Herald Review, Grand Rapids & Itasca County, MN
July 5, 1998

Summer Resident To Make Grand Rapids Debut
by Gale LeCompte

Award-winning winger-songwriter Katy Tessman, who has spent her summers on Caribou Lake since her early childhood, will make her Grand Rapids debut on Saturday, July 11, from 8 to 10 p.m. at Brewed Awakenings. The concert is free of charge and open to all ages.

Tessman has been performing solo since 1997. Prior to that she was best known as the voice of Joe's Elevator, the eclectic folk-rock band she founded with guitarist Scott Shore, and can be heard on Joe's Elevator's CD Up & Down released in April, 1997.

Since then, her solo career has blossomed. Her frank honest lyrics and powerful voice express many sides of the relationships that have shaped her life. She even has a song about her years at Caribou Lake, called "Caribou".

Although Tessman, who has been musical and a performer since infancy, considers her voice her number one instrument, her instrumental repertoire includes guitar and mandolin. Her performances also often feature accompaniment by guitar, bass, violin and percussion.

As a child she played the piano, then in junior high she played the violin. It wasn't until 1991 that she had her first guitar.

She had wanted to play the guitar for years. She fell in love with the instrument one Fourth of July, when her cousin brought a guitar to the cabin and played it while they sang around the campfire.

"I'm very hard to surprise at Christmas time," she said. "I always knew where the presents were kept, and did a little snooping. When I got older, I sued to tell my parents one thing I wanted, so I always knew what I was getting."

Then, one year, on the Fourth of July, when she walked into the cabin, there was a guitar standing in the corner. "I said, 'Whose guitar is that?' My father answered, 'Merry Christmas!' Since then, I've taken up the mandolin, but my voice is still my number one instrument."

The Brooklyn Center family began spending more and more time at Caribou Lake, in later years, "As I gold older and the cabin got more and more livable," Tessman said, "And by the time I was in sixth grade, we were able to go up all seasons. In the winter we spent weekends and vacations, up there cross country skiing."

I've always enjoyed performing," Tessman said. "I sang in all sorts of shows, as a child ‚ in church, school, fairs, anything at all, and every chance I got."

She was in musicals in high school and college. "But I was tall, 5 ft. and 10 inches, so I always had to play an older woman. I never got the romantic leads ‚ or was able to sing the pretty songs."

"Now I ca writer my won songs and sing what I want. I'm trying to make some money to record my debut solo album."

Since beginning of her professional career, five years ago, she has showcased her original music at venues throughout the region, both as a headliner and opener for noted singer-songwriters Catie Curtis, Barb Ryman and the band Diane Wagner and The Benejesurits. "Opening for people is great," she said.

I enjoy opening for other musicians. I think it's important that musicians can share themselves with th4e audience ‚ that the audience can get to know other musicians, hear other music."

Tessman has also performed with Dean Magraw, Eric Brandt of The Urban Hillbilly Quartet, and Ellis Bergeron. She is becoming widely recognized, not only for her straight-from-the-heart song crafting and clear vocals, but as one of the hardest working and respected players in the urban acoustic scene.

Photography by Jon Duder.