By: Rudy Lu

The Hudson RIver Sloop Clearwater is a not for profit dedicated the preservation of the Hudson RIver. Founded by Folk singer Pete Seeger and others in 1966, the boat was launched in 1969 and is a sailing educational vessel to this day, that operates between Albany & New York City.

Although the boat ‘s architecture on the whole is the same, it has undergone massive rehauls over its entire lifetime. This has required much of the organizations manpower and funds. Although, the music that is the DNA of the organization, had waned in importance due to finances, executive director David Toman has decided to put some more emphasis on it than has been given the last few years. This fund raising concert is the first of many envisioned throughout the Hudson River Valley.

Jenna Nichols and Doraine Scofield come from different backgrounds but both call the Hudson Valley home.

Jenna is originally from rural PA., eventually migrated to Boston and then NYC to further her singer songwriter career. She is a recent transplant to the valley,

Doraine Scofield was born, raised and still lives in the Catskills.

Their styles are different too.

Doraine opened with acoustic covers of classic Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin on fiddle. She then proceeded to perform traditional and original songs on guitar and fiddle . She was accompanied by JT Hunter.

Jenna Nicholls has a more established style. Her voice and compositions had contemporary/pop influences but there was a dominating 1920s jazz influence to her music and performance.

Playing guitar, ukele and piano along with singing, yodeling, whistling and mouth trumpet she was one woman show. Compositions were largely autobiographical, her song titles humorously dramatized major events in her life i.e. moving upstate was an inspiration for “The Great Migration”. Others inspired by just dreaming up silly song titles or other serendipitous inspirations

To find out more about Jenna Nichols and here her music go to jennanicholls.com.

For more on Dorain Scofield, find her on social media and YouTube.

To donate or otherwise help Clearwater go to Clearwater.org. (Full disclosure, I have been an active member of the organization and was a board member in the mid 80s).