Music

by Kevin Wilson
kevin@louisville.com

John Cowan grew up in Evansville, Ind., but in the early 1970s (and at a rather young age) he began his southward migration and became a prominent member of the Louisville arts community.

Once here, Cowan quickly established himself as a highly competent and rather versatile musician. He gigged with local rock acts Everyday People and Louisville Sound Department until he eventually caught the attention of Sam Bush. Cowan’s talents were then solicited for Bush’s much-lauded experimental outfit, New Grass Revival. Unfortunately for local music enthusiasts, this was a project that lured Cowan permanently to Nashville.

New Grass Revival is historically important because it combined elements of traditional bluegrass with Allman Brothers-style improvisation, while embracing more general aspects of the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle. In fact, because of that decidedly unconventional ensemble, “New Grass,” came to define an entire movement and generational shift within the bluegrass establishment. Until 1990, when that band finally ran out of steam, Cowan was its bassist, vocalist and highest ranking rock ’n’ roller.

Though he is still best known for his innovative contributions in that realm, Cowan has successfully explored a variety of genres over his long career. Most notably, he has shown that his distinctive voice is well-suited to rhythm & blues, early rock ’n’ roll and soul.

Moreover, as a master of the bass, Cowan is as comfortable playing obscure reggae or acid rock as he is backing Garth Brooks on mega-selling country hits. Always a high-demand session player, Cowan frequently turns up in unexpected places.

Luckily for us, he will turn up back in town for an intimate performance at Jim Porter’s Good Time Emporium. Currently, Jeff Autry (guitar), Shad Cobb (fiddle), and Tony Wray (banjo) comprise the rest of his always stellar band. The JCB will primarily be showcasing songs from their latest and very well-received album, New Tattoo. But with Cowan you should always expect the unexpected, and be sure to get there early.

Who:          The John Cowan Band

Where:        Jim Porter’s Good Time Emporium 2345 Lexington Rd. Louisville, KY

When:         Thursday, January 31, 2008

WEB:          www.johncowan.com