Portland, Oregon's Nick Jaina is a writer, record producer and performer who plays music in many permutations, most often with his seven-piece band. He has travelled with his band around the country, even to Alaska and Finland. The band is known for playing on the street, gathering attention with their improbable set of instruments, and then getting people to dance and clap and sing along, while photographers take pictures and trolley drivers ring their bells. Jaina's most recent album WOOL was released in March of 2008 on Hush Records. It is a quiet bedtime album, with deceptively simple storybook lyrics and very clear, plaintive melodies. He is currently recording a new album with his band, performed and mixed live in the studio to two-track tape, to be released in the fall of 2008. — Chosen by Willamette Week as one of Portland's 10 Best New Bands 2008 — Recorded a session for Daytrotter.com that appeared on their site in June 2008 — Recorded a session for OPB Radio's In-House show in February 2008 — Appeared on OPB Radio's Live Wire radio show in August 2007 Nick Jaina has performed around the country at many fine venues, including: Schuba's (Chicago) Knitting Factory (New York) One-Eyed Jack's (New Orleans) Kilby Court (Salt Lake City) Hi-Dive (Denver) Tractor Tavern (Seattle) Doug Fir (Portland) Bordello (Los Angeles) Amnesia (San Francisco) "On WOOL Nick Jaina has created the kind of world that invites you to linger and, while you're there, wonder at the mysterious beauty of it all." - NPR Music's Second Stage "He has a really deeply doleful voice that would suit me set to plucked catgut alone." - WFMU'S Beware of the Blog "The blend of clarinets, trumpet, violin, keyboards, random percussion and guitar sounds like the anthems made for the most glorious hobo nation on Earth–sort of Tom Waits playing at a kangaroo carnival, with brief interruptions for the funeral of Paul Simon and Elvis Perkins." - Seattle Weekly "I find myself as enraptured and entertained as the first time I played [WOOL], continually finding overlooked sounds, textures, and lyrics deserving of further musing." - Delusions of Adequacy "WOOL is a stunningly impressive achievement. Ranging emotions from loss to love, sweetly innocent but still achingly distant, the album flows with rare grace. " - OU Daily (Oklahoma City) |
