Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Jennifer’s drumming influences?
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If you ask her, Jennifer will immediately proclaim herself a Neil Peart disciple. Ask her cat Neil, and you will likely get scratched, which is Neil’s way of saying one’s cat should not be named after Canadian drummers.
Jenn has a wide cross-section of drummers who have impacted her in some way. Thanks to a junior high school band director who insisted she only listen to jazz for her lessons in sixth grade, she has a love of drummers like Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Gene Krupa and Art Blakey.
She says her Mount Rushmore of Drummers has Neil along with John Bonham and Buddy Rich and then the fourth member keeps changing depending on the day. It could be Jeff Porcaro, Stewart Copeland, Steven Perkins, Roxy Petrucci, Steve Gadd, Ginger Baker, Nick Mason, Mike Portnoy…she just loves the craft of drumming and those dedicated to it.
She is also being influenced by some of the great drummers she’s come to know in Nashville like Sofia Goodman, Lauren Horbal and Ethan Harb. She believes she can always learn more by watching her fellow “stick slingers.”
Has she always been in Nashville?
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Oh, no. She was born and raised in Pennsylvania and is a die-hard Philadelphia-lovin’ girl. If you want to hear an impressive streak of profanity, just hang out around Jenn during an Phillies, Eagles, Flyers or Sixers game. Life took her to many different places, including time living in New Mexico, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, and Tennessee. (Usually multiple cities within those states.) Alongside of her beloved Philly, she considers Nashville her favorite place to live.
What does she do when she’s not playing drums?
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First and foremost, when she can have time with her kids, she takes it. Oh, why do they have to grow up and do things like go to college?
She’s a bit of a renaissance woman. She has a background in journalism and broadcasting, but she also enjoys photography, writing and has even done professional improv comedy. She’s a bit of a foodie, and is a mad fan girl of celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan. If you ask her where you should go for dinner, I hope you like Indian, because you’re headed to Chauhan Ale and Masala House.
She doesn’t watch much TV, but she loves a good British sitcom or a production of Shakespeare. If she hears of a production of SIX anywhere near her, you can bet she’ll find a way to go see it.
She is a passionate collector of vinyl records with over 850 in her collection.
She also really loves to have good, intelligent, deep conversations about topics of substance from classic novels and movies to the human condition to people who mistakenly think Neil Peart is not the greatest drummer to ever live.
Is it true Jennifer is autistic?
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She has what was once called Asperger’s syndrome. (Jenn still says that’s what she has.) The condition was made part of the list of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the last revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
She actually finds ways to turn it into her advantage, and she believes her condition has made her more compassionate and kind than she would have been without it. Many people do not know a part of Asperger’s is trouble in social situations, such as reading social cues, so we advise not asking Jenn a question unless you REALLY want the answer.
So what artists does Jennifer like to listen to most?
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Jennifer has a very wide variety of music genres and artists she listens to on a regular basis.
It’s well known of her passion for Rush. You won’t find a single rock-oriented playlist on any electronic device without some Rush on it.
She loves to find “new” artists before everyone else knows of them. She’s a big fan of the band Pale Waves, after a friend across the pond sent her a copy of their single “Television Romance” in 2017, and she’s loved watching them grow over the years.
Her current playlist has some old school favorites like The Hooters, Pink Floyd and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, along with new indie artists like The Haunt, Nadia Vaeh, Show Pony and Lauren Horbal & Her Gay Ass Band.
Jenn loves to talk music, so feel free to ask her about what she’s listening to on any given day! She has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of 1960s to 2010s rock music, classic country music and 80s-90s era country, and more.
Who are Jennifer’s heroes?
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Jennifer has lived her entire life being inspired so many female musicians. In the years she couldn’t live her life as who she has always been, she took solace in watching inspiring women do inspiring things.
She has some very strong musical heroes. She holds in high regard Mia Zapata, Shirley Manson, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Liz Phair, Sleater-Kinney, Dusty Springfield, Bikini Kill, L7, The Donnas, Joan Jett, Kim Deal, Alanis Morissette…yes, it’s a long list and this list doesn’t include everyone.
Her list of female drummers is almost as long and covers a variety of genres. Cindy Blackman-Santana, Sheila E, Karen Carpenter, Sandy West, Janet Weiss, Gina Schock, Kate Schellenbach, Samantha Maloney, Dee Plakas, Debbi Peterson, Mercedes Lander, Anika Nilles, Terri Lyne Carrington….again, it’s a long list.
Now, you’re probably thinking “I thought she mentioned Neil Peart earlier.” Neil is her #1 drum hero. Always has been, always will be, but Jenn also feels female drummers never get the credit they deserve for the talent they bring to the stage and studio.
Are there any charitable causes Jennifer supports?
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There are several! Jennifer believes in giving and supporting groups and causes which can bring real change to the world.
Having a child with autism, she is a avid supporter of increased research for autism and therapies to help intervene early and provide the best possible future for autistic children.
Jenn is a survivor of a suicide attempt in her teen years, and is a massive mental health advocate. She enjoys speaking to groups to share her story and the struggles she’s faced over her lifetime with mental health.
As a member of the LGBTQ community, she is all about advancing the cause of equality and helping people see through the politically-charged rhetoric to see people as people and not talking points.
She’s also a member of a church in her area and thinks Jesus’ teaching of loving others like your love yourself is a pretty good way to live.
Where are Jenn’s favorite places to eat in Nashville?
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Jenn is a total foodie…she loves to try new places!
She is a die-hard fan of Maneet Chauhan and says Chauhan Ale and Masala House is the best place to eat in town. She also enjoys The Mockingbird around the corner from Chauhan’s. She thinks Five Points Pizza is the best in town and loves Jim N’ Nick’s BBQ.
She also tells everyone It’z A Philly Thing in Bellevue is an authentic Philadelphia Cheesesteak and the best sandwich in Tennessee.
And if it’s just an apps and drinks situation, it’s Girlcrush or Lipstick Lounge.
What kind of gear does Jennifer use?
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Jennifer uses a custom designed and built kit by WFL III Drums. She absolutely LOVES her drum kit (shown left). The paint job is a custom one-of-a-kind pink bursting from blue color scheme, so there’s nothing else like it in the world.
Jenn uses and endorses Soultone Cymbals. She uses the Classic 1964 series because she says the cymbal tones are the closest to what she had with her first drum set many, many moons ago. When she had the custom kit built, she wanted the “perfect sound” for her cymbals, and Soultone really delivered.
She plays Pro-Mark Kashi Oak 747 sticks…better known as the Neil Peart signature series. Yes, she originally bought a pair because it was the kind Neil was using, but she found she really liked the overall balance and weight of the sticks. Now that Neil’s gone and her supply is starting to get thin, she is looking for an alternative…
She loves Drum Bones to help muffle the sound of her drums.