Isis (jazz fusion band)

Isis was a 1970s American all-female jazz fusion band.

History of the band

Isis was founded in 1972 by Carol MacDonald and Ginger Bianco, two former members of the female rock band, Goldie & The Gingerbreads. The repertoire of the initially eight member band was exclusively self-written and self-arranged songs. To be taken seriously in the music branch and at their live concerts, Isis, like their colleagues in other female bands, had to continuously promote themselves. The number of bands of that type that managed to get a contract with a well-known record company was still extremely few, even in the 1970s.

In 1974, George "Shadow" Morton produced "Isis", the band's first record. This was the first popular music released with female brass players and it was reminiscent of the early work of Blood, Sweat & Tears.

The second album, "Ain't No Backin' Up Now", produced by Allen Toussaint, appeared in 1975. Some of the songs on it dealt unexpectedly openly for that time about homosexual love among women. Carol MacDonald was largely responsible for that. Although most of the ladies involved were not lesbian in the least, the band got that image, which probably negatively impacted the sales of their records. Carol MacDonald was aware of this, but nevertheless risked confrontation with current societal standards.

When the Isis' last album, "Breaking Through", appeared in 1977, the band had shrunk again to six members, after having previously expanded to ten. Among the new members was Margo Lewis, who had already worked with Carol MacDonald and Ginger Bianco as a keyboardist in Goldie & The Gingerbreads. With their producer, Len Barry, the ladies this time managed to record an album with stronger melodies and which fit in more with the styles of the time. Despite the undeniable quality of the music, the record was lacking the originality of their previous releases.

In the seven years that Isis was active in the music business, over seventy (70) various musicians had contributed to the band, one after another, and then left again, after staying briefly or for a longer period of time. Through that, the band offered many young female musicians an entrance into the music business, and some of them continued on to quite successful careers afterwards.

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

On March 12, 2007, the day of the annual admission ceremony of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Carol MacDonald died after a long, severe illness.

Discography

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

External links

* [http://store.itsaboutmusic.com/isis.html itsaboutmusic.com] , Audio samples of all Isis recordings
* [http://www.answers.com/topic/isis-rhythm-blues-band Isis] , Band history at answers.com