It's like watching an energetic Frank Sinatra being backed by the zany Blues Brothers. This is what critics and reviewers are saying about the live shows of THE CATZ IN THE HATZ debut album Resilience, on Rhombus Records. These Catz are so seasoned and professionally astute, and blend showmanship with musicianship to a perfect degree, that one might think their exceptional talent, entertaining humor, and audience grabbing antics, were designed by producers of a hit show. Fronted by baritone singer, Steve Johnson, The Catz deliver songs as bold as, "It Was A Very Good Year," then whirling instantly into their original song "Slow Down Jimmy," that you'd think the spirit of Louie Primi had suddenly taken over. A masterful cut of "Quarter to Three" shows a baritone range that not too many singers can claim today. When the Catz Keyboardist Mike Cross goes into his own jazz arrangement of Beethoven's "Fur Elise," you can hear and see this exceptional band's range of classical training, singing and expert flare! It's so refreshing to see musicians that have a ‘no holds bar' attitude and translate that magical gift into their music. The Guestbook on their website, www.catinhatz.com is stacked to the rafters with people that exhibit their allegiance to The Catz. "I never knew the bass could be played with such wild abandonment," is a standard quote from a fan, talking about Terry Copley's "Jaco" influenced delivery. "Some stars today could take a few lessons off Mike Wien's guitar work," wrote Ron Coleman, an Independent Jazz Reviewer from Boston Mass. In concert, while doing Mel Torme's "Coming Home" drummer Steve Boggion plays completely off his kit, leaping off of the stage while roaring around the entire club, playing on tables and glasses that the audience members hold up for him - the whole band follows him in a conga-line shaking hand rhythm instruments. Did someone scream, ‘BA BA LOO'? These guys are testing the jazz audiences' limits of laughter, mixed with superb individual talent. Meow! "STEVE JOHNSON IS A NATURAL CROONER LIKE HIS IDOLS FRANK SINATRA, TONY BENNETT, NAT KING COLE AND MEL TORME. IT'S THE TONE!" --EDWARD JAMES OLMOS, ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED ACTOR AND DIRECTOR. GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER "JOHNSON'S VOICE IS VERY REMINISCENT OF SINATRA AND MEL TORME, RICH AND ROBUST. WITH HIS HAT AND SHINY BLUE EYES, THE CATZ SEEM MAGICAL!" --MARCUS DEEDS, BIG BEAR TODAY NEWSPAPER. "THE CATZ ARE THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO JAZZ IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. JOHNSON HAS SINTARA VOCALS, WIENS HAS JOE PASS STYLE, COPLEY MAKES JACO PASTORIUS LIVE, CROSS IS LIKE DAVID BENOIT, AND BOGGIO IS BUDDY RICH. WOW! PLUS THEY WRITE GREAT SONGS. IT'S A MUSICAL EXPLOSION!" ---MIKE FOLEY, THE DREAM MERCHANT MAGAZINE "THE CATZ NOW SUCCEED AS SONG WRITERS WITH THEIR SWINGING AND COMMERCIAL SONG, ‘SLOW DOWN JIMMY.' THEY DELIGHT MUSICIANS AND LISTERNERS. GUITARTS MIKE WIENS COULD GIVE A FEW LESSONS TO SOME BIG SHOTS, AND THEN THERE'S STEVE JOHNSON, AND WITH ONLY A FEW IN THE HEAVYWEITHT CLASS OF MALE BARITONE JAZZ SINGERS, JOHNSON PROVES TO BE A MAIN CONTENDER." --ROD COLEMAN, INDEPENDENT JAZZ REVIEWER, BOSTON, MA. "IT'S LIKE WATCHING AND LISTENING TO FRANK SINATRA BEING BACKED BY THE BLUES BROTHERS." --ABBEY ROAD MUSIC "THE CATZ ARE EXTREMELY TALENTED AND A JOY TO WATCH PERFORM." ---SHIRLEY JONES ACADEMY AWARD WINNING ACTRESS AND SINGER "THE BEST KEEP JAZZ SECRET IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA." --THE JAZZ POLICE "WHAT A GREAT CROONER'S VOICE" --CANUCKTEACH CRONNERS CLASSIC JAZZ RADIO For more news, notes, and information about The Catz in the Hatz, check out http://www.catzinhatz.com/.