Band - Genna & Jesse

Genna and Jesse are duo alchemy at its finest. Sweet and savory, raspy and smooth, together they create a unique vocal sound, and then they complement that blend with Jesse’s prowess at the piano and guitar. Whether they sing their own songs, or the well-chosen songs of their peers, audiences are along for the ride in an intimate and inclusive show.

Their live performances are gentle and inviting – yet powerful – due in part to solid stagecraft and a comfort level with their music and with each other. Another big factor in their shows is Genna’s subtle phrasing and exceptional interpretation. She delivers songs as gifts to an audience. The stunning harmonies that Genna and Jesse weave are the final secret ingredient in their performance magic.

They are not content to perform only their own songs, however. With so much talent flying under the commercial radar, Genna and Jesse actively seek out and perform songs by lesser-known artists who they meet in their travels and collaborations. Their evocative performances of these tunes provide a springboard for connecting community – artists and audiences. Every show is different because they are not content to sit in their comfort zone. They stretch their creative boundaries, finding new music and playing with it – truly playing WITH it, having fun.

Genna and Jesse began performing together in 2009 when Genna hired Jesse to play piano in her band. While working together, a romantic union blossomed and the two decided to write and perform as a duo.

Genna Giacobassi is originally from Lansing, MI. Her parents are both musicians and she grew up surrounded by, and immersed in, music. She attended Interlochen Arts Academy High School, where she studied voice. A rebellious spirit, she put aside a future in performing the works of others in order to obey her internal muse. In 1995, still a teenager, she dropped out of school and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she has been creating music ever since. Her soulful voice is at once easygoing and acrobatic, with hints of Billie Holiday, Ricky Lee Jones, Lucinda Williams and Joni Mitchell.

Jesse Dyen has a colorful musical history — he has drawn praise for his anti-war anthem "Sons and Daughters," from Willie Nelson, bought beer for Joe Strummer, broken Joan Baez's guitar string, and been to jail with Daniel Ellsberg. Jesse has self-produced hundreds of tracks and has appeared in projects as nearby as Oakland and as far away as Cape Town, South Africa. His album "Contents Under Pressure," recorded in his hometown Philadelphia and featuring some of Philly’s finest musicians, has received radio airplay both domestically and internationally, and was recorded by producer/drummer Andy Kravitz, who also engineered and produced a number of the duo’s recent singles including “Tumbleweed and Tonic” and "I Won't Do it Again."

Genna & Jesse are currently touring the nation to promote their newest release, “Give and Take.” The 8-month tour, which includes club venues, house concerts, restaurants, cafes, and festivals, is being done with as small a carbon footprint as possible. You might catch a glimpse of them traveling down the road in their waste vegetable oil-powered station wagon, which they affectionately call “Peanut.”