Kate McDonnell - Trapeze (2024)

This is a generously filled-out 6th LP that runs for nearly an hour. Produced by Jimi Woodul (guitar/piano/organ/synth/bgv/aux percussion/arrangements). The performances are all superb.

Kate (vocals/acoustic & electric guitars), Sam Zucchini (drums) & James Gascoyne (bass) converge on 14 swings on this Trapeze (Dropped Sept 6/Dog Eared Discs) written over 3 years. The original songs cover a wide range of intense topics with a swipe at humor & truth.

Kate is not all folky in a Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins manner – she shapes her vocal repertoire with a reliable Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin & Mary Chapin Carpenter treatment. Her tonality shimmers & her voice is eloquent. Despite the folk allusions, she’s not accurately a folk stereotype. I admit that songs like “Come Over Here” have Joan Baez, Betsy Zaske, Ferron, Cris Williamson & Kate Wolf delicacies.

But then a song like “Trapeze” & the catchy “Fight For Your Life” is sung poignantly & intensely. Played with a finesse that isn’t entirely in the folk idiom. The songs have chemistry & melody & are delivered with an inspired thrust. If Kate goes Joan Baez that would be “A Hard Heart” with its late-career Joan vocal tone (think “Diamonds & Rust” era). But there’s little in the way of a reedy tone in Kate’s higher notes.

She doesn’t yet have the smokiness of Christine Collister, or June Tabor, the silky sleekness of ‘60s early Marianne Faithful (“As Tears Go By”), The Seekers’ Judith Durham, the entertaining value of the late Mary Travers, or the late Sandy Denny. But…but…Kate has undeniable skill as a vocalist. It all surfaces with authority & strength on songs like “Breakdown Lane,” “Nowhere To Go” & the marvelous “Madeleine” – all 3 sparkling jewels, beautifully sung. In a final word – Kate McDonnell is an exceptional artist.