Jennifer Weuve

Starting at a young age, Jennifer Weuve (keys, vocals) trained on piano with a kind teacher who assigned songs from the 1920s and, during lessons, sang along off-key.

Her favorite aunt updated her repertoire with the gift of a Beatles songbook, which she played and sang at full tilt but in sonic secret while her dad mowed the lawn. She strong-armed her younger brother into singing church songs with her (in harmony) in the backseat of her grandparents’ Buick.

She was a relentless member of choruses, choirs, theatre, and swing choirs (with sequins and track suits—how could one not?), “graduating” to the off-book choirs of Luther College and, later, semi-professional musical theatre in Honolulu.

One of her greatest inspirations is Kevin Benford, choral director at her high school. Mr. Benford—a pianist, composer, and vocalist—gave her (and her peers) the freedom to bridge musical styles, guiding them to competence in gospel/funk, and new and old classical. They are now Facebook friends.

As she continues to absorb the musical environment across eras and spaces, Jennifer is fascinated by the ways people express themselves musically--how people play with or adopt specific tones, textures, colors, moods, ornaments, rhythms, and even whole characters, whether for specific songs or moments in songs--particularly as they mature and age. She views collaborating in Ronona J as the embodiment of her love of ensemble music, the visceral buzz of blues and rock, the community spirit of folk, the adventure of collectively improvising and supporting friends in live performance, and discovering new ways to use both of her instruments.

Jennifer’s favorite chord in the Ronona J repertoire is Amin11.