Kat Webb
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Kat Webb

New York City, New York, United States | SELF

New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Band R&B Soul

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"Video: Kat Webb - "Waver""

Brooklyn based soul singer Kat Webb is gearing up to release her sophomore album, A Better Picture, and if this first single is any indication – we’ve got a hefty treat awaiting us. Her sound has got our mushy feelings turned up on high, taking us back to R&B of the late 90s. Watch the video for “Waver” above and get sentimental with us. - Giant Step


"Kat Webb "Waver""

New York artist Kat Webb releases her first single, "Waver" from her sophomore album, "A Better Picture". Such a stunning Frictionless sound she has. Great Artist!! hope to hear more from her in the future. - Traprock Radio


"Kat Webb "Waver""

New York artist Kat Webb releases her first single, "Waver" from her sophomore album, "A Better Picture". Such a stunning Frictionless sound she has. Great Artist!! hope to hear more from her in the future. - Traprock Radio


"Bounce-worthy: Kat Webb"

"Keep Austin weird" is the resounding motto of the capital of the Lone Star State, but there isn't anything weird about Austin-ite Kat Webb or her music. The case it totally the opposite, but don't box her in as Webb doesn't dabble in conformity. Webb has since transplanted herself to the East coast as she's honed her craft there working a stage or two and collaborating with local artists, even finding a wedge of time to release her debut album of jazz standards entitled, An Old Soul, back in 2011. Still, even though she's not deep in the heart of Texas, the Southern comfort aesthetic has not been scrubbed out of Webb's repertoire. It's pretty much front and center on her soon-to-be-released second album, A Better Picture, as she weaves some charm in with her unique stew of acoustic folk and soul-jazz. One listen to debut single, "Waver," and how Webb's rich n' syrupy vocals cascade over an acoustic backdrop, it is crystal clear that she has her heartstrings in her homestead. Acts like Dionne Farris and Des'ree come to mind when listening to Webb, making her a delicacy to indulge in as such earthy homespun soul sounds are quite scarce in this icy sparse soul-droid guise we've latched onto for the 21st century. So going into A Better Picture will have you lounging into its groove making breathing a little easier. As a fellow, South Texas girl myself, my bias is a little showing for Kat Webb and her Southern soul throwback, but if you take A Better Picture down stream when it's released on November 13th, you too will find yourself charmed. - Soul Bounce


"Kat Webb - An Old Soul"

At most times when an artist chooses to record an entire project of covers their song choices are usually scrutinized. This is especially true when their work is unproven on a national level. Yet, this notion certainly did not deter jazz chanteuse Kat Webb from recording a debut reflective of her eclectic tastes in contemporary and classic pop, R&B and jazz. After spending a few years singing background, songwriting and as an audio engineer, this self-declared quasi-Hippie vocalist decided to honor many of her childhood heroes like Mahalia, Ella and Aretha, along with legendary composers Burt Bacharach, Duke Ellington and John Lennon.

Webb proclaims her self-released debut, An Old Soul, as an avenue for fans to know her musically and personally. She is deeply proud of how all the details behind An Old Soul captures recording in the old-fashioned way, from choosing analog over digital engineering to the completely live performance vibe.

Webb begins An Old Soul with a bluesy swagger for “Come Sunday,” the Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn composition covered by Cannonball Adderly and Mahalia Jackson with Ellington’s Orchestra. One of the most coveted jazz classics, another Ellington & Strayhorn creation “Lush Life,” showcases Webb’s melancholy approach. Webb sprinkles some sass on Al Green’s southern soul signature classic, “I’m Still in Love with You.” Her ability to flex some swing is evident on the Frank Sinatra classic, “All or Nothing At All.” The absolute highlight on An Old Soul is The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” where Webb’s turns on the vocal jets, climaxed by a hypnotizing duet with saxophonist Ezra Brown.

While An Old Soul is a commendable idea, the overall song choices and arrangements are a mixed bag. The shining moments are Webb’s admirable and pleasing interpretations on the aforementioned tracks. The glaring misses lie in the track sequencing (i.e., the Motown classic “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” followed by the lounge pop of “Wives & Lovers”) and when Webb’s voice is slight disengaged (“Cry Me A River,” “Walk on By”) and on Chris Rob’s underwhelming arrangements (“Fever,” “Until You Come Back to Me”). Though An Old Soul is an overall average effort, this by no means minimizes Webb’s sincere passion to resurrect some pop, R&B and jazz treasures.

Vocals: 2.5 stars
Music: 2.5 stars
Lyrics: 4.0 stars
Production: 3.0 stars
SoulTracks Call: Modestly Recommended

By Peggy Oliver - SoulTracks.com


"Kat Webb | “An Old Soul” | Debut album 2011"

New York based singer/songwriter and Austin, TX native, Kat Webb, just released her debut, “An Old Soul” 2011. Kat has put an album of contemporary soul & jazz covers together that's deeply rooted in the past. If you're a fan of people like Ella Fitzerald, Jill Scott and Marvin Gaye, you’ll love Kat Webb. She’s brought the past to the present with a classy album of grown up music. Out now: http://www.cdbaby.com / http://itunes.apple.com - DJ Chris Crates of Radio Meltdown


"Kat Webb | “An Old Soul” | Debut album 2011"

New York based singer/songwriter and Austin, TX native, Kat Webb, just released her debut, “An Old Soul” 2011. Kat has put an album of contemporary soul & jazz covers together that's deeply rooted in the past. If you're a fan of people like Ella Fitzerald, Jill Scott and Marvin Gaye, you’ll love Kat Webb. She’s brought the past to the present with a classy album of grown up music. Out now: http://www.cdbaby.com / http://itunes.apple.com - DJ Chris Crates of Radio Meltdown


"Kat Webb: An Old Soul"

Kat Webb

An Old Soul

Self-Released Record 2011

While An Old Soul might seem to be an odd title for an artist’s debut – it is an appropriate appellation for Kat Webb. She was introduced to music through Baptist Gospel choir in Austin, Texas. Later she moved to the East Coast and studied traditional African-American music with a Yale a capella troupe, Shades. On the first listen, you can tell that Webb has a solid rich voice that complements a range of styles. Keeping with the title, this release is a compilation of soul, blues, and R&B classics, including tunes from the Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dinah Washington.

It’s always a challenge to cover a variety of iconic musicians, playing such popular songs and trying to create a new interpretation that carries some new weight separate from the original. The musicianship in this album is obvious, and the improvisations from the band do a good job at complementing the original tunes. Webb is joined by some talented musicians, Chris Rob on piano (who’s worked with John Legend and Kanye) and Maurice Brown on trumpet (Aretha Franklin, The Roots, and De La Soul). There is a great energy in the band’s playing, and the entire album was recorded live. The improvisations are all live originals, and the players only practiced a few times before they recorded the final tracks. But with the virtuoso skill of these session players, you could never tell.

The album was mixed and recorded in Royal Blue Studios, one of the few analog studios left in Brooklyn. There are no loops in the album, so everything heard comes from the sessions. All post was mixed by Robert Honablue. He’s been in the industry for over 28 years, working with legends like Dave Brubeck, Aretha Franklin, and Miles Davis. The whole band is piano, harp, tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, and drums. It’s a nice throwback to the “old soul” sounds of the past.

After listening to album a couple times, one starts to get the sense that Webb feels the most comfortable on the standout tracks. Fever, Blackbird, and Heard it Through the Grapevine, you can hear her really having fun, where the charge in her voice leads the band. In my opinion these tracks are the ones that sound most distinctly original, Hearing “Blackbird,” with piano and tenor sax instead of guitar might start you out skeptically, but her strong alto singing is a great foundation for this standard. Her voice heard over a sax is like velvet on all these aforementioned tracks. For a debut album, it demonstrates that Webb can hold up her own with classics, and has the potential to break out if she branches out to original songs.

3.5 outta 5

–by Kara Lee - Kara Lee of FolkYourself.com


"Kat Webb: An Old Soul"

Kat Webb

An Old Soul

Self-Released Record 2011

While An Old Soul might seem to be an odd title for an artist’s debut – it is an appropriate appellation for Kat Webb. She was introduced to music through Baptist Gospel choir in Austin, Texas. Later she moved to the East Coast and studied traditional African-American music with a Yale a capella troupe, Shades. On the first listen, you can tell that Webb has a solid rich voice that complements a range of styles. Keeping with the title, this release is a compilation of soul, blues, and R&B classics, including tunes from the Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dinah Washington.

It’s always a challenge to cover a variety of iconic musicians, playing such popular songs and trying to create a new interpretation that carries some new weight separate from the original. The musicianship in this album is obvious, and the improvisations from the band do a good job at complementing the original tunes. Webb is joined by some talented musicians, Chris Rob on piano (who’s worked with John Legend and Kanye) and Maurice Brown on trumpet (Aretha Franklin, The Roots, and De La Soul). There is a great energy in the band’s playing, and the entire album was recorded live. The improvisations are all live originals, and the players only practiced a few times before they recorded the final tracks. But with the virtuoso skill of these session players, you could never tell.

The album was mixed and recorded in Royal Blue Studios, one of the few analog studios left in Brooklyn. There are no loops in the album, so everything heard comes from the sessions. All post was mixed by Robert Honablue. He’s been in the industry for over 28 years, working with legends like Dave Brubeck, Aretha Franklin, and Miles Davis. The whole band is piano, harp, tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, and drums. It’s a nice throwback to the “old soul” sounds of the past.

After listening to album a couple times, one starts to get the sense that Webb feels the most comfortable on the standout tracks. Fever, Blackbird, and Heard it Through the Grapevine, you can hear her really having fun, where the charge in her voice leads the band. In my opinion these tracks are the ones that sound most distinctly original, Hearing “Blackbird,” with piano and tenor sax instead of guitar might start you out skeptically, but her strong alto singing is a great foundation for this standard. Her voice heard over a sax is like velvet on all these aforementioned tracks. For a debut album, it demonstrates that Webb can hold up her own with classics, and has the potential to break out if she branches out to original songs.

3.5 outta 5

–by Kara Lee - Kara Lee of FolkYourself.com


Discography

"An Old Soul", LP released May 2011
"A Better Picture", LP released November 2012

Photos

Bio

Kat Webb is an Austin, TX-born soul singer, but confining genres definitely aren't her style. Since graduating Yale University in 2007 with a degree in English and substantial training with the Yale School of Music, Webb has resided in Brooklyn, NY, singing background for various NYC artists, writing for up-and-coming artists and interning in audio engineering at The Honablue Institute (formerly Royal Blue Studios).

In May 2011, she made her solo debut with “An Old Soul”, a compilation of jazz standards and soul classics re-imagined for the modern listener, recorded entirely in analog with a live band to recreate the true vintage sound. Since then she's been performing in venues all along the East coast, including the legendary Lenox Lounge, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Bowery Poetry Club, Drom, and many more.

The release of her upcoming album, "A Better Picture" (November 2012), will mark the first time Kat presents to her audience her own original music. It's sure to be memorable with co-producers Christian Ver Halen and Jesse Fischer on board, and Grammy-winners involved in its production. Big things are coming for this Southern Songbirg!