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Description
Songwriter/performer Al Power leads a double life. Based in Rochester, NY, Al works as Eden Alternative Mentor at St. John's Home, and is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. But Al is also a musician, and although he only tours part-time, his songs and reputation precede him.
Al's song, "If You Don't Mind", was recently solicited by folk legends Peter, Paul & Mary as a possible addition to their concert repertoire. His songs have also been recorded and/or performed by Priscilla Herdman, Anne Hills, Cindy Mangsen, Magpie, Maria Gillard, Shinobu Sato, John Stevens, Kindred, Kathy Leigh Johnson, Diane Ippel and others. His traditional-styled ballad, "Waiting for Isabella" has been performed on three continents and "I'll Love You Forever", inspired by the popular Bob Munsch children's story, was used by Walter Cronkite on a 1995 Discovery Channel special on American families.
Born and raised in Rochester, Al studied clarinet for ten years and piano for two, and taught himself guitar as a teenager, learning to play the folk and pop songs of the '60's. While a pre-med student at the University of Rochester, Al took half his courses at the famed Eastman School of Music, where he studied jazz composition with Emmy Award-winning composer Rayburn Wright and pianist/composer Bill Dobbins. He studied classical orchestration with leading American composer Samuel Adler, and attended guest tutorials with the likes of Thad Jones, Keith Jarrett, Michel Legrand, Chuck Mangione, Bob Brookmeyer and Toots Thielemans.
As a busy medical student, Al picked up the guitar once again and returned to his folk roots, teaming up with multi-instrumentalist Craig Hohm, to perform an eclectic mix of folk and vintage jazz in Rochester clubs. Al continued to explore the repertoires of contemporary songwriters, using his musical skills to work up novel arrangements of his favorite songs. In the mid-'80's he began to experiment with lyrics and create his own songs. He soon began a career as a solo artist, performing a mix of original songs and covers in a wide variety of styles, mirroring his diverse musical background.
In addition to performing solo, Al tours with songwriter Anne Hills every few months, and the two have collaborated on several songs as well. Al still does occasional shows with Craig Hohm, as well as Kinloch Nelson, Maria Gillard, Alan Whitney and other area musicians.
Not only has Al been seen at festivals, coffeehouses and concert stages, but he also has combined his careers, establishing a repertoire of songs that celebrate the aging experience, and performing at nursing homes and other senior centers around the Northeast. A member of the Eden Alternative nursing home movement, Al uses his music to champion the cause of changing the nursing home environment and empowering our elder members of society. |
Influences
| Diverse folk, pop, jazz and classical. |
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