Artist Information
Biography
The Kate Morrissey band includes Kate Morrissey on vocals and piano, Charles Harvey on acoustic bass and cello, and John Norris on drums and acoustic guitar. Together, their sound blends elements of classical, folk, jazz, and pop into a rich sound that can sweep a crowd into its vibrant energy and soul.
Kate Morrissey is a wandering songstress. From her childhood on the rolling hills of rural South Dakota through Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and now among the Southern bohemia of Athens, GA, she is perfectly at home behind her piano. But Morrissey is best known throughout this corridor for her dark velvet voice whose range and control stands on its own. Beyond her uniquely clean sound, Morrissey’s literate lyrics stand up to multiple listenings. Her sharp wit and an off-beat sense of humor punctuate her conversational live shows with plenty of surprise.
Charles King Harvey was born in Kingsport, Tennessee, and began his musical career playing bluegrass music with his family. He later attended the Blue Bear Waltz School of Rock ‘n Roll in San Francisco, returning to Atlanta in 1974 to play acoustic bass for the local jazz group Unit Structure. He moved to Athens and earned a bachelors degree in music education and a master of performance in double bass. Harvey has performed with such greats as Eddie Harris, Dave Holland, and The Bob Hope orchestra. He has performed in the bass sections of the Savannah, GA and Chattanooga TN, regional symphony orchestras, and served as the musical director and conductor of the Sun Coast Symphony Orchestra. He currently tours out of the Atlanta area.
John Norris is best described as being not just a "human metronome", but a "soulful metronome." Trained in a variety of styles – from pop to jazz and Latin beats - Norris gives new meaning to everything he touches. Having played in a variety of jazz groups, Norris brings a level of virtuosity and nuance to his hip-shaking grooves as much as his more orchestral atmospheres. He plays a mean guitar, too.
Together, Morrissey and the band represent years of experience wound into a fresh, new sound.
Instrumentation
Kate Morrissey: Piano and vox
Charles Harvey: Upright bass, cello, violin
John Norris: Drums, acoustic guitar
Discography
Solo:
Blue album (limited release, 1997)
Goldenrod (limited release, 1999)
An Open I (2000)
a girl in winter (2004)
Nobody, too (2006)
Band:
Land! (2008)
Streaming radio:
Uncommon Ground Radio Chicago (uncommonground.com)
Video
Photo Gallery
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Band at Red Light
Download print quality (high-res) version
Press
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See katemorrissey.com/press
katemorrissey.com/press
Setlist
Original songs:
Ulysses
The Little Prince
Weather
Sand
The Tortoise and the Princess
Stay
Good Wishes
Oui Tap Dance
Andrew
Pants
Swim
The Show Goes On
1943
Nothing
Emily
Messy
Closed Door
Neptune
Nagasaki
Oh, Love
Lullabye
Snow Angel
Mourn You
The Veggie Song
Covers:
My Funny Valentine Rodgers and Hart
Peter Pumpkinhead XTC
Lumina Joan Osbourne
Allelujah Leonard Cohen via Jeff Buckley
Bad Reputation Freedy Johnson
Perfect Smashing Pumpkins
