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Everything Old Is New Again - Kat Gang interviewed on WNYC

THE HEADLINER, OCT, 2014 - https://www.wnyc.org/story/everything-old-new-again-kat-gang/

Recently, Kat Gang stopped in the WNYC studios to chat with us about her new album, Dream Your Troubles Away. Gang shared a little bit about the new record, "these tunes are old, they are classics from a bygone era....everything old is new again."

The songs on her latest release are undeniably "old" but, Gang's interpretations breathe new life into the time-tested jazz standards. Gang is supported on the album by an excellent backing band: Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar), Mike Renzi (piano), Jay Leonhart (bass), John Allred (trombone), Harry Allen (sax), Warren Vache (trumpet) and Joe Ashione (drums).

This week on The Headliner, Mike Shobe talks with Gang about the process of reinventing these classic songs. In addition to the interview, you can preview the album with this week's free download, "Some of These Days."

Kat Gang on the cover of Allegro Magazine

Allegro, Local 802, 2012

Local 802 member Kat Gang also sings and leads a band at the Plaza. She said that people are always excited by the band when it starts to play. “The air changes instantly from dim to bright,” she said. “Our energy adds to the movement and conversations around us. This is part of what makes a live band so important – the personal interactions with the audience that makes them feel like they have had a special and unique night out. We set the vibe.”

Gang said that she is both saddened and hopeful by the current state of live music in New York.

“People need to realize that musicians are artists and thinkers and hard workers, and deserve the same respect as any other profession,” Gang said. “Could a hotel open without its waitstaff? Without the housekeepers? Musicians need to be on the same level of necessity! Life needs art.”

Kat in The Wall Street Journal

February, 2012

"But if you entered the club's Gothic Revival mansion on Wednesday during the "Midnight in Paris"-themed "Winter Fete," where vodka-tonics were on the house and the jazz musician Kat Gang performed for over 275 well-dressed guests, you'd have no idea the dust was still settling from a fairly caustic and high-profile battle."

Kat Gang Album Release at Birdland, August 2018

By Alix Cohen for Theater Pizzazz

"Looking like a page out of Vogue magazine, Kat Gang approaches her music with as much style as she does her appearance. Understated charisma and subtle vocal complexity are watchwords. Gang’s phrasing is juuussst a bit unexpected, elongating and aborting to create fresh rhythm without compromising lyrics. Scat (too rare) verges on words. Expressive arms seem to pump air through her supple torso. By the time she dances in place, we know it’s – necessary.

“This Can’t Be Love” (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) arrives mid-tempo bebop. John Sneider’s bright, clean trumpet sound commands the stage…until Gang weighs in, vocally conversing. (They have different opinions.) “Now I Know,” a lovely bossa nova (Kat Gang/ Tony Romano) features feather light cymbal, mm-mm bass, caressed piano. Romano almost sings as he plays guitar-his mouth moves much like that of Jay Leonhart. Gang ibues lyrics with shusshh despite never uttering the sound. ‘Infectiously warm, sensuous.

“I found a lovely little treat/Bitter turns to sweet/Now that I’ve got you…”she sings, fingers snapping. (“Now I Know” Kat Gang/Tony Romano) Phil Palombi’s bass leads rhythm. His hands rise and descend, fingers seeming to move only from knuckles. Tedd Firth happily wanders the keyboard. “Come Closer” (Kat Gang), the CD’s title number, is a blue love song. “You would see if you’d just come closer/I’m alone in my own deep pocket of sorrow…” Trumpet needs a mute (not only on this occasion.) Gang, alas, smiles.

Classics “Sentimental Journey” (Les Brown/Ben Homer/Bud Green) and “Darn That Dream” (Jimmy Van Heusen/Eddie DeLange) are delivered with the artist’s own stamp. Both are rather seductive. In the second, Gang faces Palombi appreciatively locking eyes. The vocalist slip-slides octaves with breathy skill. Consonants emerge like percussive brushes. As if puppeted by emotion, she leans towards the audience and then Firth. Beautifully crafted.

Just when we’re saturated with feeling, a second, larger wave rolls in. “You Go to My Head” (J. Fred Coots/Haven Gillespie) is simply gorgeous. Firth’s unparalleled piano touch spreads melody like butter. Vocal is pristine. A smidgen of intermittent scat affixes to words like tails. When Gang’s voice intentionally cracks a tad on “crazy” reaction is visceral. The intoxicating number ends leaving whorls of smoke.

Fats Waller’s “Jitterbug Waltz” is out and out fun. Expansive vocal loops, zigs and zags. Piano manifests a hurry-up-and-wait approach. Everyone bounces. Imagine riding a bike with no hands. “Bye Bye Blackbird” (Ray Henderson/ Mort Dixon) follows suit. The declaimed number is tight and winking. Superb scat includes a touch of growl. Gang plays the air like an instrument. ‘Joyous."