Career Don Conoscenti

1 career

1.1 1975-1990
1.2 1990 2003
1.3 2003 present

career
1975-1990

in 1975 conoscenti returned chicago started play hootenannies @ earl of old town, , @ steve goodman s folk club else’s troubles. conoscenti spent extensive time @ these clubs goodman , john prine, had been signed record label stax.

conoscenti left chicago again , traveled extensively throughout country, absorbing different musical styles @ each stop. in 1976, conoscenti formed first rock band while working behind counter @ original ben & jerry s in vermont. conoscenti first learned blues @ after-hours jam sessions founders ben cohen , jerry greenfield. got first paying gigs singer-songwriter , sideman, , experienced first recording sessions.

late in 1976, conoscenti moved stowe, vermont , worked in kitchen of lodge @ mt. mansfield. mentored in blues wine steward arnold carbone went on become director of research & development ben & jerry s. conoscenti , carbone formed blues duo called chicago don , little arnold.

in 1978, conoscenti formed band called zucchini brothers, music original , @ times theatrical. vermont in 1970s hotbed of writers, actors, thinkers, musicians, greenwich village in 1960s.

conoscenti befriended writer david mamet, , worked members of politically active bread , puppet theater. of late 1980s, conoscenti did not play or perform. lived solitary life in california, martha s vineyard, , colorado, , occupied himself various spiritual pursuits.

1990 2003

don conoscenti dobro-guitar

in 1991 conoscenti moved atlanta revisit acoustic music. first played @ freight room in decatur, ga, 1 of favored places play acoustic music in atlanta area @ time, along trackside tavern. trackside tavern managed eddie owens, went on open eddie s attic in decatur in 1992.

during years in atlanta, became friends david wilcox. wilcox along boston-based musician, jim infantino, introduced conoscenti use of partial capos. conoscenti s unique style developed while trying percussive, trying fat, trying cover low end, trying melodic , rhythmic. missed harmonies put harmonies on instrument - , s fun me play guitar.

the atlanta acoustic music scene @ time split between trackside , freight room. when freight room closed in 1992, conoscenti, wilcox, , of atlanta s other notable musicians indigo girls, shawn mullins, kristian bush, , others moved eddie s attic. first record, carved in stone on db records label released year, followed beneath moon. in 1994, met ellis paul @ eddie s, , 2 have been close friends , collaborators since. conoscenti plays guitar @ paul s shows around country, including accompanying paul many years @ traditional new year s eve shows @ club passim in cambridge, massachusetts. conoscenti left atlanta year , toured country continuously until 2004. during time released boxes of bones, brilliant masterpiece, 1 road, mysterious light, paradox of grace, extremely live @ eddie s attic, , turn here. mysterious light climbed top 20 albums played folk , acoustic djs worldwide. in review of brilliant masterpiece folk , acoustic music exchange, shawn linderman said:

weaving in , out of love both directions, touching on friendships , loss, don conoscenti s latest solo acoustic work cozy , warm. don t misled thinking these tunes slow , simple. don can blistering away on guitar, stretching vocal range limits , interspersing wild wails , growls, , yet song still comes across comforting. don t ask me how it-- s s damned fascinating music!

in review of extremely live @ eddie s attic, ellen rawson said: listening album, s hard believe there 1 guitarist creating of sound, whether s on 6-string, 12-string or steel guitar.

paradox of grace includes duet ellis paul on song other side - song seems provide comfort have lost loved ones. widespread exposure song after september 11, 2001 resulted in conoscenti performing song on television show crossing on john edward.

2003 present

don conoscenti @ woodyfest 2003

in 2003, archive of folk culture of american folklife center added collection of don conoscenti material. collection includes 2 song manuscripts lyrics conoscenti; ten unpublished sound recordings of radio broadcasts , performances don conoscenti, dated 1999-2002; , 2 compact discs (one autographed, , other compilation entitled oasis acoustic ). collection includes 16 photographs, photos of conoscenti in performance, dated 1996-1999, descriptions written on backs of photos; 13 color inkjet prints of landscapes in american west, american road show, photography don conoscenti, signed , dated conoscenti, 2001-2003, poster advertising photography show. included videocassette of conoscenti s 2002 performance on crossing on john edward , videocassette capo abuse , guitar techniques.

in 2005, conoscenti returned chicago year while studying jazz, guitar , voice. following year settled in taos, new mexico, continues study jazz explores blues, americana, , rock member of several bands.

in 2007, conoscenti 1 of 7 10-year artists recognized having performed @ every woody guthrie folk festival date. @ concert held in okemah, oklahoma s crystal theater, conoscenti performed @ 10-year jam benefit show along bob childers, jimmy lafave, joel rafael, ellis paul, red dirt rangers, , terry buffalo ware.

in review of 2011 woody guthrie folk festival, jela webb said conoscenti s set patrick turnmire on percussion, dan daily on saxophone , terry buffalo ware, on guitar, joy behold. conoscenti 1 of underrated , under-appreciated musicians; own body of work deserves greater recognition.

in fall of 2013, conoscenti joined band of sonia , disappear fear 54-city tour in u.s. , canada included stops on west coast in portland, seattle, san francisco, vancouver , los angeles , in east in new york city , boston. conoscenti featured guitarist on disappear fear s 2013 release broken film recorded in nashville mike poole in december 2012.