Cathy Kreger and What It IZ

Artist Information

Biography

About Cathy Kreger and What It IZ

Armed with only an acoustic guitar and a voice as clear as cool water, Cathy Kreger and her band deliver more pure music per minute than a bevy of roadhouse rockers. Her irresistable voice and guitar has earned her a place on stage with world-class acts, including:
Bonnie Raitt
David Bromberg
the Band
Patti Larkin
Maria Muldaur
Taj Mahal
Aztec Two-Step
Kreger turns folk, rock, blues, and pop influences into a lyrical and melodic style that is as passionate as it is polished.

Professional Highlights
2003 - David Bromberg at the IMAC. Bromberg
2002 - G.E. Smith at Stephen's Talkhouse
2002 - recorded with the Last Hombres and Levon Helm
2001 - Janis Ian at the Huntington Summer Arts Festival
1997 - performance on Christine Lavin's show on WFUV-FM on Sunday morning.
1997 - Newsday Night Beat Column's Long Island Music's Best of 1996 wrap-up, Cathy was named best regional-only artist in the Best Folk Artist category.
1996 - Jim Allen at the Long Island Folk and Blues Holiday Revue at IMAC.
1996 - Tuck & Patti at Five Towns College. Cathy 1996 - Patty Larkin at Bodle's Opera House in Chester NY.
1996 - The Roy Abrams Show - WLIR (92.7 FM) On 1996 - Greg Brown (one of her favorite artists) at a benefit concert for WPKN Radio, Bridgeport CT.
1996 - The NightBeat column in the Thursday, features an interview with Cathy.
1996 - invited to perform at the March 8, 1996 International Women's Day Conference at the United Nations.
1996 - WLIW-TV Channel 21 program Metro Guide.
1985 - opened the Silver Cloud Bluegrass Festival w/ The Band and David Bromberg
1984 - Cathy was also invited to perform with Vassar Clements and opened for Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal at Silver Cloud Bluegrass Festival

Instrumentation

Cathy Kreger - vocals and acoustic guitar
Ken Talve - electric guitar
Chris Elsener - 6 string electric bass
Jamie Betty - drums

Discography

Cathy Kreger's CDs:
Pure Imagination (2007)
Heart Of The Matter (1996)
LIVE at the Blue Angel Cafe (1991)
Grand Central Waltz (1988)

Audio

• Monsters In The Dark
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• Rescue Me
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• Black Water
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• Shibuya Station
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• Pure Imagination
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Lyrics

• Monsters In The Dark
• Rescue Me
• Black Water
• Pure Imagination

Video

RESCUE ME

Photo Gallery

Press

• Grammy Winner? [+ Show ]
  

  GRAMMY WINNER? Written by Kim Withers Those who have followed Cathy Kreger would say YE...
  GRAMMY WINNER?
  Written by Kim Withers
  
  Those who have followed Cathy Kreger would say YES! Definitely! Cathy’s got it! “Her voice could make a bulldog break his leash to hug a hound!” says one fan.
  For this article, I sat down with Cathy Kreger to talk about her career and her soon to be released CD PURE IMAGINATION. Cathy resides here in Huntington and performs often around the island. Her musical influences begin with her parents Bill and Robie(short for Roberta) Berlinghoff. Throughout the 70’s they toured the folk circuit rubbing elbows with well known artists such as Pete Seeger, and Fred Hellerman
  (of The Weavers) and Paul Stookey (of Peter Paul and Mary). Around the house were the records of Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchel, Judy Collins, Janis Ian, Bonnie Raitt and those were the artists that gave her the juice to begin her career in songwriting and performance. As she sang throughout the Northeast in the 80’s and 90’s she garnered a loyal following opening shows with the likes of Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, the Band, David Bromberg, and that’s just naming a few. With 3 Cds to her credit and now on the verge of releasing her 4th CD “Pure Imagination”, Cathy is planning to expand her touring schedule out to the Midwest and Southern states.
  I then asked her to tell me about the new CD. “Well, I have lots to say about it.” says Cathy. “ I pulled out all the stops and decided that I would not be concerned with rules or thoughts like will it sell? This CD is artistic and fun and has a lineup of musicians that are truly the cream of the crop! With players like The Cadillac Moon Band, Ken Talve, Mike Frost, Chris Elsener Jr., Don Celenza, Jamie Betty and Vicki Genfan, how could I go wrong? John Tabacco is the producer and in choosing him I knew we’d have a great sound. I met John at the local post office in Centerport, right after he came back from Maui. He had been working at George Benson’s studio. I was lucky that he was between projects and could take on the job. John’s style as producer is progressive and gave this Cd it’s punch and attitude.”
  
  In an interview with John Tabacco he said,
  “It was an interesting challenge working with Cathy Kreger due to the fact
  that she tends to come from a more folksy kind of musical world where as my
  production skills are geared towards the comical pop, experimental world.
  Could these two disparate musical approaches be integrated into one another?
  The answer was a resounding yes! Cathy's willingness to let me create a
  colorful environment around her music was admirable. She is taking a chance
  with her audience. Hopefully they'll embrace this new direction. In any
  event, I had fun co-writing a few songs with her, working with her talented
  friends and members of her band and I believe the subtle details present in
  this collection of songs should sustain one's ears through many hours of
  repeated listenings.”
  
  I heard the CD which includes covers of the songs Pure Imagination (Willy Wonka) and Black Water (The Doobie Brothers) and it is truly a work of art! You can listen to it entirely without wanting to skip ahead and each song just seems to set up the next. PURE IMAGINATION is pure enjoyment!
  April 30th is the due date for this new Cd and we all look forward to hearing it!
  For more info on Cathy Kreger www.cathykreger.com
  www.myspace.com/cathykreger
  John Tabacco www.betarecords.com/john.tabacco
  www.cdbaby.com
  

• Acoustic Live In New York City [+ Show ]
  

  The Heart Of The Matter by Richard Caccaro In listening to a lot of people who cross the stages ...The Heart Of The Matter by Richard Caccaro
  
  In listening to a lot of people who cross the stages of small clubs as 23-30 minute showcase wonders, open mikers, opening acts and even featured acts, it’s amazing how many “artists” aren’t really singers or great writers. They like to sing and they like putting together those unpoetic confessional treatises that so often pass for songs, and God help us music.
  
  Then there are those people who are gifted and have logged in hours and hours of practice and playing. As soon as one of them touches a guitar string, and opens their mouth to form one sung note, we recognize them instantly for what they are: professionals. Cathy Kreger is one of them.
  
  A professional, for more than 14 years, since her college days, with 3 CDs to her credit, she most frequently plays the small clubs out on Long Island were she lives. She looks forward to the time when she can play more of the larger stages. After watching her demonstrate her well-honed skills a number of times in small venues, I keep wondering, along with her, “My God! What does it take?”
  
  When I asked her what prompted her to become a songwriter, she responded: “It came about because I wanted to write about my life’s experiences. I never studied songwriting or anything. I just wanted to tell my view of what was happening. I thought some people would be interested, that’s all. I find it easier to come up with a catchy melody first and then the lyric usually follows. Lyrics are a challenge at times, although my best songs actually took no time at all.”
  
  The jewel in Cathy’s crowning achievements is her most recent CD, “THE HEART OF THE MATTER,” from which I stole the title of this feature article. Her husky alto combined with just the right amount of backup instrumentation. Sometimes it’s only her and her guitar, and while she has a LIVE CD (“Live At The Blue Angel Café”), at times, the recorded work seems so intimate that it’s like she’s performing right in front of you. Her guitar work is impeccable. She’s very good with a cover tune and intelligently displays this talent here. Her stripped down version of the Pretender’s hit “Don’t Get Me Wrong”, makes it her own. My favorite is the “Hold Me Tight Or Let Me Go” by Russell Javors. She prefaces it with a small jewel of a finger-picked guitar instrumental that fits perfectly as an intro to the bittersweet regret-filled reverie of the Javors’ piece. Then her voice expressively winds itself around the sad turnings of realization that come with unrequited love. Both her singing and the song resemble the Bonnie Raitt hit “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” It’s that good.
  
  For Cathy’s gig listing check her web page at www.cathykreger.com
  
  

Setlist

She's No Maria, He's Gone, Pit's and Cherries, She Caught The Katy, Pure Imagination, The Wine, Walk Right Up, Rescue Me, Roll It Over, All The Love You Have, Nature Of The Business, Monsters In The Dark, Shibuya Station, Black Water, Love Song, Lazy Lila

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