Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Kathi McDonald: Above and Beyond

95

Kathi McDonald: Above and Beyond

By

Sign in to view read count
Kathi McDonald: Above and Beyond
Kathi McDonald has appeared on more than 70 gold albums, virtually all of them as a backup vocalist for such rock and soul luminaries as the Pointer Sisters, Joe Crocker and especially, Ike and Tina Turner. Above and Beyond is the first album of her own in more than 25 years. That she can sing the blues as down and dirty and as soulful as anyone on today's scene is demonstrated throughout this session, but particularly on "Georgia Sunday Morning", a piece figuratively drenched in red clay poignancies. Her passion and strength come through on the one live track on the CD, "Season of the Witch" even though you feel that you're sitting in the last chair of a massive music hall with bad acoustics. It's too bad that the transfer didn't work out better because in addition to McDonald, there's some outstanding keyboard work by Brian Auger. The presence of Lee Oskar's harmonica on such tunes on "Don't Give up on Me" and "Girl You Don't Move Me" are critical to creating that feeling of sanctified soul. This album also is further evidence of the thin line between various musical genre and that perhaps too much time is spent trying to slot a performer into one category or another. "Chicken Today Feathers Tomorrow" could just as well have showed up on the play bill of a Loretta Lynn Grand Old Opry concert. "A Soulful Prayer" is a defiant, in your face, high struttin' psalm of determination of a lady who doesn't a care a lick what people think, a kind of soulful I'm going to do it "my way". There's a large cast of supporting players on this disc. In addition to Oskar and Auger, , Ed Vance and Norm Bellas on keyboards Jim Coile on sax and a quartet of drummers, help raise the album considerably above the ordinary. This is powerful stuff from a blonde haired, blue-eyed lady of soul working out of the Northwest. Recommended.

Track Listing

Above and Beyond; Don't Give Up on Me; Georgia Sunday Morning; A Soulful Prayer; Girl You Don't Move Me; I Put a Spell on You; Stray Cat; Dallas; Two Drifters; Chicken Today Feathers Tomorrow; Ain't It Wonderful; Season of the Witch

Personnel

Kathi McDonald - Vocal; Karma Auger, Larry McClure, Ralph Penland, Joe Romersa - Drums; Brian Auger, Norm Bellas, Ed Vance - Keyboards; Bunny Brunel, Rob Moitoza, Nick Sample, Mark Tabert - Bass; Rob Carmichael, Rich Dangel, Doug Scott - Electric Guitar; Jim Coile - Sax; Bill Kennerly - Electric Piano; Lee Oskar - Harp; Nick Vigarino -Acoustic Guitar/Electric Slide Guitar.

Album information

Title: Above and Beyond | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Merrimack

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.