Katie Trautz

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05 Bound for Canaan.mp3

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Released: Nov 10, 2010

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05 Bound for Canaan.mp3
2:47
190 plays
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Firetrucks.mp3
4:07
155 plays
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Lost Girl
2:51
503 plays
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Mrs. Whitemore's Song
5:40
378 plays
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Dying Californian
2:57
317 plays

Total Plays: 6,891 / Plays Today: 6See All Featured ►

General Info

Genre: Americana / Folk / Indie
Location MONTPELIER, Vermont, US
Profile Views: 19655
Last Login: 5/2/2012
Member Since 5/18/2008
Website this is it!
Record Label Unsigned
Type of Label Unsigned
Bio
Katie Trautz plays fiddle, banjo, and guitar. She writes old-time inspired originals, layered with harmonies and haunting melodies. Katie is a native Vermonter and carves a living by teaching singing workshops and fiddle lessons, and tours, writes, and records. She performs solo as well as with the groups Katie Trautz and the Tall Boys, Mayfly and Wooden Dinosaur. Katie is also the founder of a non-profit folk music school: www.summit-school.org.
Members
Katie Trautz plays with Jay Ekis, Mayfly-Julia Wayne, and Wooden Dinosaur-Michael Roberts. Her new solo album, which won best traditional album of the year in Vermont, features Vermont musicians including: Pete Sutherland, Colin McCaffrey, Nate Gusakov, Julia Wayne, and Mike Roberts. Katie also plays with the Tall Boys in Vermont, including Michael Roberts (Wooden Dinosaur), Nate Gusakov (Knotty Pine), Noah Hahn (JP Harris and the Tough Choices), Asa Brosious (Sara Grace and the Suits) and Will Gusakov (suitcase drums).
Influences
Doc Boggs, Melvin Wine, Leadbelly, Missippi John Hurt, Rayna Gellert, Gillian Welch, Radiohead, Death Vessel, Anais Mitchell, Greg Brown...And my teachers Bruce Molsky, Jimmy Triplett, Bill Hicks, Alan Jabbour, and Pete Sutherland, Larry Gordan, Patty Cuyler, Suzannah Park, and many others.
Sounds Like
Sing Out! Magazine review, summer 2010: Katie Trautz is the director of folk mu- sic at the Summit School of Tradi- tional Music and Culture in Montpelier, Vt. In addition to her academic pursuits, she is also a fine fiddler, banjoist, guitarist and singer. Remembering is a delicate collec- tion of 12 traditional and self-penned songs and tunes rooted in the old-time tradition. The CD opens with “Piney Woods,” a West Virginia fiddle tune learned from Jimmy Triplett. Katie has a wonderful ap- preciation for the lonesome sound of this unaccompanied tune. Up next is an unusual version of “Going to the West” that matches the traditional lyrics to a decidedly untraditional melody. It’s as if Shawn Colvin had taken the tune and totally re- worked the melody. “The Moon” is an origi- nal song in which Katie combines the haunting sounds of old-time mountain mu- sic with a contemporary singer-songwriter approach to melody and vocalization. Another tune learned from Jimmy Triplett follows. “Lost Girl” is a classic fiddle tune, and Katie has a lightness of touch that makes it very appealing. She is accompanied by fellow Vermonter Pete Sutherland on guitar. Remembering has lots of surprises, in- cluding the shape-note hymn “Bound for Canaan” sung with Julia Wayne. They gracefully navigate the crooked meter of the tune with guitar, bass and mandolin accom- paniment. Katie offers an original fiddle tune, “Malbec,” which resembles the classic tune “West Fork Gals” that is from the playing of Wilson Douglas. Once again, Pete pro- vides strong guitar accompaniment to this lively melody. The CD concludes with “Titles,” a re- worked version of “When I Can Read My Titles Clear” that includes a new melody. It features beautiful four-part harmony and is a worthy setting for these classic lyrics. Katie Trautz is representative of many young people playing traditional music to- day. On Remembering, she has used the tra- ditional style to establish her own distinc- tive and lovely repertoire. — TD