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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Howard Prairie to host ODFW event ... VIDEO: Woman shares her story of self-injury ... Bear in southeast Medford draws a crowd; police continue to monitor it ... Howard Prairie to host ODFW event ... VIDEO: Woman shares her story of self-injury ... Bear in southeast Medford draws a crowd; police continue to monitor it ... MUSIC Jen Ambrose releases 'Tidal Wave' Comment By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted May. 12, 2016 at 10:00 AM Updated May 12, 2016 at 10:27 AM By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted May. 12, 2016 at 10:00 AM Updated May 12, 2016 at 10:27 AM » Social News The instrumentation on Jen Ambrose's new album, "Tidal Wave," is the biggest standout on the recording. "It's what I'm most excited about," says the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. "Maybe because of the maturity of the performances, but everyone on the album came together." With Ambrose on acoustic and electric guitar, flute, percussion and vocal tracks, Andy Pimentel on keys and tenor sax, Richard Cole on bass and drummer Sandy Ficca (Firefall), the album also showcases violinist Willie Warwick (Willie and the Poor Boys), a horn section that includes alto sax player Gordon Greenley, trumpet player Randy Scherer and trombone player Will Scharen, lap-steel guitarist Al Brinkerhoff, Jef Ramsey on mandolin and electric guitarist Sunny Erikson. "Andy, Richard and I have been performing together since 2008," Ambrose says. "This CD is a progression of building musical relationships. When you work with someone long enough, you learn to know where the other player is going." Ficca is new to Ambrose's music, as is Erickson, she says. They make standout contributions throughout the album's 15 original songs penned by Ambrose and co-produced by Bob Pagano at Mountain View Productions in Wilderville, outside of Grants Pass. "Tidal Wave," kicks off with upbeat, bluesy swing tune, "Break of the Day," a song filled with Stephane Grapelli-flavored violin strains by Warwick and horns arranged by Pimentel. "Willie and I hadn't rehearsed anything for that song before he came into the studio, and when I asked for something similar to Grapelli, he just nailed it," Ambrose says. "Andy's been writing horn charts for another project called Soundstage Revue, so I asked him to write the horn arrangements for 'Break of the Day,' 'Tidal Wave' and 'Nickel Blues.' I've worked with Greenley, Scherer and Scharen before, but this is the first time on just my work. It was great to have an idea in my head for a certain sound, and then to have it realized by talented musicians. It was exhilarating." "I Lost My Heart," with guitar and flute by Ambrose and soft pedal-steel licks by Brinkerhoff, takes listeners along on a lament of lost love ... and time. The title cut with piano by Pimentel and more of his horn arrangements is an upbeat and hopeful ode to change and happiness. Hope is one of the prevailing themes in this collection. The songs embrace longing, a reaching in and reaching out beyond oneself. "Falling Rain," with wistful sounds of flugelhorn by Scherer, sounds just like a lone woman walking under city street lights in the rain. "That feel is in there," Ambrose says. "One of my hopes for this music is to find an outlet for it through soundtracks in film or television dramas." "Road of Life," a country-styled song with Jef Ramsey on mandolin takes on a lighter note, but "Jealous" is darker, with electric guitar by Erickson and deeper, resonant vocals by Ambrose. "That's the heaviest song on the album," she says. "In a nutshell, it's about suicide. It deals with some edgier issues." "Pick Your Love Up Off the Ground" with Ambrose on guitars and Cole on fretless bass has an old Delta-blues sound. "I wanted this one to sound like an old record, to capture that feel," Ambrose says. "Kettle's Come to Boil," showcases Ambrose's vocal range, which can move from a whisper to lilting and gritty. "Hungry Woman," with Ambrose on 12-string and Warwick on violin, is a ghostly take on one woman's desire, and "Outside In" features Ambrose on 12-string guitar and flute. "I love the diverse instrumentation in that song," Ambrose says. "There will be a solo, then the flute will come in, then the violin. There is plenty of space for each voice." Greeley, Scherer and Scharen make another appearance on "Nickel Blues;" "Victimless Crime has an in-your-face, Clash take; "Coming Day" is a stripped down acoustic blessing for a new child; and Brinkerhoff, Ramsey and Warwick put a bluegrass turn on "Wandering Angel." "Water Under the Bridge" wraps things up with a bluesy rock that showcases Erickson's lead guitar and Ambrose's rock vocal licks. "Tidal Wave" is dedicated to Not For Sale, a nonprofit organization committed to stopping human trafficking and modern-day slavery, according to the liner notes. Five percent of each CD purchased will be donated to Not For Sale. Jen Ambrose will perform at 5 p.m. Friday, May 13, at Southern Oregon Brewing, 1922 United Way, Medford. "Tidal Wave" will be available at the show, and at CD Baby and Music Coop in Ashland. By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted May. 12, 2016 at 10:00 AM Updated May 12, 2016 at 10:27 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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