Performing live at The Precipice on Fri, July 26!

Biography

Kat Wright & the Indomitable Soul Band create music that has something in common with their name. Size.
Their sound is so big and emotionally charged that it floods the room and practically overflows out the venue doors, leaving in its wake an audience that’s bobbing and dancing to the groove.
The secret behind this big, soulful sound? It starts with Kat Wright’s vocals. Powerful, gritty and capable of expressing subtle, delicate emotions–
Kat was born to sing blues and soul music. And behind her, or rather completely surrounding her, some of the most talented musicians in northern New England; with a lineup that features bass, drums, percussion, guitar, organ, trumpet, trombone and alto sax.

BIOS:
SHANE HARDIMAN - keys
Born on P.E I. Canada, Shane grew up in New Jersey and has been living and performing music in Vermont since 1990. Shane graduated from Johnson State College with a B.A. in jazz studies in ‘94, where he studied Jazz and Classical piano with the late Andy Shapiro and the late Susan Halligan. Since that time Shane has continued to push himself down a path of self discovery and growth to become one of the area’s finest talents and in demand players. A passionate improviser and educator, Shane performs regularly with many of the area’s finest musicians, including the Anthony Santor Trio, The Gabe Jarret Trio, Guagua, Kat Wright & The Indomitable Soul Band, The Eames Brothers, The Real Deal, The Brett Hughes Honky Tonk Tuesday Band and his own group the Shane Hardiman Trio which currently includes Robinson Morse on Bass and Geza Carr on drums. Shane has also accompanied Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade (recently awarded the New England Music Award for “Jazz Act of the Year”) on a number of their visits to the area. During his near ten year residency at the Radio Bean in Burlington Vt., Shane has continued to bring a steady stream of some of the most talented and exciting local and regional performers to those in the know. Some of the people from the exhaustive list of musicians who have played with Shane on this night include: Conor Elmes, Luke LePlant, Anthony Santor, Gabe Jarret, Jed Kriegal, Calvin Crosby, Nick Cassarino, PJ & Joey Davidian, Jennifer Hartswick, Steve Weinert, John Rivers, Michael “Ish” Montgomery, Skeeter Cameron, Barry Ries, Andy Moroz, Jake Whitesell, Tyshawn Sorey, Danny Ryan, Ian Kovak, Chris Barowski, Ethan Schneider, Alex Toth, Annakalmia Traver, Ray Vega, Geoff Kim, and John Rogone. Although Shane primarily considers himself a jazz pianist, it is clear that he is equally comfortable in many musical contexts. In recent years Shane has recorded with The Eames Brothers, Cannon Fodder, Lowell Thompson, released three cd’s with the local psychotropical explosion Gua Gua, and most recently a soon to be released collection of Jazz Standards with Emily Day, John Rivers and Geza Carr. Shane first brought the group of musicians known as the ISB together to back up Kat Wright in December of 2010.

JOSH WEINSTEIN - bass
24 year old Josh Weinstein has been a part of the Burlington music scene for about 4 years now. He studied the upright bass under John Rivers at the University of Vermont, however upon graduating has been playing mainly the electric bass. He helped form Burlington favorites "Bearquarium," and with them has toured the Northeast extensively, playing small clubs to large venues and the festival circuit. Last year, Josh joined Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band, and Craig Mitchell and Motor City, both bands showing great promise for the future. Josh has had the honor of sharing the stage with local and international greats: Ray Vega, Dave Grippo, Craig Mitchell, Bob Wagner, Ray Paczkowski, Russ Lawton, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Rubblebucket, Eric Krasno & Chap. 2, and Buru Style, just to name a few. Josh's favorite time of year in Burlington is most definitely during Jazzfest, a time in which he feels Burlington and it's music scene really comes to life! Josh is very excited for the future, especially as a part of Mrs. Wright's killer band!

DAN RYAN - drums
Dan Ryan hails from West Barnet, in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, but has made a career of his talent all over the state. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 2010 with a Bachelor of Music, and has continued playing in and around Burlington, as well as all over New England and New York. While at UVM, he opened for and played alongside such greats as Wynton Marsalis, Rufus Reid, Bobby Watson, Maria Schneider, Carla Bley, and Arturo O'Farrill, among others. Dan has played with some of Burlington's most notable powerhouse bands, such as Roku, Alex Toth & the Lazybirds, Strength in Numbers, and Spank. He is currently a member of Craig Mitchell & Motor City, as well as Kat Wright & the Indomitable Soul Band. He also teaches private lessons in and around Burlington.

JAKE WHITESELL - saxaphone
Jake Whitesell grew up in Potsdam, NY, studying trombone, recorder, and clarinet before focusing on saxophone. Jake fell in love with classic jazz recordings in ninth grade and formed a jazz combo with his twin brother Sam and their friends, rehearsing regularly and performing at local events. Jake attended the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, graduating with a B.M. in Music Performance in 2005 and a minor in Jazz Studies. During high school and college, Jake studied jazz and classical music on saxophones, clarinet, and flute, performing in numerous school ensembles while also playing jazz professionally. As lead saxophonist for Wally Siebel’s All-Star Big Band in northern NY, Jake backed up jazz greats Gary Smulyan, Ken Peplowski, Ray Vega, and John Pizzarelli. Since college, Jake has been teaching privately and performing in NY, MA, and VT. Now one of Vermont's most in-demand saxophonists, Jake resides in Montpelier and performs with a variety of bands, including Kat Wright & The Indomitable Soul Band, Joey Leone's Chop Shop, Gua Gua, A Fly Allusion, Pine Street Jazz, The Stephen Callahan Quartet, and The Jake Whitesell Quartet. Jake is on the junior faculty for the Vermont Jazz Center’s annual Summer Jazz Workshop, held in Putney, VT.

LUKE LAPLANT - baritone saxophone
bio coming soon.

DAVE PURCELL - trumpet
bio coming soon.

KAT WRIGHT - vocals
Born in the Genesee Valley Region of Western Upstate New York (aka Rochester), Kat has always had duende. Federico Garcia Lorca writes: "The duende, then, is a power, not a work. It is a struggle, not a thought. I have heard an old maestro of the guitar say, 'The duende is not in the throat; the duende climbs up inside you, from the soles of the feet.' Meaning this: it is not a question of ability, but of true, living style, of blood, of the most ancient culture, of spontaneous creation." Kat has been performing as a vocalist since age 11, and has always been a visual artist as well; she received a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from Alfred University in 2008. She still participates actively in making visual art, designing menus, graphics, signs and clothing.
Kat has always sought adventure- whether studying at The Glasgow School of Art in Scotland, traveling Europe, or spending several months living, learning and working on a Bio-Dynamic Farm in Battle Ground, Washington. From 2008-2010 she focused primarily on forming the folk duo Loveful Heights and touring both coasts of the United States, as well as India. Many of these tours drew her to Burlington, VT where she now lives, loves, learns and works. Shortly after relocating to Burlington she formed The Indomitable Soul Band (with the help of Shane Hardiman) in 2010, and has been overjoyed that many of the most talented musicians in northern New England have sought out an opportunity to play with her band. This is just the beginning.