In 2001, a drummer named Squeegee coined the name "Alan Cohen Experience," a moniker that Alan Cohen, member of the critically acclaimed band Family Junction, uses to this day to release his solo music.
As the conductor, Alan Cohen leads his mighty Orchestra of Personality effortlessly through a diverse selection of musical genres and subject matter. Alan writes and records concept albums, exploring a variety of subjects presenting historical and offbeat perspectives. Working seamlessly with...
In 2001, a drummer named Squeegee coined the name "Alan Cohen Experience," a moniker that Alan Cohen, member of the critically acclaimed band Family Junction, uses to this day to release his solo music.
As the conductor, Alan Cohen leads his mighty Orchestra of Personality effortlessly through a diverse selection of musical genres and subject matter. Alan writes and records concept albums, exploring a variety of subjects presenting historical and offbeat perspectives. Working seamlessly with outside collaborators, he releases free-form EP's mixing various styles and themes. Incorporating elements of his studio and video work, the live show creates a platform that showcases the individual and combined talents of Orchestra members.
His newest self-titled release finds him collaborating with Brooklyn Producer, Roger Greenawalt (The Pierces, Ben Kweller, Nils Lofgren). With a studio approach reminiscent of legendary band leaders Duke Ellington, Frank Zappa, and Steely Dan, the Alan Cohen Experience conducts a variety of studio musicians to help achieve his musical vision. Set for release on November 4th, 2008, this six track EP comprises lush string and horn arrangements, vocal harmonies and thickly layered guitars to flourish the clever and catchy songwriting.
The album starts with a Stevie Wonder-esque funky tune called “Elephant," which builds a musical vision around the line “all's quiet on the waterfront/it's just me and my elephant.” Both “Bonita” and “Saturday Morning” portray gorgeous arrangements and melodies, and through poetic lyrics, paint scenes of an emotionally liberated musical love letter (“Bonita”), and of a sunrise stroll on a quiet early morning (“Saturday Morning”). A heavy-hitting rock song filled with vicious guitar licks, “Roy’s Rock” sets the stage for a song about Alabama Judge Roy Moore and his attempts to erect the Ten Commandments in his court house, told with the issue's context in the American constitutional concept of “separation of church and state.” The EP ends with “Space Watch," a song inspired by an elementary school lesson about different philosophies of God and perception, told through lyrics about space travel in a musical sound scape that brings the listener along for the ride.
Prior to the self titled EP, the Alan Cohen Experience released a self-produced project aptly named Revolutions. The debut concept album, inspired by a red Che Guevara t-shirt, highlights pop culture's perception of revolutionaries and revolutionary events. Historically, it explores the French and Industrial Revolutions, as well as the biblical exodus from Egypt of the Hebrews while touching on various revolutionary figures: Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.
With his Orchestra of Personality, the Alan Cohen Experience brings to life the music of his songs and the concepts of his albums. Constantly meeting new people and adding new members and talents to his Orchestra, the shows range from intimate performances with an acoustic guitar, to fully orchestrated events. Each show and each city features a unique combination of personalities and talents.
Already at work on his next concept album, a project inspired by Stephen Hawking's “A Brief History of Time," watch for the Alan Cohen Experience as he brings his show to your city. Visit www.alancohenexperience.com for more information on shows and releases, and to watch his music videos by maverick director, Seth Kroll.
show more...
