Cabaret 2026 – Jean Mckenna-O’Donnell – Simply Frank

1249 Main Street
West Warwick,RI

March 31, 2026
7:30 PM

Price: $25

Buy Tickets Here

At different stages of Jean’s life it seems one special song would dominate: in college it was “Over the Rainbow;” working on Cape Cod it was “Misty;” and waiting for an opportunity to sing with her equally famous brother, pianist Dave McKenna, it was “Lazy Afternoon.” For Jean it was the same with singers: Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, but always, always there was Frank Sinatra. Frank’s “Wee Small Hours” album held an entire lifetime of singing lessons —and she’s still learning from him – her teacher, her mentor!

Jean McKenna ODonnell comes from a musical family.  Her brother Dave McKenna was a widely respected, world renowned jazz pianist; her mother, Catherine, a violinist and pianist, her father Bill, a drummer.  Jean began singing as a child, and has been doing so ever since as a soloist with church and choral groups as well as with jazz trio’s, quartet’s, and big bands in Rhode Island, Boston, and Cape Cod. While living in Boston she recorded commercials and sang at the Hotel Bostonian and The Office.  As a result of a demo recording she made with Dave, her brother, she was approached about singing in New York, but opted instead to continue teaching high school English and working weekends with local bands. With a group called the Deacons, she was the first to perform at Chan’s in Woonsocket when John Chan had the inaugural of his music room at his restaurant. Today, of course, it is a prime venue for jazz and blues. She has appeared there with her brother Dave, Daryl Sherman, and Mike Renzi, who was the pianist and arranger for her “Full Circle” CD which also featured Dick Johnson, Marshall Wood, and John Wheatley.  Jean performed with the Jewels of Dixie and Bobby Hackett at Bovi’s Town Tavern; at the Living Room and the Sidebar in Providence, and at the Greenville Vineyards music series in Portsmouth.