KATY BOWSER: All Of My Friends

Katy Bowser

All Of My Friends

© 2006 Velveteen Songs (634479389306)

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Four score and seven years ago or so, bluegrass, jazz and folk were all gestating in the womb of the southeast US, joining and splitting, creating original American music. Katy Bowser’s music is a small reenactment this phenomenon.

notes

Four score and seven years ago or so, bluegrass, jazz and folk were all gestating in the womb of the southeast US, joining and splitting, creating original American music. Katy Bowser’s music is a small reenactment of this phenomenon: But they feel obliged to point out that they didn’t do any premarital songwriting.

All Of My Friends is indeed a Katy Bowser album, but we would be remiss if we didn’t discuss the “Kenny factor”. Katy and Kenny each had strong musical histories of their own before finding one another. Katy grew up an “army brat”, and had traveled and performed nationally as an independent artist for seven years, playing her folk/jazz blend in clubs, coffeehouses, theatres and anything else (including an early stint busking on 2nd & Broadway in downtown Nashville). Kenny grew up with a mandolin on his knee in a bluegrass loving family, and toured internationally with grassroots phenomenon Vigilantes of Love during the 90s, a time which included the Buddy Miller produced Audible Sigh album. These days he’s joining Eliot Morris on the Counting Crows/Goo Goo Dolls tour and playing with acts like Julie Lee, Old Black Kettle, Jimmy Barret and Garrison Starr.

Since the two crossed paths, it’s no surprise that the songs Katy sings began to turn a new set of heads in Nashville. Their high energy, playful performance is one obvious reason- no two shows are alike, and oftentimes a Katy show will suddenly take a turn down memory lane toward one of the many old jazz or country tunes they love, for kicks. But in a town that reveres its history and respects innovation, Katy’s singing and Kenny’s virtuosity on guitar, mandolin, pedal steel, lap steel and most other things with strings have garnered respect and high praise from their peers . And their songs (often mistaken for standards) about the golden rule, traveling, overprotective girlfriends, gospel, and forward woman are delighting afficianados and everyday music lovers across the board.

After a near miss with a record deal, Katy and Kenny knew exactly what they wanted- right down to the homemade-feeling brown paper bag wrapper with sealing wax. They put their shoulder to the wheel and produced their EP at home- doing it exactly the way they wanted, and taking as long as necessary to do it. “Recording at our home studio meant that when it wasn’t quite right, we’d stop and have tea, and wait until it did. Or sleep on it and give it a go over our first cup of coffee”. The proof is in the listening: the result is a sonically sweet gem where every note counts, rife with Kenny’s mandolin, parlor guitar and pedal steel, Katy’s vocals and Jake Bradley’s upright bass, and little else.

On the side, they also comprise two-thirds of the band for rising Americana darling Julie Lee (we hear her adding a guest harmony vocal on EP title track All Of My Friends), who takes every occasion to show off her friends with opening slots and mid-set. This past year has included appearances with her on Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, Mountain Stage with Alison Krauss (at her request), a benefit for families of West Virginia miners, and a track on the Song of America project with Grammy winner Ed Pettersen. Additionally, Katy and Kenny participated in a Katrina benefit with Janis Ian, Tim O’Brien, Jim Lauderdale, among other Americana luminaries.

As they kick into high gear and change the oil, they’re touring on the heels of a sold out CD release show at Radio Café on July 6, and this fall they are looking forward to the Americana Folk Festival, the Americana Music Conference and getting to know the good folks in Radioland better. They love to play, and can’t wait to hit the road again.

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  • The perfect blend of roots music and dancehall swing
    author: Dara Carson

    “This record is equal parts front porch, creaky swing, and homemade lemonade, served up in a martini glass...the perfect blend of roots music and dancehall swing.” Dara Carson Producer, founder of Americana Folk Festival

  • Bowser takes her listeners on a trip down memory lane
    author: American Songwriter, Evan James

    On All Of My Friends, Bowser takes her listeners on a trip down memory lane, meanwhile evoking the ghosts of William Faulkner and F. Scott Fitzgerald as she croons her early 20th century style of gospel/jazz. This caliber of nostalgia act simply fails to grow old. Evan James, American Songriter Magazine

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