The Conversations

The Conversations are a jazzy Americana group led by singer, guitarist and songwriter Rees Shad.

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  An essential element in articulating Shad’s musical vision, The Conversations are drummer Bobby Kay, bassist Jeff Link, and percussionist Carlos Valdez.  Bobby has recorded with jazz pianist Cole Broderick and toured with the like of R&B singer Ellen Macilwaine, Kay began his musical tête-à-tête with Shad twenty-five years ago recording and touring half a dozen of Shad’s unique Americana accented albums. Kay’s life in rhythm began when as a child he’d entertain his family playing along to drum breaks on old 45’s using pencils as sticks on his first drum kit—a “hideous” lime green Naugahyde ottoman. A former Berklee faculty member, Jeff Link joined the discourse three years ago after spending two decades honing his musical fluency as a pit musician on Broadway and touring with rock luminaries such as Robben Ford and Albert Cummings. Link’s first concert performance was at 8 years old, and music has been (and always will be) his animating muse.  Whenever the opportunity arises, Shad, Kay, and Link are joined by Afro-Cuban percussionist Carlos Valdez, whose wide-ranging experience includes touring with various musical groups, work both on and off Broadway, composition for tv and film, as well as recording and live performance with his own band, Mambo Kikongo, and many others. 

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  Together these musicians deliver a swinging conversation revolving around a form of Jazzy Americana that is both literate, imaginatively played, and grooving!