Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Maurer.
Hi Jennifer, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been a full-time professional musician in Akron since July 2000, although I started part-time before that. I came home from Yale University (where I studied Anthropology) because the roots and old-time music scene was strong. Somehow, I fell into Zydeco, which I’ve been playing ever since, along with various other styles. Mo’ Mojo is in its 27th year! (Yikes! Where did that time go.) While it’s not a lucrative field – local musician – it is a labor of love with so many awesome rewards, one of the most important being helping people celebrate their moments through music. I come from a musical family. My mom plays piano, mandolin, and guitar; my step-father played dobro, guitar, fiddle, and banjo; and my uncle played guitar and once owned a music store. So many of their friends played too, and music parties and festivals have been a big part of my social fabric from childhood through to today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No. it’s not been a smooth road… It’s all about surviving “The 3 Ds:” Death, Divorce, and Drugs. Don’t freak – those aren’t me. I came home from college and played about a year solo. Then ended up in a romantic/music duo that was awesome for 3 years before it crashed and burned. (We co-host an open mic monthly today, and play together when we can.)
Mo’ Mojo, in its 27th year, has kept going despite the 3 Ds. When we started, we got about 7 years with our co-founder and front man before he died of cancer. There have been a lot of breakups in the band, including between my mom and one of our guitar players. One of our rubboard players got divorced and somehow his ex-wife ended up on rubboard. We lost a really important and loved long-term member to drugs (meth).
It’s really hard to manage 5-8 people and to keep it going all these years. It’s all a labor of love. It’s a family that I work very hard to keep together.
And making a living through music requires so much flexibility and learning. Sometimes a solo show is needed, sometimes a duo duo, trio, or band. There are so many styles and so many songs to learn!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I play music. Lots of styles, a few different instruments. Much of the music I play is old-school and comes from Blues, Country, Old-Time, Jugband, and Swing styles, although I do write songs for sure in all those styles. I make my living from the single-row diatonic accordion (Cajun buttonbox), guitar, and upright and electric bass, but I also play some piano, flute, and sax. I dabble with the fiddle and have spent some time with the 5-string banjo in the past. I’m definitely known in the area for Zydeco, the music of SW Louisiana, something I fell into by accident.
Part of being separated from others is gender-based. There just aren’t a lot of women out there doing what I do, which is to book, manage, and play in several groups, while maintaining a solo career as well, full-time for 22 years now.
I’m really happy that the band has toured 9 countries (and one twice) with the US Department of State as musical ambassadors, spreading the best of American values (including gender equality) through music.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Falling asleep to the adults playing music around me at parties. I know it sounds goofy to say falling asleep is a great memory but there was music all around me, and so often, and I count it as a blessing to have had that repeated experience in my childhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: momojomusic.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/jenmaurermusic
Image Credits
Jeff Black
Leigh Ann Wise
