Since her relocation to Minneapolis more than five years ago, Jessy Greene has been exploring her musical options. Whether she was onstage playing her violin like a rock star next to the boys club of Golden Smog; lending her talents to Twin Cities roots staples the Jayhawks; playing to intimate crowds with her now-on-hiatus group the O’Jeez with Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum) and Kraig Johnson (Iffy, Golden Smog); or taking the stage with Wilco, Greene always managed to steal part of the limelight.
On her debut solo disc, Greene takes on not only string arrangements, but also drum loops, mixing and recording (with the assistance of a few friends including Iffy’s Tom Merkl). A classically trained violinist with a degree from UCLA in ethnomusicology, she uses the term “Ameritronic” to describe the atmospheric sound surrounding her vocals that at times come across as a smoky hush. From the intense “Wantalatabe”, to the electro-pop of the title track, to the dreamy gentleness of “Laughing”, one of the most interesting things about Blue Sky is not where Greene came from, but what lies ahead.
