Songwriter, storyteller, multi-instrumentalist Rees Shad is a master of alluring melodies and short story songs whose characters interact and reoccur in eloquent musical vignettes. Shad made a name for himself as a wordsmith troubadour traveling the country and the world sharing his particular blend of American gothic storytelling. His albums Anderson Ohio (1994), the Riggley Road Stories (1997), and Carving Away the Clay (1999) were warmly received by Americana radio and music critics around the world. He withdrew from touring in the early 2000s, choosing instead to focus more on wider ranging compositions as he recorded music for theater and film while continuing to hone his personal brand of storytelling.
To date Rees has recorded over 30 albums, several of which are full narrative concept albums or contemporary operettas. Over the years, Rees’ compositions have included many songs inspired by early and mid 20th century jazz and blues. The influence of classic American songbook writers such as Hoagy Carmichael, Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, and Cole Porter can be heard in this work, and recently Rees began performing this material with a band he dubbed The Conversations