Jenna
Album: Hitchhiker
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.jennawitts.com

One of the things I really like about Steve Knightly is that when he goes out on solo tours, he takes up and coming Devonian acts with him and so it was through him that I first discovered singer-songwriter Jenna, both on cd and live when he brought her to Bournemouth Folk Club.

"Hitchhiker" sees Jenna spreading her musical wings. The new album has got more of a band to it, further morphing her sound down the Americana route, taking in a folk blues, countryesque backdrop to paint her sharp, neat observed narrative across.

There's two lines on the piano ballad, "English Rose" that as well as seemingly having an autobiographical element to it provide a signpost for the album, "English Rose you're not shy any more, brought to life when the summer shines on you. Shine bright and blue." It really does capture the vibrancy and confidence that "Hitchhiker" reflects.

To use an analogy inspired by the album title, a timid hitchhiker is doomed to remain in one of life's laybys watching the world and life go past. Hitchhiking needs confidence and occasionally to take a little risk, to put yourself onto a journey that you share with strangers.

Some of that journey may be hurtling down motorways, some of it may be spent in high street traffic jams and some of it spent enjoying country roads, the trick is to live that journey and in Jenna's case right it down and turn it into songs.

Eliza Carthy used the phrase Anglicana for one of her albums, American in style, English by inflection and when you're listening to songs like, "Halflight" and "Blackjack, Whisky & Gin" you can't help feeling Jenna and "Hitchhiker" is a grand example of the genre.

Neil King