Who Are Kath And The Tom Kats?

My approach to music is to honour the musicians and their music that came before me; to recreate the music in a way that maintains respect to the original artists, yet ensures our performance is unique by creating a new 'feel' to an old song; to surround myself with incredible artists who continue to teach me; sing with the passion that I believe the song deserves and mostly to have a fantastic time doing it all.

It's hard to explain why I love performing ... it's not just the singing ... that is and will be an ongoing learning and changing curve for me ... but as a little girl I aspired to, and was in awe of, the beauties like Bettie Page, Ann-Margaret - those bad girls who oozed sensuality - my grandmother introduced me to the divas of the 30s through old movies - Mae West, Jean Harlow and Elizabeth Taylor are just a few that inspired me toward the glamour aspect of the performance - their beautiful gowns, their attention to detail - it was magnificent! As I went into my teens it was Janis Joplin, Elvis, Joe Cocker, all fantastic front-of-the line 'out there' powerful performers - today I am grateful to be able to play with band members who indulge me so that I can perform the songs that I love ... my way ...

2007 brought a year of serious change for me – getting older has a way of doing that ... ha ha. I decided to let kath ‘in blue’ go and combine some of my band members from both bands to form one ... Kath and the Tomkats ... one band that now can do it all from old jazz and blues to rock, r&b and Motown. Bringing on DD Myles on keys into our already incredible line-up – my good friend and long time band member Walt Musekamp on guitar, amazing melodic sax player Craig Carmody, Barry Lamb who lives to play his beautiful ‘dingwall’ bass, and John Keith on drums who doubles as our sound engineer, was one of the best moves I’ve ever done musically. I have been so fortunate to play with some of the best musicians in the business, but with change brings clarity and I feel very clear about the direction of this band – together we have a really great sound.

What a better way to start the new year by ending the last in such a positive note. kath 'in blue' was nominated through Scorpion Entertainment for 'best blues artist / best blues band AND best jazz artist / best jazz band for 2007. Also in 07, I was proud to be a part of the 'Reciprocation Calendar' as one of twelve Vernon artists to be featured in a calendar, where the funds went toward our beloved 'Caetani House'. This year, ‘Walt’ and I plan to sit down and bring some of my original tunes to fruition. I will continue to write for the Kamloops Blues Underground Network www.bluesundergroundnetwork.com about musicians I admire and possibly, the twice running 'adult musical' play - 'Human Essence ... the sensual journey', which I co-wrote and acted in, just may find its way to the stage again.