Kat Edmonson returns to Austin Saturday, June 13th

Photo by Brock Batsell

The Kat Edmonson Quintet returns to Austin this Saturday at The Elephant Room, after touring the East Coast in support of their most recent recording, "Take to the Sky".  Her previous recordings like the singles "Be the Change" and "Lucky" were well received, but the group had never produced a full studio album until this year.

“Take to the Sky”, Kat’s first full album was released April of this year and topped the iTunes jazz sales charts for weeks.  The 9-track disc offers fresh takes on jazz standards, as well as pop tunes by The Cure and The Cardigans.  Personnel on the album include usual collaborators like drummer JJ Johnson, trombonist Ron Westray, and pianist Kevin Lovejoy.  Others players include John Ellis and Chris Lovejoy on saxophones and percussion.

Click here to listen to "Just like Heaven" from "Take to the Sky".

Those new to Kat Edmonson’s music can expect a fair mix of mellow ballads and more energetic jam tunes that never get loud enough to impede conversation.  Kat’s voice is soft, fluid and remarkably well controlled. 

Her sidemen are fantastic accompanists, but are willing to strut their stuff with little prodding.  Ron Westray in particular has incredible touch and versatility on the trombone, making ample use of mutes, his hands, and distance from his microphone to create wide-ranging changes in his timbre.

Al Schmitt, a 19-time Grammy Award winner out of Los Angeles mixed the album before its release in late April.  He claims "Edmonson is the the best new jazz singer I have heard in years and I know she will be around for years to come".  The band takes the stage Saturday at 9:30pm, and for $5 you will be hard pressed to find better value for your entertainment dollar.  Take the opportunity to find out why NPR called her "memorable and contagious".