Bman's Blues Report

  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 Dans...

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 ...

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 inter...

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 icin...