gratefulness I feel for people like Jennifer DeFrayne goes beyond words. Listen to the spellbinding sounds of this album and I am sure you will agree this is one recording that will be in regular rotation in your stereo this year.

Keith 'MuzikMan' Hannaleck, 5/5 Stars --New Age Music Reviews

Jennifer DeFrayne SISU: If piano that helps you in your drive to reach for (and achieve) great things is what your spirit is in need of right now, you will just love Jennifer's excellent work on this fresh new release! Sisu is slated for release on March 3rd, 2017... One of the most beautiful songs I ve heard (yet) in 2017 is 'Palo Santo'; the weave of instruments against her purposeful and high-energy keyboard style is most impressive, and will have you listening over and over again to this inspiring 6:20 composition! The musicians on the album include Jeff Haynes (percussion), Premik Russell Tubbs (EWI and sax), Michael Manring (bass guitar and ebow), Jill Haley (English horn and oboe), Sara Milonovich (violin and vocals), Jeff Pearce ( ambient guitar), and Jeff Oster (flugelhorn). The opener, 'Fire Island', has some wonderful interactions between the players, and Jennifer's pacing is absolutely perfect... I just loved the subtle percussion from Jeff Haynes on this track.

The album title is a Finnish word that means to reach beyond their present limitations, take action against all odds and transform struggles into success ... some of her own personal hardships and her ability to overcome them is very easy to hear in one of my personal favorite tunes, Perseverance something we all need in our trying times, and her most worthy goal of personal transformation has certainly been fully realized on this recording! The horn work from Jeff Oster on the 5:19 Beyond will simply blow you away... I predict that you will be hearing a great deal more from Jennifer in the coming months/years.

Jennifer's resilient spirit shines most brightly (for this reviewer, anyway) on my personal favorite song of the dozen offered up, the title track, 'Sisu' ... again, the integration of the supporting instruments is just pure magic, and will hold you spellbound for the entire 7:17 length of the song you won t find another player that has meshed the instruments with such skill. There is a healing quality in all of the songs, so it s easy to declare this beautiful collection as MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, and give it an EQ (energy quotient) rating of 4.99... be sure and get your copy of this sonic treasure as soon as it hits the street... in the meantime, visit Jennifer's website.

- Rotcod Zzaj --Contemporary Fusion Reviews

Sisu is the sophomore release from Jennifer DeFrayne and follow-up to her critically-acclaimed debut album, By a Wire. A self-taught pianist and composer of Finnish decent, Sisu is a Finnish word describing a mindset that enables an individual to reach beyond their present limitations, take action against all odds and transform struggles into success. Such a description couldn t be more fitting for this album, one that has been conceptualized by an artist who experienced a series of personal tragedies, while her truest companion, the piano, guided her along through her pain and suffering. Comprised of twelve compositions written by Jennifer and produced with Corin Nelsen, the album additionally features a handful of talented guest musicians throughout. Among them include Jeff Haynes on percussion, Premik Russell Tubbs on electronic woodwind instrument and saxophone, Michael Manring on bass guitar and EBow, Jill Haley on oboe and English horn, Sarah Milonovich on violin and vocals, Jeff Pearce on ambient guitar, and Jeff Oster on flugelhorn.

The album begins with Fire Island, a piece named for the English translation of Jennifer's Finnish maiden name. Her beautiful piano leads with a somewhat poignant melody, which is complimented by subtle percussion and bass guitar. Capturing the essence of the far north, the piece brings to mind that of a lone woman standing by the shore beneath an overcast sky, in which the accompanying electronic woodwind instrument serves as a gentle breeze throughout. Be Who You Are follows next, a song about following one's own passion. Its piano melody moves fluidly...with sparkling warmth akin to sunlight softly pouring through a window, while the composition s accompanying instruments of English horn, violin and gentle percussion lend gentle support. The title track, Sisu , ensues with the most incredibly beautiful melody of all, surely destining it as one of my favorite piano compositions of the year. The album's lengthiest piece clocking in at over seven minutes, I had to give it repeated listens in order to take in all the beauty and emotive expression it has to offer. The composition's main melodic hook cascades in a gentle rise and fall, stirring up the emotions, then tapers back and repeats again. Graced with a solemn classical touch, its poignant expression is further enhanced by accompanying violin, while the electronic woodwind adds an extra layer of dreaminess. The sixth track, Palo Santo , is another particular favorite, named for a sacred tree in South America that means holy wood . Electronic woodwind introduces the piece in a manner that deftly mimics an indigenous flute, effectively painting an image of someone standing atop a mountain while overlooking the landscape. Piano gently follows, waltzing back and forth while reverberating throughout the space, as the woodwind lends an exotic touch that's further enhanced by breezy wordless vocal intonations. Concluding the album is the aptly-named, Perseverance, an elegant piece that features a gentle arrangement of piano, oboe, English horn, violin, wordless vocals and percussion. Conveying a sense of joyful solitude, the piece feels like an ode to a new day, perhaps serving as a gentle reminder that the sun will still rise tomorrow.

In her desire to bring healing and comfort to others, Jennifer also pursued studies in reiki and massage therapy. She is a glowing testament of someone who has been able to transform her own personal suffering and loss into incredible art expressed through her talents. Stating that each song on the album embraces the spirit of sisu in one way or another, and each song is meant to reflect the many characteristics of sisu , her intention is fully realized in the stirring emotional depth of these stunningly beautiful compositions!

- Candice Michelle --Journeyscapes