Kenny Edwards says about the album, "Anyone can make a music CD, but this is like music theater".
"The Ballad of Calamity" is Americana Rock with a 70's hangover or Folk-a-delic Rock. Recording songs is an art form. In the studio the songs become a picture of the moment for each song. Some songs are recorded simply, such as "Goodbye", while others have a complex texture involving an added soundscape, like "You Don't Wanna Know". "The Ballad of Calamity" takes the listener on a journey through Jena's life and hometown of Santa Barbara CA, USA, but it could be anywhere. Currently, Jena is submitting her songs to film and TV, and playing locally with a variety of musical friends, Tony Ybarra, Dylan Douglas, and Steve Stockmal.
Latest News
'The Ballad Of Calamity' 'Again Someday' "is"a smooth gentle almost melodic tune with fine guitar work and superb vocals from Jena and the superb 'You Don't Wanna Know'. Now this track is moody and has a strong seventies Americana feel, but still melodic and modern enough to give Gwen Stefani and Sheryl Crow a run for their money. The Ballad 'Walk On By' is also a very good song; very moody song with lots going on that keeps you interested. Nicky- Rock Journalist fireworks Magazine UK
Biography
Jena has been writing songs for over 25 years. She has an Associate of Art degree in music from Santa Barbara City College and a Bachelor of Art degree in music from University of California Santa Barbara.
She is a single parent of a very musically talented teenage boy named Dylan Douglas. She has just completed a book on Songwriting called, A Singer/Songwriter's Guide To Songwriting and plays with her
rock band on a regular basis. Jena is looking forward to writing more songs and recording a new CD, "The Face Of The Enigma", with a little more on edge. "The Face Of the Engima" will be more on the Bluesy Rock Style as her songwriting skills keep evolving or revolving. Her latest CD, "The Ballad of Calamity", has a gotten some great reviews from all over the world. Nicky from Fireworks mag. in the UK states, " Americana ...... at its finest". The Ballad Of Calamity has such a collaborative feel because she recorded it with her friends and family.
The music is a sonic tapestry woven together from Jena's varied musical influences, from Johnny Cash to The Who. Recording songs is an art form. In the studio the songs become a picture of the moment of each song. Great for film. Some songs are recorded simply, such as "Goodbye", while others have a complex texture involving an added soundscape, like "You Don't Wanna Know". "The Ballad of Calamity" takes the listener
on a journey. For more information on The Ballad Of Calamity, see www.jenadouglas.com
Over the years, Jena has more than 50 songs recorded. Starting with an all woman band in the eighties called "Wet Paint" to her next to last CD, "Faded Fiction". "Faded Fiction" was recorded in 1998 with Ben Forrest Davis (formally with Sugarcult) as co-producer, drummer, guitar player and background vocalist. Also featured are some of the same musicians from "The Ballad Of Calamity"; Tony Ybarra, Keith Douglas and Dr. John Clark. "Faded Fiction" was recorded during the time Jena was attending, Santa Barbara
City College. "And I Fell" from this CD was performed in front of David Crosby. David Crosby was very moved by the song and very personable to Jena about her song as you can read from the article, "Advice From The Woodstock Era", see www.jenadouglas.com press/reviews. After receiving her degree from the University in 2001, Jena plunged back into her songwriting and in 2004 released her songs recorded in 1998 as, "Faded Fiction" then went on to record, "The Ballad Of Calamity". To promote her CD she put together a band and now is playing clubs and festivals around the Santa Barbara area. She is also submitting songs to film and TV and has just completed her songwriting
book, A Singer/Songwriter's Book Of Songwriting to be published this year, 2009.
DISCOGRAPHY
The Ballad of Calamity (2007)
Faded Fiction (2004)
Jena Douglas (1991) Cassette
Jena and the Uninvited EP (1985)
NEWS
Nov. 11th 2008, Jena Douglas' version of "Walk On By" is at # 22 on the artist underground Rock charts. July 29th 2008 Kings and Queens at # 5 Country charts! Artist Underground country charts.
May 13th 2008 Jena Douglas' version of "Walk On By" is at #13 Feb 9th 2008 Jena Douglas' version of "Walk On By" is at # 21
May 23 2007, Kings and Queens Rodeo gets to # 26 on the American Idol Underground country charts. May 2008, fireworks Magazine UK - Nicky- Rock Journalist. To read complete article see: press reviews
www.jenadouglas.com March 12th 1998 "Nice song." David Crosby quote from article, Just a little song I wrote about song, "And
I Fell". To read the entire article see. Press Reviews, www.jenadouglas.com