The Catz in the Hatz

Jazz With an Attitude

It was a wonderful feather in their "Hat" that The Catz in the Hatz were asked to play at the Grand Opening of the New Amphitheater at the Discovery Center in Big Bear Lake, California. From that success they were immediately asked back to The Discovery Center to be the opening act for Three Dog Night. Bringing jazz to Big Bear, The Catz have been building a steady following at their home base, The Mandoline Bistro, for the past year and have just recorded their first CD of classic jazz standards. Each member of this unique group has had decades of experience - on the musical road - in the recording studio and on stage.

The magic of jazz and classic standards has brought these members together. Their debut CD "Take One" was released on on May 1st 2005 and is on sale at Mandolines Bisto. Songs like Sinatra's "One for my Baby," "Angel Eyes," and "It Was A Very Good Year" along with Cole Porter's "Under My Skin" and Mel Torme's "Comin' Home," Tony Bennett's "World on a String," and Nat Cole's "Nature Boy" are paid homage to - as the best music ever - through the Catz's new arrangements and vocals.

It's like watching an energetic and funny Frank Sinatra being backed by the zany Blues Brothers. This is what critics/reviewers are saying about the "live shows" of the debut CD, "Resilience" on Rhombus Records by The Catz in the Hatz - Jazz With an Attitude. These Catz are so seasoned and professionally astute, along with interjecting such inhibited showmanship to their audiences, one might think that their exceptional talent, entertaining humor, and audience-grabbing antics were designed by producers of a number one show rehearsing for arenas. Fronted by baritone singer, Steve Johnson, The Catz deliver songs as bold as "It Was a Very Good Year" and then whirling instantly into their original song "Slow Down Jimmy" — where you'd think Louie Primi had suddenly taken over their bodies in spirit.

A masterful cut of "Quarter to Three" shows a baritone range that not too many singers can claim today. But that's not all. When The Catz keyboardist, Mike Cross, goes into his own arrangement of Beethoven's "Fur Elise", you can hear and see this exceptional band's range of classical training, singing and expert showmanship. "Steve Johnson is a natural crooner like his idols Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and Mel Torme. It's the tone!"
-- Edward James Olmos, Academy Award nominated actor and director, Golden Globe winner.