Send "John Cowan " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Popmatters |
 It’s been a good time lately for John Cowan fans. The singer has been plenty active over the last couple of decades—playing the annual bluegrass and roots festivals, collaborating with old New Grass Revival cohort Sam Bush one summer, joining a Leftover Salmon tour the next—rotating in a series of young bluegrass dynamos over the years, who jump at the chance to join and tour with his own John Cowan Band. In the studio, however, Cowan has been stingier, recording just three albums over the last decade.In the last eight months, though, we’ve seen the release of three new John Cowan albums, an unprecedented wellspring of production. And although the two albums that came at the tail end of 2009 sounded on paper like filler projects in the absence of original material, both turned out to be rewarding documents of Cowan at the peak of his powers. First came 8745 Feet: Live at Telluride, and it was, er, high time that Cowan released an official document from his home away from home, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, where Cowan is a superstar. Then came Comfort and Joy, one of the year’s nicest bluegrass surprises, featuring totally uncrappy progressive-acoustic versions of holiday classics....full text |
| Uncommonmusic |
| The new John Cowan release, The Massenburg Sessions, was recorded in a custom-built uniquely designed studio at John McBride’s Blackbird complex in Nashville capturing the crisp creative clarity of a “more perfect sound” allowing the musicians to hear the intricate work of each other. Produced by the widely respected George Massenburg and Kazuri Arai, the disk has 13 selections. Throughout Cowan has extended his elastic New Grass Revival Americana roots’ rhythms. Simply known as “The Voice,” his transcendent soulful vocals roam as we tremble and pause in wonder hearing Cowan soar above the canopy of our expectations. Wayne Benson on mandolin and Shad Cobb on the fiddle bring backing vocals to aid the recordings’ sonic physique. “Caldonia,” written by Fleecy Moore, is a tune often associated with Louis Jordan or B.B. King. Here it contains rolling piano work from Reese Wynans, and accomplished fiddle work by Luke Bulla, and sharp guitar licks from Darrell Scott. Band guitarist Jeff Autry sings lead vocals on Dave Alvin’s “King of California.” This tale cites a dream quest to gain gold riches, then return to claim a waiting true love east of the Ohio river. Instead he finds serious trouble....full text |
| Villagerecords |
| This new recordings pairs Cowan with legendary producer and engineer George Massenberg. As you might expect the results are first rate. Working with a small group Cowan mines the less is more side of the songs and comes away with a career album. Mixing covers and new songs he finds just the right mix for a heady tonic of great music. If you’ve never owned a recording by him you can start right here. E1 Entertainment...full text |
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