• Comment: Written really inappropriately. qcne (talk) 21:02, 13 March 2025 (UTC)

Kat Danser (born Kathleen Patricia Plosz; November 25, 1967) is a Canadian blues musician, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter based in Edmonton, Alberta. Danser's music is frequently characterized by a rich blend of swamp blues, Delta blues, and gospel, infused with elements of Afro-Cuban jazz. She draws inspiration from the historic crossroads of the blues, incorporating influences from early blues pioneers like Jessie Mae Hemphill and Gus "Banjo Joe" Cannon. Her work is a testament to the enduring emotional power and relevance of roots and blues.

Danser, the eldest of three children born to Polish-Catholic parents lived and worked on the farm outside Waldron, Saskatchewan. Their lives grounded in poverty, alcoholism, and family violence, music became her solace. Noting her keen musical ear, her great uncle Howie gifted her first instrument, an accordion. She spend hours picking out melodies of folk, country, and religious songs. Over the years she developed a deep appreciation for the classic country artists (Charley Pride, Patsy Cline, and Willie Nelson) and trailblazing women (Dolly Parton, Joan Jett, and Debbie Harry).

She received the Spirit of Youth Award for Athletic and Academic Excellence from Melville Comprehensive School in 1985 and, later, a Bachelor's in Social Work from the University of Regina^[1] in 1989 after an international practicum in Northeastern Thailand where she worked supporting people with leprosy and Burmese refugees. While ending her first marriage in her late 20s, Danser stumbled upon a Columbia House recording called The Beauty of the Blues: Roots N' Blues Sampler^[2] heard the voice of Bessie Smith igniting a twenty-five year career in Canadian blues music as a musician, songwriter, and vocalist.

Danser's music is characterized by a rich blend of swampy roots and blues, drawing inspiration from the Mississippi Delta and New Orleans. Her style is a testament to extensive travels and studies in these regions, where she immersed herself in the traditions of blues pioneers. This authentic approach allows her to channel the spirit of early roots, blues, and gospel music in her performances while using blues poetry to come to terms with the hardships she has endured.

Throughout her career, Danser has collaborated with esteemed musicians and producers, notably multiple Juno and Western Canadian Award winner, Steve Dawson. Her discography includes: One Eye Open^[3] (2021), Goin' Gone^[3] (2018), Baptized by the Mud^[4] (2013), Passin'-A-Time^[4] (2010), Somethin' Familiar^[4] (2007) and Ascension (2002).

Kat Danser final album, One Eye Open, is best summed up this way: "there's a trail that runs from the dead heat of the Mississippi Delta, through the winding alleyways of Havana, to the smoky confines of a cigar club in Edmonton. Kat Danser has spent most of her life trawling the backstreets of the blues and her sixth album, "One Eye Open", reflects the fruits of her explorations.  From an old string band melody passed down from the twenties, to a lyric written the night before the Covid pandemic shut the world down, the past rides shotgun with the present on everything Kat sings and plays. "One Eye Open" broadens her decades long conversation with the blues and is a testament to the enduring emotional power and relevance of the art form. When asked about the ongoing appeal of blues music, Kat Danser offers, 'the blues gives us a place to bring all of our hope and sorrow.'  Raucous and introspective, cautious and hopeful, "One Eye Open" is the perfect soundtrack for an unforgettable year."^[5]

Kat Danser has been widely featured in Canadian media, with profiles on CBC Radio,^[6] Global TV, and in publications such as the Winnipeg Free Press and Georgia Straight. She has also co-hosted a number of Natch'l Blues with Holger Petersen^[7] on CKUA.^[8] Danser's contributions to blues music have been recognized with Canadian music awards including two Maple Blues Award nominations, five Western Canadian Music Awards,^[9] the Ambassador of the Blues Award and a nomination for Best Songwriting at the International Blues Competition. She is an official inductee to the Blues Hall of Fame.^[10]

Danser has toured Canada extensively playing festivals, soft seat theatres, community halls, and private home concerts. Some notable performance highlights include the Edmonton International Blues Festival,^[11] 25th Anniversary of Canadian Women in Blues - CBC Live from Massey Hall,^[12] Vancouver Island Music Festival,^[13] Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival,^[14] Folk on the Rocks, Winnipeg Folk Fest,^[15] Calgary Folk Festival,^[16] Edmonton Folk Festival, and Regina Folk Festival.

Beyond her musical career, Danser has achieved significant academic accolades achieving a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Alberta in 2018. Her dissertation, Strings Attached: Black Musicians in String-bands in the American South, 1920 - 1950^[17] and masters thesis, Representations of African American Fife and Drum Music in North Mississippi^[18] serve as a testament to amplifying oppressed and marginalized African American musicians (past and present) in the American South. Danser has served as an Artist in Residence at the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts, facilitated music programs for marginalized musicians and their communities emphasizing the healing power of music.

Kat Danser was a significant figure in the Canadian roots and blues scene, blending traditional and contemporary blues elements while exploring the intersections of cultural and musical heritage. Through her performances, recordings, and academic work, she dedicate her art to preserving and evolving the blues genre for future generations.

She retired from music in 2023 making way for a new generation of female musicians in the new era of music streaming and mediated performance.

Currently, Kathleen "Kat" Danser is a Professional Development Educational Specialist at the University of Alberta and is a dedicated student of Tibetan Buddhism under the spiritual guidance of Her Eminence Mindrolling Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche.

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