House of Jane Songwriter Sessions: Jordan Smart & Jeri Katherine Howell

May's featured songwriters are Jordan Smart and Jeri Katherine Howell.

Jordan Smart is a singer-songwriter currently based in Ludlow, KY. His songs echo between the prominent fingerpicking patterns of John Fahey and the Dylanesque vocal style of The Tallest Man on Earth. He flows with the current of the folk revival movement, which continues to course through the mainstream and underground channels today. But below the superficial labels lay the heart of the matter that distinguishes Smart from the bulk of other aspiring folk musicians.

Smart, 31, is a father. He grew up with humble beginnings, hitchhiked across the United States and slept under bridges. His life flashed before his eyes on a few occasions, but lives to tell the tale by the grace of good luck. Smart even found himself as a musical guest for Bernie Sanders during his presidential race in 2016. Through it all, Smart offers a remarkable level of sincerity and clarity that is few and far between.

About Jeri Katherine Howell

Jeri Katherine Howell is an Americana singer-songwriter and rhythm guitarist from Frankfort, Kentucky who commands each performance with her sweet and soulful voice, thought-provoking lyrics, quality musicianship and joyful presence. "From an early age, Jeri Katherine has shown a remarkable sensibility to express a wide range of emotions in the traditional styles of Americana, Appalachian, and Roots music," states Brian Baker - longtime fan and folk music enthusiast. "For many years, there has been no need to add such words as 'new' or 'up and coming' when describing Jeri Katherine, but more appropriate to simply say that she is one of the finest Americana singer/songwriters in the country."

Jeri Katherine has been writing and performing as a solo artist – and collaborating with Kentucky musicians – for over 15 years. In 2007 she won 2nd Place in the Flat Rock Music Festival Songwriters Contest for the title track of her first album Branch to Branch. In 2011 she received the Folk Arts Apprenticeship Grant from the Kentucky Arts Council to study and perform with master songstress Carla Gover. As she developed artistically, Jeri Katherine began performing with world music band Stirfry Musette and was featured on their 2013 release No String Unturned. That same year, Jeri Katherine released her second album, Collage, featuring 14 original tracks and several of Kentucky's best players. As Jeri Katherine dove into student life at Centre College, she immersed herself in the campus folk music scene as a lead singer and guitarist in the College’s Kentucky Music Ensemble.  2016 brought two tours with the ensemble: one in the Northeastern U.S. and the other in Yamaguchi, Japan. With her fierce interest in cultural exchange and community engagement upon graduation, Jeri Katherine received a Fulbright grant with the U.S. Department of State and performed and lectured throughout San Carlos, Costa Rica with Nat Colten - her partner in music and life - for the 2017 year. In 2020, Jeri Katherine joined Centre College professor, Nathan Link, and students for a Kentucky Ensemble reunion tour in Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and France.