ALEX & JANEL
“A distinct brand of soulful country-pop. A kind of 21st century Americana.” The wonderful pairing of Alex Brumel, one of New York City’s most buzzed-about folk/pop singer/songwriters, with Janel Elizabeth, one of the New York area’s most accomplished soulful jazz and blues singers, has resulted in music that is uniquely their own. Since coming together in the summer of 2007, Alex & Janel have quickly established themselves as one of the finest Americana/Folk-Rock outfits, with a reputation for writing sophisticated, hooky folk-pop, incorporating elements of rock, jazz, blues, and country, in a style that has been likened to acts as diverse as Nickel Creek, The Swell Season, Norah Jones, and The Jayhawks. “It’s the kind of music that won’t alienate fans of any one style, but can actually bring a wide range of music lovers together.”
Impeccable harmonies immediately grab your attention, but in a distinctive way. With Alex’s high tenor and Janel’s low alto, they meet somewhere in the middle, and often leave people guessing who is singing which part. It’s the boy-girl harmony thing with a twist. Add to that, great, melodic songwriting, filled with pure emotion, undeniably catchy choruses, inspired and heart-tugging lyrics, and tight instrumentals, telling stories that are “warm, introspective, reflective, biographical, and uplifting”.
Their debut recording, The Mill Stone, features originals by both Brumel and Elizabeth arranged for a variety of musicians, from acoustic duets with a cellist to full-band performances. Their followup EP, You Won’t Be Alone, continues the tradition. Check out “Don’t Forget”, “If I Had A Hope”, and “You’ll Believe” for a showcase of their powerful, emotive songs. “Leave”, “Little Girl”, and “Maria (All That Time)” are more uptempo, full-band arrangements that demonstrate their performing and songwriting versatility. “The Company You Keep” is a “sweet, sentimental classic”.
“The only thing better than listening to their albums is seeing these two brilliant singer/songwriters perform live.” Alex & Janel have had the honor of sharing stages with an impressive list of musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny, Ingrid Michaelson, Duncan Sheik, Ari Hest, Eric Hutchinson, Noah and the Whale, Pete Francis (Dispatch), Ollabelle, Adam Levy, David Mansfield (Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Johnny Cash), Sahaj Ticotin (Ra), Jenny Owen Youngs, Jimmy Vivino, and many more. They currently perform regularly with a full backing band led by drummer/musical director Eric Novod, featuring David Linaburg on guitar, and a revolving door of New York City’s leading horn and string players.
Alex & Janel photos courtesy of: Ahron R. Foster Photography
