|
Andy Cowan
One of Australia's most experienced and talented singer/songwriter/pianists.
Andy's line up includes:
- Solo - Vocals/piano
- Duo - Vocals/piano and Saxaphone
- Trio - Vocals/piano, Saxaphone, Guitar
- Five Pce Full Band - Vocals/piano, Sax, Guitar, Bass & Drums
Andy Cowan has been described justifiably as the "King of the Keys".
He ripples, rolls and rocks through original compostitions with passionate and soulful vocals, wrapping the audience in his energy and weaving an emotional and spellbinding magic.
Andy's musical career began in Melbourne, Australia, growing up in a household surrounded by music. Following classical piano studies, he began exploring improvisation, and absorbing musical ideas from soul, blues, and folk artists developing his very own signature style that has matured over time.
In his late teens Andy played and recorded with many well-known Australian and overseas musicians including legendary bands Madder Lake and Ayers Rock.
Andy often toured with:
- Renee Geyer
- Ian Moss
- Kevin Borich
As well as many piano and synthesiser arrangement calls on film scores - including the movie Stone .
Andy's third album, "10.30 Thursdays" received exellent reviews from critics, both in Australia and overseas, and was voted Album of the Year 2001 Raw Talent Music Awards (Plenty Valley FM).
"10.30 Thursdays" was nominated for blues & roots Album of the Year at the Aria Awards 2001.
Andy's second album, "One of these Days" - recorded live with his then band "Big Mamas Door" at:
- the East Coast Blues Festival - Byron Bay
- the St. Andrews Hotel
- the Queenscliff Music Festival captured the energy and atmosphere of his live perfomances and was named Blues Album of the Year 2000 at the VicTas Music Awards.
"..simply superb leaving you anticipating the next Andy Cowan date."
Lee Howard (Sunday Herald-Sun)
"..nothing but pure class" Mark Doherty (Rhythms Magazine)
Andy's first album "Train I'm On" launched him as one of the premier artists on the Australian festival circuit. ABC Radio placed the title track from the album on rotation resulting in a national profile.
" A terrific little prize, swampy vocals on a foundation of virtuosic piano playing."
Gary Tippett (The Age)
NEW RELEASE 'WHEN THE NIGHT COMES IN'
(ABC Universal)
Andy Cowan is one of Australia's foremost performing songwriters. He possesses a voice that invites comparison with the likes of Tom Waits or Leonard Cohen, with the soul of Ray Charles. But these are superficial comparisons, Andy's virtuoso Piano and Keyboard playing contains both energy and melodic beauty.
His songwriting skills give 'WHEN THE NIGHT COMES IN', a character, strength and quality that define him as the complete artistic entity. The title track sets the Album's tone, a mid-tempo blues song, featuring the smoky saxophone of Paul Williamson and Janette Geri on backing vocals. Next up is 'CRY' a wistful, harmonica-led, anthem for the lost and the lonely who, '...walked into the darkness and never came home' 'ONE MORE DAY', a beautiful melodic ballad, this time featuring the John Farnham Band's, Steve Williams on sax.
Andy in performance consistently offers up his own characteristic take on the works of others. On Leonard Cohen's lyrical and thoughtful, 'CAME SO FAR FOR BEAUTY', Andy excels, with a minimal arrangement of voice, piano and strings. Bringing the energy back again is, 'NOW'S THE TIME'. A well-timed and topical, call for social equality. 'GIRL IN THE GARDEN', sees Andy walk straight down the middle of the road with this radio-friendly dedication to his lovely wife, Wendy.
The Jazz-Standard songbook is another regularly-raided source for Andy's live repertoire. 'YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS', will carry you into some smoky club, somewhere. Didn't they ban smoking...? Nope, it's definitely smoky in here.
In these days of global financial meltdown, the blues-soul heart-cry of 'HARD TIMES', is as relevant now as at any other time of social depression. The delicate opening piano-motif of, 'MARIE', takes us to a place in the past and the bitter-sweet memory of love lost. 'DROWNING IN THE WATER', a timeless and typical Andy Cowan blues tune. Loping and funking along and flavoured by some wonderful guitar-breaks from Shannon Bourne.
Closing tune is the wrist-breaking, 'TOMMY'S BOOGIE' a showcase for Andy's considerable piano skills. As always, Andy assembles some of Australia's finest musicians. In addition to those mentioned above, Dave Hicks (drums, percussion), Jimmy Sloggett (sax), Joe Imbroll (bass) and Gavan Anderson (Guitar) who form the core of Andy Cowan’s live band. Recorded at Elmwood Grange Studio in the beautiful Olinda hills.
|
