Isis (jazz fusion band)

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Isis
General information
Genre (s) Jazz fusion
founding 1973
resolution 1977
Last occupation
Carol MacDonald
Margo Lewis
Suzi Ghezzi
guitar
 Faith Fusillo
Vivian Stoll
bass
 Barbara Albacate Cobb
Guitar, saxophone
Lynx
Jeanie Fineberg
Cast on "Isis", 1974
Carol MacDonald
Lollie Bienenfield
Suzi Ghezzi
Nydia “Liberty” Mata
Ginger Bianco
Bass, vocals
 Stella Bass
Lauren Draper
Jeanie Fineberg

Isis was a female-only American jazz fusion band from the 1970s.

history

Isis was founded in 1972 by Carol MacDonald and Ginger Bianco, two former members of the women's rock band Goldie and the Gingerbreads . The repertoire of the initially eight-member band consisted exclusively of self-written and arranged titles. In order to be taken seriously in the music industry and at their live concerts, Isis, like her colleagues in other women's bands, had to constantly persuade them. The number of such bands that managed to get signed with a well-known record company remained negligible in the 1970s.

In 1974 George "Shadow" Morton and Isis made the band's first record. This was the first release of popular music with a female brass line-up and is reminiscent of earlier works by Blood, Sweat & Tears .

The second album, Ain't No Backin 'Up Now , produced by Allan Toussaint , was released in 1975. It contained titles that for the time were unexpectedly open about homosexual love among women. Carol MacDonald was primarily responsible for this. Although most of the women performing were by no means lesbian, it gave the band an image that likely hampered the sale of their records. Carol MacDonald was well aware of this, but nevertheless risked confrontation with current social norms.

When the last Isis album, Breaking Through , was released in 1977, the band, which had meanwhile grown to ten members, had shrunk back to six. Among the newcomers this time was Margo Lewis, who as keyboard player and organist had already been with Carol MacDonald and Ginger Bianco on Goldie and the Gingerbreads. With the producer Len Barry , the ladies succeeded this time with an album with more melodies and more in line with the fashion of the time. Despite the undisputed musical quality, the work lacks the originality of previous releases.

Within the seven years that Isis were active in the music business, over seventy (70) different musicians joined the band one after the other, only to say goodbye after a shorter or longer period of time. The band thus offered many young musicians entry into the music industry, which was followed by some quite successful careers.

In 2001, Carol MacDonald, Ginger Bianco and Lolly Bienenfeld began again to form a band and to appear in New York clubs under the name Isis.

Carol MacDonald died on March 12, 2007 after a long and serious illness.

Discography

  • 1974: Isis (Buddah Records)
  • 1975: Ain't No Backin 'Up Now (Buddah Records)
  • 1977: Breaking Through (United Artists)

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