The former singer and banjo player for the '90s swing band Squirrel Nut Zippers, Katharine Whalen rose to stardom when the band's album Hot became a major hit. Later, she would explore her interest in classic jazz, releasing a 1999 album called Katharine Whalen's Jazz Squad, which featured her refreshingly original renditions of old jazz favorites.
After a seven-year wait, her new Dirty Little Secret finds Whalen collaborating with producer and musician David Sale, who was looking for a vocalist to communicate his more unusual ideas. They ultimately co-wrote and recorded a mix of jazz, '60s-style pop and occasional trip-hop beats, all fueled by Whalen's playful, confident voice. The result is dazzling and seductive -- a big step into the modern age for a venerable, and remarkable, artist.
Copyright 2006 XPN
