"Welcome to my Fantasy"
"Call the radio stations! This has to get air play! It just has to! Tracy K is from Winnipeg. We have to support our Canadian Talent. Yes, that's Talent with a capital T. Canadian Blues at it's finest. This is like a tribute to Janis. This is great riffs and beautiful harmonica! It's passion and joy! Oh, try it, you'll like it! I swear!" - Alex in Ottawa (from forwarded fanmail)
The debut album, a Manitoba Film & Sound supported project, is a ten song collection of Tracy K originals featuring a strong blues/jazz/roots based contemporary sound, that shows off her big city side as well as her rural roots. It rocks, it swings, and has hints of country in it, but the highlight has to be the emotion drenched ballads. This woman can pour out her soul both lyrically and vocally.....M.Furnish, Eastman Music & Folklore
About the cd:
- The CD features a roster of style-appropriate musicians who give character to each tune.
- - Winnipeg's own Ron Halldorson (of Lenny Breau fame) plays electric guitar, pedal steel, dobro and acoustic flat top on a couple tracks, while guitarist-exraordinaire Tim Butler is featured effectively on several tracks.
- - Nenad Zdjelar, call him "Keza" (freshly transplanted here from the Belgrade Opera in Yugoslavia), displays his virtuosity on stand-up double bass and electric bass guitar.
- - award winning Craig the "King" Fotheringham inputs his royal keyboard abilities and reigned production duty on four tunes.
- - The drumming features the finesse of juno recipientGreg Black, the no-messin' around sound of George Demeduk, and Tim Sutton's toe-tapping southern rhythm.
- - Pulling it all together are Tracy K's highly acclaimed vocal stylings, moving from rough n' ready to sweet n' cool, changing mood with the tune. Her impressive harmonica skills are used tastefully in several songs, as is her rhythm guitar work.
- - Recorded at Private Ear Studios in Winnipeg by Lloyd Peterson and Neil Cameron, the proud winners of the "Studio of the Year" award at the 1999 Prairie Music Awards. Neil did a fine job of mixing the new stuff and remixing four previous tracks. Master Al Hunnie did the mastering.
- - The cd art has jump-off-the-shelf appeal and intriguing imagery. Done by Rolf Busch, a respected fine artist.
- All in all, for being self-produced and frugally financed, Tracy K takes home credit for coordinating what would be a successful first album project with thanks to all involved.