The Liner/Sleeve Notes:
“GEORGE JENNER IS SHOWN SEATED AT THE CONSOLE OF THE BALDWIN PR 200 ORGAN IN HIS STUDIO AT CAMBRIDGE (GALT), ONTARIO.
GEORGE TOOK AN EARLY INTEREST IN MUSIC, STARTING ON DRUMS AND LATER MOVING TO THE AUTOHARP, AS NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE THAT HE HAD THE ABILITY TO PROCESS BEYOND A SIMPLE INSTRUMENT. BY DETERMINATION HE WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AT THE ONTARIO SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, THAT HE WAS CAPABLE OF FURTHER STUDY, IN MUSIC. HE WAS TAUGHT AND GUIDED ON PIANO BY MISS ZELLA PERRY, OF THE SCHOOL, AND PROGRESSED TO PIPE ORGAN, TRAINING UNDER MR. GEORGE SMALE. MUSIC THEORY AND PIANO TUNING WERE TAUGHT BY RONALD ADAMS OF THE ONTARIO SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AT BRANTFORD, ONTARIO.
HE OBTAINED GRADE TWO THEORY AND LATER GRADE EIGHT PIPE ORGAN AT THE TORONTO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC EXAMS WITH FIRST CLASS HONORS.
SINCE LEAVING SCHOOL HE HAS PROGRESSED IN HIS MUSIC CAREER PLAYING FOR DANCES, WEDDING RECEPTIONS AND CHURCHES. HE CAN PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT ON PIANO, ORGAN OR ACCORDION.
THIS RECORD, BEING RECORDED IN A PREDOMINANTLY GERMAN COMMUNITY, SET THE MOOD FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE RECORD, GOING ON TO DEMONSTRATE IN SOUND, HIS OWN CREATIVE STYLINGS AND VERSATILITY OF DIFFERENT MOODS AND COLOURINGS, OF WELL KNOWN SONGS.
HIS STYLE AND INTERPRETATION ARE HIS OWN, REQUIRING TRANSPOSITION, PRODUCING A CLEAN CUT SOUND TO THE MUSIC, WHICH OTHERS FIND HARD TO IMITATE.
THIS IS DONE WITH THE FOUR FINGERS AND USING ALSO THE WRIST TO ADD EXTRA NOTES, WHERE DESIRED. ALL RHYTHM ON THIS ORGAN IS PRODUCED BY MANUAL OPERATION, AND ADDS FURTHER STYLING OF THIS PRODUCTION.
R.H. JENNER.”
Personal Review:
Firstly, let me start by saying if you want to know anything there is to know about George H. Jenner you can check out this great little piece of information written by someone else who knew George.
The album opens with the track “Ein Prosit, Peanut’s Polka” and it’s a well constructed piece of music, and the key work done by George is pretty nice, this guy can certainly play despite only having two fingers on each hand. After that we go onto the track “Medley: German Waltzes” and it’s pretty good, the musicianship that George has is fantastic. After that we go onto an organ cover of John Denver’s “Country Roads” and wow, that’s all I have to say. This is an amazing cover of such a great song, George really makes his organ ‘sing’. We continue on with the song “Cotton Jenny” and George just continues to deliver one great song after another, his talent is impeccable, and this is just amazing. “Strangers on the Shore” closes the A-Side, and it’s a bit of a slower track, but George doesn’t let that hold him back from exerting his talent on yet, another great track on this fantastic example of music.
The B-Side opens with a cover of yet another famous track, “Mr. Sandman” – and it’s a bit slower than I remember, but it’s decent, I do like George’s versions of a lot of these songs. It has kind of a spacey vibe to it, it’s neat. “The Bells of St. Mary” come next, and it’s a great song, I’m really, really enjoying this album a lot. “Spanish Eyes” comes next, and it’s pretty good, still a bit spacey sounding, but all the while still a great song. “Fascination” continues the album, and it’s another slower track, but not bad, it’s good, it’s relaxing. This album is just one great song after another. Then we continue onto the song “Put Your Hand in the Hand” and everyone knows this one, and it’s great. I’m loving this album so much, definitely a great album. Fantastic musicianship. The album ends with “Amazing Grace” and it’s phenomenal, the way he does the bagpipe sound with the organ, and just everything, George really was an extremely talented musician. This is just fantastic.
Interesting Facts:
None.
Track Listing:
A1 – Ein Prosit, Peanut’s Polka
A2 – Medley: German Waltzes
A3 – Country Road
A4 – Cotton Jenny
A5 – Strangers On The Shore
B1 – Mr. Sandman
B2 – The Bells Of St. Mary
B3 – Spanish Eyes
B4 – Fascination
B5 – Put Your Hand In The Hand
B6 – Amazing Grace
Label:
Mike’s Recordings
Catalog Number:
M.S. 109
Studio Musicians & Other Album Credits:
None.
Other Albums I Own by George H. Jenner:
“The Light of Christmas”
Released:
197?
Thanks for this. George Jenner was employed by my grandparents to tune their upright Bell Piano that still resides in my parents basement. My mother has fond memories of playing this record, and having mr Jenner over to tune the family piano at home. Always remarking how efficiently he played for someone with so few digits and how he was able to tune just by ear!
-Will Hayward,
Son of Lesli Anne Singleton-Hayward
Of Galt Ontario.