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'Jane Kramer's first solo album, 'Break & Bloom', is intriguing, poetic and powerful. She is a gifted songwriter with a voice to match.' - Muriel Anderson, Acclaimed American Guitarist and Composer Sometimes the title singer/songwriter conjures up the notion of coffee house background music or lyrics one could take or leave, set to acoustic guitar. With her unforgettably sweet yet hauntingly emotive voice, her intricately poetic lyrics and timeless melodies, Portland, Oregon-based, (long-time North Carolina-dwelling) artist Jane Kramer brings a fresh and distinctive take on the genre. Her soulful songs, drawing deeply from the roots of American folk tradition, are compelling stories-raw and honest-that are powerfully intimate and stay with you. In love with words and with an arsenal of fraying notebooks full of poetry and melodies in her head, Jane wrote her first song at age seventeen and recorded her first full-length demo of 16 original songs at age nineteen. "I have always been fascinated with and deeply affected by the beauty and the heartbreak of our human experience," Jane explains. "My songs are about living and loving in a complicated world as an imperfect being. I feel like I've succeeded if I can make a very personal experience translate as universally relateable." Jane was deeply influenced by the unforgettable voices and stylistic grace of such artists as Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Patty Griffin, Guy Clark, Natalie Merchant and Emmylou Harris. She also credits her grandfather, David Madison, a violin prodigy and first chair violinist in the Philadelphia Orchestra for 51 years as a driving force in her musical upbringing. Although he passed away when Jane was only twelve, she firmly remembers "...the powerful dedication, conviction and humility behind his playing; the way he'd call his violin his 'fiddle' even though he performed in a tuxedo with the orchestra and played Handel and Beethoven, and the way he built his life on and through music, with reverence and sacrifice, much discipline and great joy." Jane channeled these influences and became her own best music teacher. One time hearing her chill-inducing, signature yodel-like flick between her lower register and bell-like falsetto will make you a believer. "I taught myself to do that listening to a very careful combination of Hank Williams Senior, Patsy Cline and Sinead O'Conner at around 16 years old," she explains. Born in Valley Forge, PA in 1980 to a musically inclined family, Jane will tell you very frankly "I've never had a singing lesson, but can't remember back to a time when I wasn't singing." Jane's mother Debbie sang to her constantly as a child. According to Jane, "Even though she, too, was completely untrained, she has such a sweet voice and perfect pitch. She can spontaneously harmonize with any tune she hears and taught me to sing harmonies by ear, listening to Bob Dylan and the Everly Brothers when she drove me to school every morning. She would challenge me to sing something other than the melody-like the instrumental parts or to harmonize over-top her harmony. It was the best music class ever." Always in a hurry to catch up to her older sister Carrie who played the piano when they were young girls, Jane trained her ear by sitting down to pick out melodies on the keys with her right hand, and used her left hand to find and play the harmonies. In much the same way, she easily picked up the silver flute, taught herself to read music and played in a youth chamber ensemble. Jane's father, David, a classically trained guitarist, always found time to practice guitar late at night after grueling days at the office, and gave Jane her first guitar at age seventeen along with showing her a few basic chord structures. Jane remarks that his reverence for and dedication to the music he plays continues to be deeply inspiring to her. While he may not be hitting the road with her any time soon, Jane insists, "He's my favorite accompanist. We do a
