When Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay first hooked up with the Zen Tricksters at the Gathering of The Vibes in upstate New York back in 2005, it was clear to all involved that a very special connection had been made. That bond grew stronger still when Donna and the Tricksters collaborated again the following year, at a Rex Foundation benefit in New York. Within a very short time, the kindred spirits made it official by forming a band together, with vocalist Wendy Lanter and keyboardist Mookie Siegel joining Donna Jean and Zen Tricksters members Jeff Mattson, Tom Circosta, Klyph Black and Dave Diamond. They've been pretty much inseparable ever since, becoming an ever-more-popular attraction on the club and festival circuit.
Photo: Susana Millman
And now Donna Jean & The Tricksters take another big step forward, with the release of their self-produced debut album, an impressive showcase for the vitality and versatility of the band. One of the most striking things about the album is how naturally its music defies easy description. Among the 12 tracks can be found plenty of stuff to make a jam-happy rock fan even happier, but there are also songs (such as "All I Gotta Say") that are evocative of the Southern Soul music that Donna Jean loved and lived as a teenage session singer in her hometown of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Elsewhere you may detect a hint of Gospel ("No Better Way,") Afro-Beat ("Weight of the World,") or lush pop harmonies ("Shelter"), to name just a few of the flavors that make up the band's rich musical gumbo.
To celebrate the new CD, Donna Jean & The Tricksters will be doing a whole lotta live performing in the coming months, including a gala release party and benefit for the Rex Foundation at New York's Knitting Factory on February 23rd. To see if and when they'll be coming to your town, go here.
To order a copy of Donna Jean & The Tricksters or get other info about the band, check out the official website.