Jen Hawley can be found exploring the cracks between jazz, blues and world music.

She is a graduate of the late great jazz tutor Bruce Clarke, and currently plays with The Royal High Jinx, Continental Drift, Old Hat Jazz Band and her own projects. In the past she has worked with The Great Chefs of Europe, Alanna & Alicia, Alex Burns, Christophe Genoux, and Blue Drag.  Originally from Sydney, Jen has been teaching and performing guitar and uke for many years. She has also made a name for herself in the community music sector, teaching at workshops at music camps and also creating The Footscray Gypsy Orchestra in 2011 (now run by Terry Cole) and Supporting Women in Blues (2014-2017).

Jen is constantly in demand for sessions, live performance, teaching and recording projects.

Recordings

2002    Parisienne Swing – The Great Chefs of Europe
2003    Dr Knickerbocker – Mike Jackson
2003    Dark Waters Tango – Phil Carroll and David Wayman
2004    Cumquat Guitars Anthology – Bruce Clarke
2005    She Fly Away – Skirl
2007    Adventures in Paradise – Alex Burns
2011    Alex Burns and Jen Hawley Band – self titled.
2014    Your Place or Mine – The Royal High Jinx
2017    Wheel of Poor Choices – The Royal High Jinx
2018    Gone Gone Gone – The Royal High Jinx
2018    Kitchen Ballads – Enda Kenny
2019    Alanna and Old Hat Jazz – The Mood that I’m in.

Reviews

Great Chefs of Europe – Parisienne Swing 

Steve Robertson is host of PBS-FM’s Jazz on Saturday at 9 a.m., and has been a writer on jazz topics for more than 30 years in Australia and the USA.
It’s been more than 70 years now since a group of young musicians from vastly different backgrounds got together in Paris and formed the Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Its undoubted stars were violinist (and sometimes pianist) Stephane Grappelli and an illiterate Belgian gypsy with a hideously burnt left hand named Django Reinhardt.

This group created music that was fresh, daring and passionate, the first truly important non-American jazz band in history. That tradition of fire and mystery is ably carried on these days by Melbourne quartet The Great Chefs of Europe, their name perhaps harkening back to a film all about murdering said chefs.

No matter, this is a foursome which draws upon well-known Hot Club melodies, the evocative songs of Paris, and some worthy originals to create a fine and very listenable album called Parisienne Swing.The strengths of the group lie in its smooth cohesion and the individual excellence of its soloists. To carry off this repertoire, your violinist must possess sure technique, a lovely tone and the ability to swoop a la Stephane . Mathew Arnold succeeds admirably in all those tasks. Martin Elepans does a fine job of channeling Django without ever sounding like his clone (swing guitar playing HAS evolved just a bit in these last 70 years, and Martin’s solos reflect that progress without ever losing essential Django-ness).

Records of the original Quintet rarely included vocals, but the Chefs do, and it’s a good thing. Jennifer Hawley is consistently in tune (thank heaven), and brings to the slower melodies a luscious come-hither sexiness that provides a welcome contrast to the instrumentals. Her guitar playing is strong and sure, as is the bass work of Rob Mahoney.

Favourite tracks? Easy: The atmospheric original Invisible Angel by Martin is a gem, full of arresting harmonic twists and a mouth-watering instrumental blend.R Vingt-six is the only Django tune in the program (on the next CD, can we have a couple more?) and it swings with joyous abandon. I Love Paris is the well-known Cole Porter opus and it sets the mood effectively, and Si tu Savais , the final track, ought to be a standard for similar groups the world over. Perhaps now it will be.

Because their members tend to travel rather a lot, perhaps you haven’t hear the Chefs live yet.Well, when the opportunity arises, do yourself a favour and catch up with this fresh and delightful combo. Until them, this rich and melodic CD will do very nicely, indeed.

Rhythms magazine review

In 2013 I was interviewed for www.rhythms.com.au by Nick Charles about music,  my guitar collection and my work with Alex Burns. Check it out here.