Jenna McLean | Jazz Vocalist

Brighter Day Album Out Now on

ITunes, Spotify, CDBaby

Jazz Vocalist & Educator

"A young jazz vocalist delightfully blowing off the bullshit of the modern world leads with her old school soul and delivers the goods. Just letting a solid set of pipes, good phrasing and good taste in backing cats power the session, which was recorded in one afternoon (old school, of course), whether scatting on Gershwin or giving good reading to Joni Mitchell, her pure performance is a welcome tonic to jaded ears that just want it true and direct. A winner throughout and a great beginning." - Chris Spector, Midwest Record

“Jenna McLean’s debut album Brighter Day encompasses everything that a true jazz musician should present: Homages to classic recordings in her arrangements, original lyrics, an original composition and clear, precise improvisations through the chord changes. McLean understands the prestige of the “jazz musician” label, yet she is personal, expressive and keeps up with her instrumental counterparts, never losing her personality in her music.” - Valerie Vampola, Bandwagon Magazine. Read Full Article

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ABOUT JENNA

Jenna is a jazz vocalist currently working toward her Doctor of Arts degree in Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Colorado where she also completed a Master of Music Degree in Jazz Studies. Jenna also had a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Wyoming. She has also recently had the pleasure of performing alongside Bobby McFerrin, the New York Voices, and Aubrey Logan, and has frequently performed at renowned Colorado jazz venues including Ace Gillett's, Jays Bistro, and Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club and Dazzle.

Jenna is the recent winner of the Downbeat Student Music Awards Graduate Vocal Soloist Category, and is a recent recipient of the Pathways to Jazz Grant.

Jenna is currently a teaching assistant at UNC where she has the pleasure of directing a vocal jazz ensemble and teaching private jazz voice lessons to several students. She has sung as the lead soprano and written arrangements for UNC’s Downbeat Award Winning Vocal Jazz Ensemble “Vocal Lab” for two years. She finds her artistic drive in building upon her past in musical theatre, bringing new twists to timeless standards of the Great American Songbook as well as newer pop, funk and soul tunes. With a love and devotion for jazz, opera, R&B, and folk music, she maintains the belief that all music is good music as long as it speaks to the soul and grooves.

Jenna McLean is the Graduate College Winner in the Vocal Jazz Soloist Category. She is also the recipient of an outstanding arrangement honor.