AUSTRALIAN CELTIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2020 |
Exquisitely crafted songs, glorious harmonies and a captivating stage presence will leave Sadie & Jay indelibly echoing in your musical memory. With multiple awards and accolades over three original albums, this rare pairing of musical soul mates will take you on exciting emotive journeys and tell intriguing tales to spark your imagination. Purchase now on Bandcamp
Beautifully packaged CD's with artwork & lyric book email: info@sadieandjaymusic.com |
Beautiful harmonies, skillful and inventive instrumentalists, amazing songwriting. Grounded in the rich traditions of Anglo/Celtic folk music and verse, every aspect is given a strong contemporary edge.
MICHAEL FINE - The Troubadour Central Coast
Sadie and Jay are attracting a growing audience and it's easy to understand why. These independent Australian artists are highly accomplished at making music. The pair don't take themselves too seriously but they take their work seriously, the combination is intoxicating.
ALISON BELL - Brisbane Folk History Project
One of the many highlights of this album is the effortless way in which Sadie and Jay change gear from one musical genre to another without ever sacrificing cohesiveness or losing their identity.
GRAHAM BLACKLEY - Trad & Now
This all too temporary importation demanded my attention from their very first offering, not only for their superb musicianship, lovely use of dynamics, vocal shading etc but really topical, relevant and brave songwriting about issues that need raising.
ROBIN BREW - Hamilton Folk Festival 2019
MICHAEL FINE - The Troubadour Central Coast
Sadie and Jay are attracting a growing audience and it's easy to understand why. These independent Australian artists are highly accomplished at making music. The pair don't take themselves too seriously but they take their work seriously, the combination is intoxicating.
ALISON BELL - Brisbane Folk History Project
One of the many highlights of this album is the effortless way in which Sadie and Jay change gear from one musical genre to another without ever sacrificing cohesiveness or losing their identity.
GRAHAM BLACKLEY - Trad & Now
This all too temporary importation demanded my attention from their very first offering, not only for their superb musicianship, lovely use of dynamics, vocal shading etc but really topical, relevant and brave songwriting about issues that need raising.
ROBIN BREW - Hamilton Folk Festival 2019
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A Passing of Seasons
Reviewed by Grem Devlin The Living Tradition UK The third album from this Australian duo continues their diverse musical narrative, covering topics as diverse as mining disasters, bushfires, opal mining and the wartime sacrifice of the ANZACs. The key to their success in putting across the stories is the obvious musical chemistry between them, on double bass and piano (Sadie) and guitar (Jay). Having seen them live on recent tours in the UK, I was expecting a tight album again, and this is a joy from beginning to end. The guitar parts are steadfast throughout – although I am conscious that Jay has more opportunity to demonstrate his instrumental prowess in a live environment – but what is required here is the provision of backbone to the songs, and that is here in bundles. Both their vocals are accomplished throughout and together they draw the listener into the stories, which improve with repeated plays. Mostly co-written by Sadie and Jay themselves, the material is both modern but covering traditional issues with care – particular favourites of mine being Opal Teardrop and Fanny, the latter being a biographical account of the swimming achievements of Fanny Durack. Another outstanding song is the only track not written by the duo, Jamie Clark’s brilliant Burning Moon, which describes the effects of the burning of the sugar cane following its annual harvest – but to be honest all the songs presented here are well-crafted and delivered with panache. |
A Passing of Seasons
Reviewed by Tony Hillier Rhythms Magazine AU As excellent as they undoubtedly are as singers and players, pianist/double bassist Sadie Gwynn Jones and guitarist/banjoist David ‘Jay’ Penman truly excel as composers that take inspiration from Australian history. Quality oozes from their third album as the Brisbane duo paint vivid pictures of a range of characters and stories of tragedy and triumph from our front and back pages with brushes that are simultaneously subtle and bold. Outback mining figures from the get-go, with a hard driving opening representation of Queensland’s worst mining disaster (at Mount Mulligan in 1921, which claimed the lives of 75 workers) followed later by female stories of love and redemption set in Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge. The story of Sydney swimming queen Fanny Durack, the Dawn Fraser of the 1910’s, is condensed into a suitably sassy sepia-tinted 3 minute homage. The duet-rendered tragedy of lovers torn apart by war is contrastingly and suitably sad. Well thought-out string arrangements that include cello and fiddle add colour and depth to a well-produced set. |
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A PASSING OF SEASONS 2019
Celtic Album of the Year Australian Celtic Music Awards 2020 "Verandah" #4 TOP 10 FOLK & ACOUSTIC Australian Songwriters Association Awards "Leaving the Harbour" #5 Top 10 FOLK & ACOUSTIC Australian Songwriters Association Awards "Dust to Ashes" Top 30 AUSTRALIA Australian Songwriters Association Awards |
