David Bennett Cohen – Seems Like A Good Time For The Blues

David Bennett Cohen – Seems Like A Good Time For The Blues

Self-Release – 2023

www.davidbennettcohen.net

10 tracks; 42 minutes

Piano player David Bennett Cohen may be remembered as an original member of Country Joe & The Fish whose hippy style rock was so well captured in the movie of Woodstock. Since those heady days of the late sixties David has played with a plethora of artists, including Hubert Sumlin, Bob Weir, Johnny Winter, even Hendrix. He has produced several solo albums and continued to teach piano (and guitar, an instrument he also plays); indeed, well established keyboard player Dave Keyes is one of his former pupils. This set was recorded in New York and it’s an all-original affair, apart from one foray into Country Joe’s old repertoire. David plays piano throughout and acoustic guitar on one track, ably supported by Arthur Neilson on guitar, Tim Tindall on bass and Mike Rodbard on drums; congas are added to four songs by the late Fred Walcott (to whom the album is dedicated) and Eddie Torres.

The first thing to say is that David does not have a great voice. Having said that, the lyrics are always clear and that is probably just as important, as David has quite a lot to say in these songs, whether it’s amusing lyrics about needing to learn from previous experiences (like taking an umbrella with you when it rains, or dressing appropriately for the occasion), as in “The Next Time”, or emphasising that “Life Ain’t Fair”. The band plays impressively, Arthur taking a fine solo on the latter tune and David’s steady piano is at the heart of the music. More cautionary words on what may be an autobiographical song: “It’s a nice place to live and pretty safe after dark, but I’ve got Neighbours…”. The music on this one is also terrific, David’s piano sitting nicely above the rocking rhythm and Arthur’s slide work. Congas add rhythm to New Orleans style piano on a tale of opposing lifestyles in “The Night Owl And The Early Bird” and David reveals that he has a healthy appetite for whatever food may be available in the bouncing “Cookin’ In The Kitchen”.

The title track is a slower tune with sad lyrics about how broken our society is, a serious song before David demonstrates a comic attitude to “Growing Old”: “bathroom breaks and afternoon naps it’s not just a passing phase; growing old ain’t so easy, growing old ain’t much fun”. All of us of a certain age will nod sympathetically! David describes the best way to see NYC in “Walkin’ Around The City”, a colourful description played over jaunty piano rhythms, then pays warm tribute to “Little Mo”, “the apple of my eye, the cherry in my pie”. The final track is Country Joe MacDonald’s “Flyin’ High” which was the opening track on the first CJ&TF album, Electric Music For The Mind And Body. David’s piano features strongly, as does Arthur’s guitar in a solo that really takes wing.

This is a good sounding album with interesting songs.

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