Jen Chapin Trio will perform free concert in the Goshen College Music Center, to benefit the hungry April 19

GOSHEN, Ind. – The Jen Chapin Trio, featuring the world-class musicianship and rare chemistry of Grammy-nominated acoustic bassist/husband Stephan Crump and "unflappable melodist" (New York Times) guitarist Jamie Fox, will perform in the Goshen College Music Center on Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. in this benefit concert. Admission is at no charge and a free will offering will be taken with 50 percent of funds for the Goshen food pantry – The Window, 25 percent to WHYHunger and 25 percent to MCC.

Opening the show will be Goshen College alumnus Phil Kaufmann, who recently received permission from the Chapin family to record the songs of Harry Chapin and develop a "one-man musical" version of the Cotton Patch Gospel. He is using this contemporary re-telling of the gospel to raise funds in harmony with Harry's desire to end hunger.

Jen Chapin's music is urban folk — story songs that search for community and shared meaning, powered by the funk, soul and improvisation of the city. Critics have hailed her work as "brilliant ... soulfully poetic" (NPR), Òthoughtful ... worth-savoring" (People), "addictive" (Boston Globe), "smart, observant, lyrically deft, politically aware and emotionally intuitive" (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel). JazzTimes has called her "a first-rate storyteller" while Relix regards her as "one of the freshest voices singing today." She has been featured on "Late Nite with Conan O'Brien," honored by the USA Songwriting Competition, appeared on stage with Bruce Springsteen, and opened up for Bruce Hornsby and the Neville Brothers.

Accompanying the musicians on this Midwest tour (including stops in Indianapolis, Davenport, Des Moines and Cleveland) will be Jen and Stephan's two boys Maceo Crump, 5 years old; and Van Wallace Crump, 1-year-old, who serve as inspiration for Jen's new EP "Five Songs." As Jen wrote on her kickstarter.com webpage enlisting financial backing for the recording, these are: "songs of ambition (and the lack thereof), privilege (ditto), anger, affection, gratitude, exhaustion and humility. In short, of family."

Jen Chapin Discography:
ReVisions: Songs of Stevie Wonder (2009) "sophisticated ... little short of miraculous" -- The Sunday Times

Light of Mine(2008) "crossing multiple musical boundaries ... mesmerizing" -- Time Out London

Ready (2006) "supremely confident, slightly off-center, and instantly compelling." -- River City Reader

Linger(2004) "uncommon wit and sweetly supple singing" - Entertainment Weekly

Open Wide(2002) "cool ... spare funkiness" - Washington Post

Listen at on www.jenchapin.com

Watch at www.youtube.com

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college/s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron/s Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.