About
Jenna McSwain has been described by fans as "the hippest Disney princess," but she prefers to play the role of fairy godmother, guiding you into a world of your own joy and empowerment through her soulful songs. Born in South Carolina and steeped in the music of New Orleans, her southernness resounds through each piano riff. After spending a decade studying jazz, both in schools and out, she released her first album, Wax and Wane: Songs without Seasons. Her second album, Enjoy Your Space, has been called "sophisticated pop perfection," and "truly a masterful experience that should not be missed." With a voice described by Offbeat Magazine as "polished but soulful" and killer piano technique, Jenna combines the skill of a seasoned musician with accessible lyrics to create songs that uplift and inspire.
McSwain has opened for Patti Austin, Ramsey Lewis, and the New York Voices, and has performed with jazz greats including Marian McPartland, Houston Person, Gerald French and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, and Don Vappie. After over a decade of accompanying other artists, playing in piano lounges and leading one of New Orleans' most sought-after wedding bands, she now turns her focus to creating uplifting experiences with her original music.
In addition to performing, McSwain is a revered educator. She has held professorships at many institutions, including the University of South Carolina, the University of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans, where she was instrumental in developing their award winning Popular and Commercial Music Program, and the Tulane School of Professional Advancement, where she taught for their College-in-Prison program at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. She now offers private and group instruction and is teaching a music class for toddlers at the Nola Nature School. Her most cherished role is mother to two children, Noah and Iris.