Rees Shad & the Conversations w/ David Bennett Cohen

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Rees Shad &amp; the Conversations w/ David Bennett Cohen at Colony Woodstock!

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Rees Shad & the Conversations

 David Bennett Cohen

THU April 4th, 2024Doors 7pm | Show 8pm Rees Shad &amp; the ConversationsWhen Rees Shad began his musical journey three decades ago with the 1994 debut release, Anderson, Ohio, critics called him a “wordsmith to watch.”It’s a reputation the remarkably prolific and eclectic singer- songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and storyteller has proudly cultivated. Shad now boasts some 30 albums, each of which reflect an unyielding combination of emotion and expression that has become the hallmark of Shad’s catalog. With every successive outing, he has been committed to raising the bar, and the upcoming album The Galahad Blues signals a significant uptick as it may well be his most ambitious effort yet. As Shad explains in the liner notes, the songs were spawned from a musical he has been crafting for several years.“That's how I often work, assigning myself compositional parameters and writing pieces of music that must work within those creative restraints,” he reflects. “This might be story songs in keeping with a particular writer’s style (Anderson, Ohio and on parts of Half A World Away) or songs responding to a particular production style (Truth’s Twilight), or songs that collectively describe a larger narrative arc (The Riggley Road Stories, and The Watcher).“This approach provides me with a particular directive as I sit down to compose that is very much like a design assignment,” he continues. “It sidesteps the what-do-I-write-about- today quagmire that so often happens when one sits down each morning to compose.”In the case of his latest offering, the process worked brilliantly, resulting in an album that reimagines the Knights of the Round Table recast as gangsters, King Arthur’s Camelot as a 1940s Chicago nightclub, and rather than focusing on gallantry and chivalry, Shad explores the potential of finding honor among thieves.“The project has involved me wordsmithing on a whole different level as I researched and adapted the hipster language of the 1930s and 1940s to my music and lyrics,” Shad explains. “As of late, the two have been strongly influenced by the American Songbook writers I grew up listening to, like Cole Porter, Hoagie Carmichael, and the Gershwins.”That influence is obvious throughout, particularly in the expressive tones, dramatic arrangements, and especially in the riveting melodies that are threaded throughout the album. The production is cinematic, and for good reason. Shad’s love of film was nurtured by his parents who encouraged his appreciation of the drama and dynamic of filmmaking with particular attention to the art of story-telling overall, which he has always endeavored to incorporate into his work.Consequently, there is a storyline to be found within The Galahad Blues that makes this part concept album, part fantasy, and, most of all, a fascinating collection embroidered with richly detailed micro dramas.Rees and his band The Conversations (Bobby Kay, Jeff Link, &amp; Carlos Valdez) do the primary heavy lifting in the performances here, but guests appearances byTony Aiello (Joe Jackson, Southside Johnny) on reeds, Larry Campbell on violin (Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, Paul Simon) Ira Coleman on Upright Bass (Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, Sting), and Tom Major on drums (Bo Diddley, Pousette Dart), round out the production.Rees’ last album, 6 Strings and a Story, released this past October, looked back on selected songs from his prolific career, all revisited in solo, stripped down acoustic settings. American Songwriter hailed it as “a superb sampling of the skill and savvy that have been a hallmark of Shad’s career from the very beginning.” “Ultimately, It’s all about the storytelling for me,” Shad says. “I believe the listening process should be interactive. I’m hoping to help lay the crumbs that people inevitably will want to follow... all the while striving to light up my listeners’ imaginations.” David Bennett CohenDavid Bennett Cohen has been a professional musician for more than 60 years. Best known for his innovative keyboard playing as an original, founding member of the '60’s Rock band, Country Joe and the Fish, he is an equally accomplished guitar player who has been involved in numerous music scenes throughout his varied career.David began his musical education at the age of seven, studying classical piano for seven years. While studying the piano, he began to teach himself the guitar, beginning at the age of 12. When he was about 14, he heard boogie-woogie piano for the first time and was hooked. Since then, he has explored many different styles of Blues and popular music. He was fortunate enough to have heard Otis Spann, Professor Longhair, Johnnie Johnson and other masters of the genre perform live.Over the years, he has played and/or recorded with The Blues Project, Mick Taylor, The Luther Tucker Blues Band, Hubert Sumlin, Melvin Van Peebles, Happy and Artie Traum, Arlen Roth, Eric Anderson, David Blue, Tim Hardin, Norton Buffalo, Jerry Miller, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Buddy Miles, John Cippolina, Huey Lewis, Michael Bloomfield, Bob Weir, John Kahn, Johnnie Johnson, Jimmy Vivino, Jay Owens, Debbie Davies, Byther Smith, Bobby Kyle, Rocky Lawrence, Johnny B. Gayden, Sandra Feva and many others.As a solo performer, he has shared the bill with Country Joe McDonald, Kenny Rankin, Bonnie Raitt, Richard Thompson, Jerry Garcia, Leo Kottke, Rufus Thomas, Meatloaf, Booker T., The Roches, Kingfish, J. Giles and Magic Dick and many others.His critically acclaimed CDs, Cookin’ With Cohen, In the Pocket and David Bennett Cohen at the Piano are available on Amazon.com, CD Baby, Spotify, CD Now, and other online sites.His latest CD, Bittersweet, is currently making waves in the music community and has received many positive reviews and is also available on all of the music platforms, his upcoming CD, Seems Like a Good Time for the Blues, is scheduled for release in October, 2023.David has made several instructional books, DVD’s and videos, on Homespun Tapes: 2 books, David Bennett Cohen Teaches Blues Piano and David Bennett Cohen Teaches Rock and Roll Piano (published with Hal-Leonard); a DVD series on Blues/ Rock Piano and one on Ragtime Piano; a six video series on Blues Piano and, also on video, Blues and Rock Techniques for Hammond Organ. In addition, he has two guitar instruction albums on Kicking Mule Records, How to Play Folk Guitar, and, Rock and Roll Guitar.In spite of his busy schedule, David still finds time for private piano and guitar students.(He is proud to count among his many students, Peter Cincotti and Dave Keyes, both of whom have established careers of their own)His professional approach, attitude and musicianship enhance any project that he is associated with.

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Rees Shad & the Conversations w/ David Bennett Cohen

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