Jen Ambrose

If Jen Ambrose wasn't a performing artist, she wouldn't be a very happy woman.

"If I don't do song writing and performing, I'm miserable," said Ambrose.

The singer performs regularly throughout the region, from O'Brian to Ashland, including Medford and surrounding cities. A songwriter for the past 14 years, Ambrose often performs solo or as part of a duo, but also enjoys collaborating with a variety of different bands.



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Tidings Cafe - Jen Ambrose


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To hear Jen Ambrose perform her song, "Pick Your Love Up Off The Ground," check out the Tidings Cafe at www.dailytidings.com/tidingscafe

In addition to vocals and guitar, Ambrose plays the flute, electric guitar, some percussion and formerly performed on piano and oboe. She concedes her genre of music is tough to describe as she draws from a variety of influences.

"It is bluesy, that's kind of at the core of it, but there are a lot of world music influences," said Ambrose, " I feel most akin to music from the early 1900s like blues and jazz from that era. I love hearing that music and the people that were singing then."

At 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, Ambrose will perform with Rob Gunderson on guitar at Inti Latin Soul, 109 Talent Ave., Talent.

"It will be a nice little duo show," said Ambrose, "I'll throw in a few covers just to mix it up a little bit. Like some Zeppelin tunes and jazz from the '30s."

For the Tidings Cafe, Ambrose sang an original song she calls "Pick Your Love Up Off The Ground." She performed it in Lithia Park on a sunny summer morning.

"It's too long for the modern ear, but I don't know what else to call it," said Ambrose of the song title.

The artist has two recorded albums under her belt in addition to a third collaborative recording with a jazz fusion group and is writing material for her next recording. Ambrose says she writes as often as she can, in between working at an herb shop in Grants Pass and an adolescent treatment center for at-risk teenagers.

"I teach and do music with them," said Ambrose. "Some kids are wanting to write their own songs right now and I'm just offering them a gamut of things they can explore, like drums and strings. But the one-on-one time and the outlet are important."

A mother herself, Ambrose has more time to perform now that her kids are grown. It's an artistic expression she values highly and hopes to use to inspire others.

"What feeds it, is being able to be in a really honest place with what I'm expressing and especially when I'm in a place where I'm executing it to the level that I want to be," said Ambrose. "Then to have people receive that, it just feeds that loop."


If Ambrose isn't performing solo or as a duo, she's often playing with other bands, such as The Rock Project.

"We do things like Zeppelin and The Beatles," said Ambrose. "It's unique classic rock and some progressive rock from that era and into the '80s — also some of my material, but rocked up."

She also performs with the Sound Stage Revue which is a full variety show with costume changes and performance art.

"We'll be doing a burlesque cabaret show next year," said Ambrose.

In addition Ambrose is part of The Crooked Road Travelers, an acoustic trio with her on guitar along with mandolin and violin instrumentation.

"When people ask what kind of music I do, I don't know what to say sometimes because I do so many different things," said Ambrose.

She hopes that one day music will provide more of her livelihood and dreams of some day setting up a tour on the West Coast or playing at festivals. She also wants to record the new music she's created.

"I really would like to record again; it's just financial restraints and time that get in the way," said Ambrose.

For now Ambrose will continue to plug away at her art, stretching her skills by performing with different groups and hoping to bring inspiration to her audience.

"My aspiration is that there might be something in what I'm doing that will speak to people or inspire them to do their own creative works," said Ambrose. "Everybody has something where they shine; when they do it, they're centered. That's my ultimate goal, to inspire that in other people."
- Mandy Valencia - Ashland Daily Tidings Back Page feature story: August 30, 2012

Philanthropic folk music

By Laurie Heuston

Mail Tribune

August 03, 2012 - 2:00 AM

Folk, Americana, blues and other tunes befitting a sultry summer day are set for "An Evening of Folk Music," a concert at Grizzly Peak Winery — a shady spot in the hills of Ashland — that benefits the Jackson County Fuel Committee.

"The show will be a little bluesy, and there'll also be a little romp 'n' stomp," says singer and songwriter Jen Ambrose, whose solo performance will headline the show. Ambrose is based in Grants Pass.

The Tom Clunie Folk Band, featuring string players Gary Creek, Jessica Bryan and Clunie, will perform folk and contemporary Celtic music at the show, and guitarist Dan Dosier and stand-up bass player Eric Hosford will showcase traditional folk tunes and Dosier's original songs.

Live music, food from Ashland restaurants and wine will be available from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at the winery, 1600 E. Nevada St. Tickets cost $10.

As a songwriter, Ambrose says there's a mix of experiences that trickles into her tunes. She's a member of The Rock Project, a progressive rock band that plays The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull and others, as well as upbeat arrangements of her original melodies.

Ambrose also works with an ensemble called Sound Stage Revue and teaches music to at-risk teens at an adolescent treatment center in Grants Pass.

"My music morphs into different genres depending on who I'm playing with," Ambrose says. "The Rock Project has a different feel than when I'm playing with mandolin and fiddle players."

Ambrose likes to call Sound Stage Revue a variety show.

"There's lots of costumes, and we play everything from the '30s up to today, depending on the venue," she says. "We play country music when we perform at Seven Feathers Casino, and we play our '50s music when we do concerts in the parks in Merlin and Myrtle Creek."

The compassion Ambrose feels for the at-risk teens she works with has a lot of influence on her music.

"These young people, especially the ones dealing with challenging life stories, are interested in writing their own music and learning music.

"I also write from the standpoint of being a woman," she says. "We're all looking for some element of grace while we cope with profound challenges. Whether the ship is floating or sinking, we're all in it together."

Ambrose has two CDs to her credit: "Nectar of Your Dreams" and "Remembering."

"The first is a mix of folk, blues and world-flavored music," she says. "There's more Americana on 'Remembering.' "

Ambrose grew up in New York and lived near Portland before settling in Southern Oregon about 13 years ago. As a youngster, she played piano, flute (she plays the flute parts for The Rock Project's Jethro Tull songs) and oboe. Later, she sang in her church's choir in Elmira, N.Y.

"I was always writing little pieces for the piano and duets for flute," she says. "My songwriting really began when I picked up the guitar as an adult. I couldn't take the piano when I headed to college, and it's hard to sing and play flute at the same time."

Ambrose will perform some of her newer material during the performance at Grizzly Peak Winery.

"The songs will touch on more of a blues and Americana feel," she says.

Call 541-488-2905 for information about the show. See www.jenambrose.org for more.
- Laurie Heuston - Mail Tribune/Revels Cover Page: August 3, 2012

JEN AMBROSE was voted "Favorite Local Musician/Singer." ...A number of musicians were named by our readers, including this year's winner JEN AMBROSE, who plays a "stylisitic blending of folk, blues and work music."

The JEN AMBROSE BAND was named 3rd runner up for Best Local Rock 'N'Roll Band
- Sneak Preview - September 1, 2011 - Vol. 26, No. 2

The artist's melodic originals revolve around human empowerment and creative expression. Grants Pass artist Jen Ambrose marries agile vocals and poetic lyrics... While Ambrose's music dances through a variety of genres, her lyrics are based — one way or another — on human empowerment.
- Teresa Thomas - Mail Tribune Tempo - July 23, 2010

"From a gentle demeanor Jen unleashes the surprising power of her voice which easily covers a wide range both vocally and emotionally. Her live performances are charged with a vibrant energy that transforms the simple boundaries of song to carry the audience into other realms." - Laughing Raven Music

"Jen Ambrose and the Jen Ambrose Band play at 2008 Seattle HempFest. This is an extraordinary band with great vocals, even better rythyms and lyrics that capture us all." - LEXX- Sky High Productions

We listened to over 300 sumbissions for the Seattle Hempfest, we're really excited to have come upon this rare gem! - Vivian McPeak - Seattle Hempfest Director

We listened to over 300 sumbissions for the Seattle Hempfest, we're really excited to have come upon this rare gem! - Vivian McPeak - Seattle Hempfest Director