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Lorelei
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CDs, digital downloads, and Reviews! Sample new music at www.myspace.com/tracykashthomas This Detroit Music Award-nominated CD and/or digital downloads are available at CD Baby!
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Apple iTunes
See swingin' Reviews down below! To sample some sounds or purchase these cds, go to the following links:
CD Baby
Record Time
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REVIEWS of
There and Back Again
From Indie-Music.com, December 2006
Tracy
Kash Thomas, with her pale complexion and Asian dress, suggests a frail flower
vocalist. But the lightly funky “My Own Worst Enemy” opener tells a different
story. This singer is sassy, confident and assertive.
There and Back Again touches upon jazz elements in addition to soul
stirrings. She uses groove-oriented backing tracks to support girl power songs.
Although her words are mostly straightforward and serious, “Hunger” takes a
lighthearted approach with lines like, “fear is not your happy friend.” Like
most other independent artists, Thomas has big league dreams. She gets straight
to that point on “Relocation Song” where she asks: “When you hear this, will you
take pity and offer me a record deal and everything I hope I deserve?”
Thomas helped found an all women a cappella group called Lorelei. She is also an
accomplished flute player. Heck, her song “Home” is even found on the CD ROM
accompanying “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to MP3,” so she has plenty of irons in
the fire.
But if and when Thomas gets that label offer she cannot refuse, it will not come
out of pity – as is jokingly suggested by “Relocation Song.” Thomas has a strong
and distinctive voice, one that demands to be heard. Any success she achieves
will most certainly be earned.
- Dan MacIntosh, Indie-Music.com
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From Indie Music Stop, December 2006
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From JazzReview.com, April 2007
Review: Accomplished flutist, songwriter, singer, Tracy Kash Thomas has done it again, with the release of her latest CD, There And Back Again, shows her vocal skills, expressing her human experience and amazing her audience.In a mix of jazz-pop, Thomas opens her album with “My Own Worst Enemy,” revealing her discovery of life’s bigness. Telling the story of finding her own melody, Thomas seeks harmony in life, as she makes her way through a series of life-changing events.
Finding the “Person I Adore” turns Thomas’ tone upbeat, even hopeful as she expresses her relief at finding that special person. Light, airy flute bridges the words, while rhythm is maintained by a soft, percussive bass and drum.
Taking us through her life journey, Thomas offers light, airy inflections to contrast her deeper notes on “Make Me Blue,” after the love has moved on.—giving her inspiration to write. Kris Kurzawa provides an interesting mix on guitars between chorus and finish
Flirty, light, perky, “Distraction” picks up the beat, taking the listener into a swingy mood. Again, Kurzawa frets a plucky string. “Under The Bridge” gives drummer, Bill Higgins, a chance to come out front and create a funky balance to Thomas’ crystal clear voice.
Closing the CD with “Hunger,” Thomas accompanies her voice with soft keyboards, completing her story telling venture, explaining ‘no one should wait too long to free themselves’ in life.
Tracy Kash Thomas has a clear, easy to understand voice. Her accompaniments are a tight group of players. Already featured on radio stations in Detroit, Thomas is on her way to establishing her independence as an artist.
Reviewed by: Nina GoodrichREVIEWS of Some Strong Potion
From Jam Rag, Detroit's Music Magazine, August 2002
Having spent a successful five years in New York City where she
built a
strong reputation and faithful following, Detroit native Tracy Kash
recently moved back home to the Motor City. Heavily influenced by
R&B and jazz, Kash has been described as "the female version of
Stevie Wonder...with heart and soul oozing out of every pore." Some
Strong Potion is the aptly entitled singer/songwriter's debut,
featuring ten sensually, soulful tracks that critics have described as
"indie stuff at it finest...first class songwriting with intriguing
lyric and lush vocals." My favorite tracks are the Motown-ish
"Wading in Waiting", "Home", "High" and the bluesy "The Plan."
- Mark Clark, Jam Rag
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From Muse's Muse, the ultimate songwriter's website, July 2000
Tracy Kash honestly has one of the most fantastic voices I've heard
in a long time. Just amazing. The music here is heavily influenced by
R&B and Jazz. There are even moments when I could swear I'm
listening to a female version of Stevie Wonder. (I *love* Stevie
Wonder. This is music that's
familiar to me - music I grew up with.) Her band provides just the
right
mix of backup for that stunny voice of hers, their own skill at what
they
do, incredibly obvious. The songwriting is first class. The album this
demonstration
song is taken from, is called Some Strong Potion and this is indie
stuff
at its finest. These songs aren't meant for the "3 minute radio"
format.
They're meaty pieces (one of them is actually over 6 minutes long - and
I barely noticed!) with heart and soul oozing out of every pore. Take a
listen
to this sample and you'll see what I mean, but the entire album really
needs
a listen in order to get what Tracy and her band are all about. I
highly
recommend you take the time.
- Jodi Krangle, Proprietress of Muse's
Muse, http://www.musesmuse.com
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From Music Dish, May 2000
You know, "The Plan" (esp. the way the chorus part is presented)
sure reminds
me of
something from Helen Reddy's 'Long Hard Climb' album. Sometimes the
beat goes so
slow I think it's going to stop, yet it keeps going at the same pace,
and finds itself in an
organ and guitar instrumental break that takes me right back to those
keen 70s without
completely leaving the 00s.
10 songs here, nearly 50 minutes of Tracy making us feel right at
home, never too strong,
never too 'bad', containing just enough soft rock jazz to keep you
yawning through smiles.
After a few listens, I still want to listen again because of the
mixture of styles her whole
crew brings to tunes that Need to be whistled. From "Home" we get 'have
a merry
christmas happy birthday to you. blow out the candles on your cake and
make your dream
come true. never had to borrow any time for sorrow. every moment
sparkled like the sea
beneath the sun, oh'. Pretty, elegant stuffs.
- Ben Ohmart, Music Dish, http://musicdish.com
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The Tracy Kash Band - "Some Strong Potion"
by Marcus Pan, Legends Magazine, to appear September, 2000 issue
Everyone has their deep dark completely non-goth secrets. Late
at night
when nobody's looking, when the rest of the gothic commune is asleep
and
nobody can hear, we'll all slip in something that if our brethren heard
it
they would point and scream - therefore ruining our spooky and
black-clad
reputations. You know it, I know it, we all know it. As
long as you don't
get caught, you can still hang with the bats. Well, being a jaded
cynic
anyway, I figured I'd be the first to step to the forefront and
exclaim, for
no good reason, that, "Not all the music I listen to is goth/industrial
or
related!" So there! I feel better already.
One band that caught my eye recently hails from my home state of
Jersey and
is making waves in Manhattan. Fronted by previous classical
musician, Tracy
Kash as singer/songwriter, The Tracy Kash Band play a jazz/soft-rock
style
infusing their songs with comfortable vibes and wonderful
arrangement. The
instrumentation is well balanced and the rhythms are smooth, with just
a
pinch of morose blues-style lyrics. Featuring Art Hays on guitar,
Ted Cruz
on keyboards, Bob Roe on bass and Brian Delaney on drums, The Tracy
Kash
Band is an enjoyable entourage. I wanted to turn your eyes to
them because
their debut album is quite a triumph.
Supported by her studies that lead to both Bachelor's and Master's
degrees
in orchestral performance, Tracy put down her flute to find a love of
songwriting and jazz arrangements. The learned endeavors clearly
show in
the songs found here on Some Strong Potion - surely there are more than
a
handful of bands that could use a little bit of school in putting their
tracks together. Having the background she does allows her to
arrange
everything together in such a way that there's a smooth blend across
the
instrumental scope - nothing overbearing, everything melded together.
Opening with Fleeting, a bittersweet melody of one night
encounters. The
way you can meet someone who seems to be such a perfect counterpart to
you,
"Just like old friends when in reality it was just a few hours."
Afterthought can bring forth a bitter reality. Picking up the
pace a bit
with a flowing rhythm and Tracy's off-the-cuff vocals, Where Is She? is
another story - this time how one can find themselves at the top of the
pile
in one place, but just another dime in the dozen in another.
Tracy's chorus
singing in Where Is She? clearly shows her ability to carry a tune well
and
with aplomb.
Another track I enjoy is the depressing and truthful - for isn't the
truth
usually the most depressing anyway? - Wading In Waiting. Rhythms
are
subdued, the bass line minimal and perfected. Facing reality
with, "I just
think it's time that we moved on," upon the realization the song
becomes
more complicated with a stronger, yet still slow and low, rhythm
section.
With bright guitar licks and keyboard arrangements, The Price of Fame
is a
sarcastic piece poking fun at success. Wonderful lyrics like,
"No, I won't
forget you. Since you put me on top - tell me now, what did you
say your
name was?" Yet while enjoying the sarcasm, Tracy is looking for
the fame
she wants. Everybody wants to be known, don't they? It's
like what the
Counting Crows say (egads, another not-goth musical group), "When I
look at
the television I want to see me staring back at me." Otherwise
you might as
well be a mushroom or something.
Smooth, end-of-day, mellow out and settle down music. This is
my
after-stomping-around-a-club CD of choice. Relax, chill
out. Enjoy the
rhythms, witty lyrics, comfortable guitar and bass lines, keyboard and
piano
melodies. Hell, I might even go see them play sometime - that is,
of
course, if the venue lets in the freak in the makeup. Hey Tracy,
keep your
eye on the dark corners, luv.
Marcus Pan - Editor, Legends Magazine
http://www.legendsmagazine.net