Black Hen Music artist: Kat Danser - One Eye Open - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Eye Open, from Kat Dancer and it's cool. Opening with shuffle, Way I Like It Done, Dancer is upfront on lead vocal and guitar, with Steve Dawson on guitar and some hot pedal steel,  Gary Craig on drums, Jeremy Holmes on bass, Dominic Conway on tenor sax, Jerry Cook on bari sax, Malcolm Aiken on trumpet, and Kevin McKendree really working the piano. Strong opener. With it's drone bass line, Lonely And The Dragon is one of my favorites on the release with bluesy vocals, some really tasty blues guitar soloing and solid horn backing. Another hot track is New Orleans flavored, Frenchman Street Shake. Craig's tight drum rhythm, with Dansen's vocal timing, solid horn work and excellent slide work by Dawson gives this track real traction. Another favorite on the release is One Eye Closed with it's driving rhythm and punky rock attack. Wrapping the release is Mi Corazon, a Tex-Mex number featuring Danser on ballad style lead (in Spanish) and with warm horn work and solid pedal steel. Solid closer for a cool release. 

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Black Hen Music artist: Kat Danser - Goin' Gone - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Goin' Gone, from Kat Danser and I really like it. Opening with title track, Goin' Gone, Danser who leads on vocals and guitar has a thick bluesy/country style and has surrounded herself with a tight group of musicians including Steve Dawson guitar and pedal steel, Jeremy Holmes on bass and mandolin, Gary Craig on drums, Jim Hoke on harmonica and sax and Matt Combs on fiddle and mandolin. Voodoo Groove delves even into a country style with healthy guitar riffs and rich vocals. Dawson gets the pedal steel wound up on Memphis Tennessee with light harmonica soloing by Hoke. Danser's vocals are consistently solid track to track and the release is nicely balanced. Sam McGhee's Chevrolet Car has a cool blend of country and blues with country style fiddling by Combs and powerful vocals by Danser over tight drum rhythms by Craig. Haunting slide work by Dawson on Mississippi Fred MacDowell's Train I Ride gives it a special amount of pepper over the sassy vocals of Danser. This track has great feel and spaciousness. Very cool. Wrapping the release is easy paced, Time For Me To Go with only acoustic guitar, light electric guitar, bass and brush drums supporting Danser's vocals as she winds down. This is a very cool release with crisp energy and solid melodies.

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Kat Danser Earns Her Title As Canada's Queen of the Swamp Blues

Kat Danser Earns Her Title As Canada's Queen of the Swamp Blues With Baptized By The Mud

In the few months since Edmonton artist Kat Danser released her fourth recording, Baptized by the Mud, she's proven time and time again why she is widely considered to be "Canada's Queen of the Swamp Blues".  Baptized by the Mud has received several excellent reviews from critics around the world as well as continued placement on the !earshot and Roots Music report charts.  Here's what people are saying: … evocative performances create a vibrant tapestry of expressive, powerful images and moods within an atmosphere that is simultaneously radiant and smoky- the church of the roadhouse, perhaps.  Indeed, a joyful blues noise abounds.” - Donald Teplyske, Fervor Coulee "...a righteous blend of gospel and blues with that ever present swamp vibe- a New Orleans thing really, the kind of music where you sense all kinds of interesting things hiding in the dark corners.  Danser effortlessly mixes her own stuff with well and lesser known gospel songs for a potent mix of roots, blues and spiritual music. This has the vibe of a straight up blues album by Robbie Robertson, if he were to ever attempt such a thing- rich, full, haunting and inspirational all at the same time.  I love this record!" - John Kereiff, Gonzo Online   "There’s a truly unique sound found in this album and is definitely worth checking out, especially for those who are ready to hear a voice they’ve never heard before." - Liz Lohnes, Blues Rock Review  “… paying respect to the past and doing her part to take music forward. Baptized by the Mud is sonically gorgeous with a glowing mix of stringed instruments from Danser and album producer, Steve Dawson.” – Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal   “… this album will transport you back to an earlier time and remind us that even with a new found soul full of blues, Kat Danser can still get down and make a priest blush.” – Vinny Bond, American Blues   Upcoming Canadian Tour Dates   Friday, February 21, 2014 Deep Winter Blues Festival Acoustic Solo The Happy Nun Café - Forget, Saskatchewan   Saturday, February 22, 2014  Kat Danser Mississippi Juke Joint Show Acoustic Solo The Artesian on 13th - Regina, Saskatchewan   Monday, February 24 - Thursday, February 27, 2014 Blues In The Schools Blues Education Program throughout public schools in Saskatoon    Thursday, February 27, 2014 Saskatoon Blues Festival Acoustic Solo Acoustic Stage - The Park Town, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Friday, February 28, 2014  StirCrazy Blues Festival Kat Danser Trio (with Farley Scott and Jim Guiboche) Lyric Theatre - Swift Current, Saskatchewan   Saturday, March 15, 2014 Kat Danser & The Buddies (Jamie Philp & Farley Scott) Blue Chair Acoustic Café - Edmonton, Alberta   Saturday, April 26, 2014  Kat Danser & The Buddies (Jamie Philp & Farley Scott)  featuring "The Go-Getums" Blue Chair Acoustic Café - Edmonton, Alberta   About Kat Danser   Kat Danser’s music navigates a paddle steamer from the muddy banks of the Mississippi Delta downriver toward a big ol’ full moon over New Orleans. Dubbed ‘Queen of the Swamp Blues’, this Edmonton-based guitar slinger, songsmith, and blazing vocalist channels the spirit of roots, blues and gospel music pioneers.   Her fourth album, Baptized by the Mud, is a collaboration between Danser and Juno-award winning producer Steve Dawson. The recording addresses the dichotomy of ‘church-blues’: blues music as devilish and church music as angelic. This sub-genre demonstrates that human truth and the divine are one in the same – “one is preached from behind the pulpit and the other from behind the plow”.   A national touring and award-winning artist, Danser has performed at the 25th Anniversary of Canadian Women in Blues at Massey Hall in Toronto, the Calgary International Blues Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Calgary Folk Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival, Folk on the Rocks Festival in Yellowknife, Regina Folk Festival, Saskatoon Blues Festival, Vancouver Island MusicFest, The Winspear Centre’s ‘Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts’, Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, Mountainview Music Festival, Islands Music Festival and the Winter Roots and Blues Festival.   Danser is currently working on her PhD in Music focusing on music and meaning. She instructs undergraduate students of Popular Music at the University of Alberta, facilitates music and healing at the U-School Program, and instructs her own Music Education Program from elementary schools to adult instructional camps. Danser’s primary goal is to use music as a space for personal exploration and as a method to strengthen communities.   Baptized By The Mud is available on iTunes and is distributed physically and digitally by Outside Music www.katdanser.com

Outside Music artist: Kat Danser - Baptized By The Mud - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Baptized By The Mud, from Kat Danser and it great! Danser, a singer.sonwriter and guitar player has put together a great set opening with Sun Goes Down, a southern gospel style rock track in the vein of Delaney and Bonnie. Featuring Steve Dawson on slide, Darryl Havers on piano and Geoffrey Hichs on piano this track really gets things started. Warm vocal backing by Dawn Pemberton and Marcus Mosely add to the feel of the track. Sweet Baybay is up next with super sweet slide work by Danser and heavy tom tom work by Hichs. Dancer has an unusual voice and one that adds nicely to the mystic overtones of this track. None of Us Are Free has a cool melody and an interesting rhythm. Baptized By The Mud has an easy going pace with Dawson adding nicely on pedal steel. Danser has a real interesting voice which blends nicely with the music. Crazy For You is a slick little blues rock track with a twist of country. A cool slide solo in this track is icing on the cake. One of the sweetest tracks on the release is a remake of O' Mary Don't You Weep. I would recommend the album based on this track alone (but I don't need to obviously). Performed with a quiet Latin rhythm and dobro slide work, this is a terrific track and one of the nicer arrangements that I have heard of the track in a long time. An interesting bass solo by Jeremy Holmes is a nice surprise. Winsome, Lonesome has a real nice early blues sound. Primarily vocal with acoustic guitar this has a sassy Memphis Minnie/Maria Muldair kind of style with a tasty understated guitar solo. Havers also steps up with a nice piano solo as well. Notes From The Other Side is a somber ballad accompanied by resonator guitar and keys. A well written and executed track, it is nicely complimented by Dawson on steel guitar. Nothin' At All has has a nice easy step to it with nice harmonic vocals and slide guitar and dobro accompaniment. Prove It On Me Blues has a strong New Orleans sound with great vocal harmonies and particularly cool snare work from Hichs. Havers has a nice piano solo on this track horn sounding bass notes must be coming from Holmes. A really nice slide solo on this track shows real taste. Excellent! Hear me Out, Think It Over is a somber ballad with a strong melody. Dancer steps way out in front of the band with this primarily vocal track. A nice electric guitar solo from Dawson accents this really nicely constructed track. Another great cover track is You Gotta Move opening with fat fat slide work. Dancer takes a nice comfortable pace on this track and Hichs plays the simplest of straight up drum riffs which is perfect. The fat slide work continues throughout and Havers plays a strong piano solo making this another of my favorites on this release and a super way to close a fine set.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”