What can you say about a group that can go from Bill Monroe to the Moody Blues ("Tuesday Afternoon") to Led Zepplin ("Going to California") to Frank Sinatra--and make it work?
The John Cowan Band did, Saturday night at the Narrows, in a progressive bluegrass/jazz style.
Bassist Cowan, who is perhaps best known for being part of the Newgrass Revival (along with Sam Bush and Bela Fleck) way back when, demonstrated why he has been for decades the vocal go-to guy for folks like John Prine, Rosanne Cash, Steve Earle, Garth Brooks, Hootie and the Blowfish, the Doobie Brothers, Kenny Rogers, Travis Tritt, the String Cheese Incident etc. Magnificent vocals--and pretty darn good bass playing as well. His version of "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," a song Frank Sinatra made a classic in 1955, could have won a Grammy. He dedicated it to his late father, who died in 1974, who he said was a talented singer and a vocal influence, though confining his talents to church and a barbershop quartet.
On guitar, Jeff Autry, one of the best you'll here (he cited jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery as one of his idols). On fiddle, the magnificent Shad Cobb.
Check out mvyradio.com in a few days. The show was streamed live on their website and should be in their archives very soon. Absolutely worth finding!
1 comment:
I would have loved to see this show John Cowan Band but Emerson
lake show at the Z won. I hope he comes back. Please ask him to.
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