John Jennings, guitarist and producer, dies at 61
The obituary for John Jennings in today's Washington Post:
"Graceful guitarist made his mark as a producer":
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/john-jennings-guitarist-and-producer-dies-at-61/2015/10/19/d6f624f0-766a-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.htmlJohn Jennings, a music producer and blues and folk guitarist who helped launch the career of Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, died Oct. 16 at a hospice center in Rockville, Maryland. He was 61. The cause was kidney cancer, said Tamara Meyer, his companion of 17 years. Mr. Jennings played the drums, bass, keyboard and not least the guitar---acoustic, electric, slide, lap-steel or baritone. "He could play anything," Carpenter said in an e-mail, "and his knowledge, talent and supreme great taste informed everything he did."
Mr. Jennings, who released a half-dozen solo albums, left his most enduring mark as a producer. He worked on albums for singer-songwriters including john Gorka, Iris Dement, Janis Ian and the Indigo Girls. For Carpenter, he produced and performed on at least eight albums and 11 top-10 singles, and he received a Grammy nomination for record of the year for co-producing "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" (1993).
Jennifer Cutting (bandleader of The New St. George & Ocean Orchestra) wrote on Facebook earlier:
Just got word that my friend and genius guitarist/producer John Jennings died peacefully in his sleep last night after battling cancer for 18 months. He was perhaps most famous for his work as guitarist and bandleader for Mary Chapin Carpenter. I will never forget how this busy, Grammy-winning musician found time to travel to England with Dave Mattacks and me to produce my "Forgiveness" recording session with Maddy Prior in 1999. Many of you will have similar stories about John's generosity! John went wa-a-a-a-ay back with me, having been a major guiding hand in my 1994 album "High Tea," with The New St. George, and later with "Fall, Leaves, Fall" with Annie Haslam. John always knew exactly what to play where, who to bring in on a project, and what to say to me to make me let go of ideas that were hold me back. Sometimes, yes .. We butted horns because we were equally strong-willed and hard-headed. But he was usually right! He was a dear Friend and a caring Mentor, and I will miss him deeply. Ironically, the last thing we did together was record my song about dying, "Steady As You Go." My sincerest condolences to all the other musicians with whom John played, and to his wonderful soulmate and lifemate, Tamara Meyer. John was one in a million. Peace to you, John . and deepest thanks for all the beauty you brought to the world. I post a link here to the finest elegy I can think of for all John gave to me . "Forgiveness," which John produced, and on which he played a soaring, incredibly majestic guitar solo at 3:42 . hear it and remember John's stunning genius:
Jennifer Cutting's Ocean Orchestra: "Forgiveness" (with Maddy Prior, John Jennings, and Dave Mattacks)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn0XZtw56TYDave Mattacks wrote in response:
circa '77, I toured the us, with joan armatrading (after recording the 'love & affection' lp w' her) - & on said tour, we played a Washington dc club, the 'cellar door'. the opening band was "bill holland & rents due". we (ja & band) thought they were fab . & John Jennings was the guitarist. I stayed in touch with all, but especially bill & john . it's a long story, but jj is a big part of why I'm here in the states . we have done so many things together (the wee clip above just a 'bijoux snippet' - as we would say - of the big picture) & I cannot begin to express just how much I'm going to miss everything about him . r.i.p. john - with love from the bottom of my heart from your uk chum - & forever your fan.
