David Cousino
Wind Over Texas
© 2005 Cousinotes Publishing (783707222806)
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Ray Flacke meets Eric Clapton. Bluesy Country Rock with strong grooves and deft touch on the fretboard. Outstanding production.
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So, you heard about the guitar player that went to Nashville to make it big. When he got into town he stopped at a gas station, but the guy behind the counter was a better player than he was, so he turned around and headed back out of town. But he ran out of gas and got a job at an Auto Parts Store. You can hear the rest of the story in the tune, Auto Parts Store!
David went to Nashville, but didn't have to leave town until he made this record. Working with some of the finest musicians and facilities in town, he got to make the cd that so many of us would if we had access, and 40 years of playing ability.
Cousino got his first guitar in the mail. His mother sent away for it using coupons she collected from her groceries. At eight years old, David tuned his nylon stringed guitar to some random tuning and began to improvise. His curiosity was initially fueled by the soulful grooves of Motown, but his development began in earnest with his discovery of Jimi Hendrix, Ted Nugent, Deep Purple and Bob Dylan. Cousino was not satisfied until he could replicate the tunes he was hearing exactly. This would serve him well a few years later as a finalist the Jimi Hendrix Electric Guitar Competition near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and on numerous gigs backing up many of the groups he had heard in his youth.
The rock of the 60s sparked Cousino’s desire to write his own music and by 12 years old he was already composing his own songs. In the early 70’s John McLaughlin became his obsession, leading to jazz influences ranging from Jim Hall, Joe Pass, and Kenny Burrell, to Pat Martino, Chick Corea, Weather Report and Larry Coryell.
Cousino was playing professionally by fourteen and shortly after high school he had already begun taking private lessons from guitar legend John Justus and touring the country as a lead guitarist for a small band. Urged by the need for financial security, Cousino joined the Air Force initially working for the AF fire department, but continuing to play, write and develop his craft.
Military bands are notoriously difficult to get into, most musicians are recruited in, many with advanced degrees from top musical programs across the country. After auditioning with a makeshift cassette recording, Cousino was accepted into the Air Force Band of the South, “The Mighty Eighth” at Barksdale, AFB, near Shreveport Louisiana. This was a fertile environment for David, with the opportunity to study, practice, arrange, write and perform a wide variety of material. There he again resumed his musical schooling, studying with Eddie Kozak (former marimba/vibraphonist with Xavier Cugat, and personal musician assigned to Admiral Nimitz during WWII), for many years advancing his skills in composition and improvisation while performing in various groups in the Mid-South. While in Louisiana Cousino headlined at the 1984 World’s Fair, and performed hundreds of live events with big bands, jazz, rock groups and solo guitar. Cousino eventually moved to Wright Patterson AFB near Dayton Ohio to join the Band of Flight and assume greater leadership responsibility.
During his 23 years with the Air Force, Cousino didn’t waste any time.
He met and befriended the very best guitar masters from across the country and learned from them. He has taken masters classes with Ray Flacke in Nashville and Lorne Lofsky in Toronto Canada. He has played on the international stage at the Garden festival in Liverpool England, the 1984 Worlds Fair and Exposition in New Orleans La.and at the Detroit Jazz Festival with guest artists Rob McConnell and Arturo Sonduval. He’s played numerous studio sessions and backed up Susan Ashton, The Miracles, Al Vizzutti, and many others at live events in the Midwest. The pursuit of musical knowledge and the ability to play any style authentically with equal ability, kept David busy inside and outside the Air Force. During all this time, he was developing his own material and his skill as a songwriter and singer.
Cousino’s song “Keep Old Glory New” became the most requested original song in AF Band history since “In The Mood” by Major Glen Miller. This led to an opportunity to record in Nashville working with producer/engineer Jed Hackett. With the help of his brother Mike on drums, Tim Akers on keyboards, Jonathan Yudkin on strings, Vinnie Marshall on bass and background vocalists Felita Rowe and Perry Coleman he recorded the 11 songs that would become his debut album: Wind Over Texas.
With a sound that combines breezy acoustic blues, country swing, and rootsy folk rock, Cousino’s music is fully ripe. Years of experience and training translate beautifully into the impeccable guitars, soft moving vocals, and overall bright and brilliant compositions on his debut album. Cousino’s diverse background has made him an amazingly versatile artist giving us swinging jazz guitar, country finger picking, and electric riffs with equal skill.
With his debut recorded, Cousino looks forward to performing his music at venues across the country and eventually to reenter the studio for a follow up to Wind Over Texas. The savvy Cousino will continue to be a student of the arts, writing his compelling lyrics around lifes lessons, creating his unique blend of rock, jazz, blues, and soul. While his journey toward musical excellence may never be complete in his own mind, we can enjoy his passion and the results of his lifelong pursuit in “Wind Over Texas”. Produced by Cousins of the Water Productions and released on Dadsboots Records.
Contact: Mike Cousino
drummercous@mac.com
214 681 9931
www.davidcousino.com
www.cousinotes.com
reviews
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FANTASTIC
author: Sue Drake WestoverLove the song variety...a little blues..jazz..country.. I bought 3 for gifts. I bought one for myself back in February. Love it, love it, love it.
- author: Fred Kraus "Minor 7th"
Musical chameleon David Cousino changes genres the way most of us change our socks. Though he picked up the guitar at age 8 and has been making a living as a musician for years, "Wind Over Texas" marks his recording debut. His 11 compositions ably cover a landscape that includes rock, blues, jazz, country, pop and soul. An engaging guitarist, Cousino turns in more than a fair share of hooks and snaky runs throughout. Yet while his versatile, comfortable voice sells each style, it might be nice to hear him inhabit one form exclusively. He does sound particularly engaged in the bluesy "That's All," complete with Hammond B3 organ. A U.S. Air Force friend of his (Cousino did a stint in the service), Felita Rowe, lends stellar background vocals. High production values make this a marketable collection, especially for country radio airwaves. © Fred Kraus
An artist commited to his country & his craft!
author: Laura T Lynch of Kweevak.comDavid Cousino is a singer/songwriter who is well versed in various guitar styles. Cousino joined the air force and moved around a lot. In each new location David would seek out master musicians and learn from them. Wind Over Texas is David's debut release featuring eleven diverse but delightful songs. Cousino's music draws from a colorful pallet of American rock, blues, country, folk and jazz. He is supported by a talented group of players who add bass, B-3, drums, piano and stringed instruments to David's captivating acoustic and electric guitar leads. The CD is first-rate from start to finish. Of particular note is the full band version of the patriotic 'Keep Old Glory New', the jazzy 'Still A Fool' and the down-home title track. David is a versatile player who has learned from the best and Wind Over Texas reflects Cousino's commitment to his country and his craft!
This debut effort deserves national airplay
author: smother.netIt’s refreshing to hear such bubbly and exciting voices in Americana and roots rock. Leaning on the country-pop side of things, David Cousino has the red, white, and blue passion with a swagger reminiscent of blues legends. The musicianship is top notch and the songwriting is equally breathtaking. He’ll ignite Nashville and all its suburbs but will slowly infect the rest of the country if given the chance that his music is due on mainstream radio. But would Clear Channel allow an artist who writes a concept album about “Big Boy Blue” who seems to be a parable for George W. Bush whose “gift is confusion and the ability to spin out stories that keep you entranced so you won’t know the difference between fact or fiction; truth or lies” and does it with the sound and swagger that their typical dittoheads muster? Probably not but only if they’re really paying attention