Artist description Folk musician Arthur Davenport is bright with originality. Arthur puts poetry to music and rewards the listener with songs that amuse and inspire. He sings resonantly while playing his Martin D28 acoustic guitar "fingerstyle". His song-moods ebb and flow, from passion to lullabye and whimsy to heartbreak, with each song fresh and memorable. Arthur released 12 original folk ballads on the "Reality Bends" CD in November 2002, produced and recorded by Jon Mayer at Different Fur Recording, in the San Francisco Mission District. The impressive solo performance, sound production and CD artwork make this album stand out. The first 12 songs on this page are mp3 versions of the songs published on the "Reality Bends" CD, with several "demo" songs listed thereafter, included in this mp3.com web page as a special treat for visitors!

Music Style Folk ballads with fingerstyle acoustic guitar & ukulele (and one folk-rock song!)

Musical Influences Arthur Davenport draws inspiration and composes from many folk traditions including Scotch-Irish, Appalachian, Bluegrass, Island and Hawai'iana to create folk-fusion that is unique with a twist!

Similar Artists John Prine, Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, Paul Simon, Bob Marley, Arlo & Woody Guthrie, Burl Ives, Leo Kottke & Michael Hedges ballads, John Lennon, Bob Marley, Jerry Garcia, & Me!

Artist History Arthur Davenport's musical career spans 25 years of songwriting and performance. He first performed in the Washington D.C. folk scene in the 1980's. He then played the southwest scene during the 1990's while living in New Mexico. Arthur has been featured on National Public Radio performing his song, "Lonesome Cowboy", composed for a cowboy music compilation album entitled "Round-em Up!" Arthur now lives near Hilo, Hawai'i where he performs regularly at the Palace Theatre and at other Big Island venues. "Reality Bends" showcases songs written throughout Arthur's career, including his first song "So Near, So Far" written at age 18, and "Rain", a slack-key song penned one month before the CD was recorded. The title song is an ethereal new age hymn written in Guatemala during 1990. "Leilani" and "The Coral Reefy Song" reflect the inspiration of Hawai'i. "The Coral Reefy Song" features Arthur playing an R&L custom concert 6-string koa ukulele with an island backbeat. The 12 songs on "Reality Bends" are a unique collection that leaves the listener hungry for more!

Group Members Arthur Davenport, Lyrics, Music, Vocals, Guitar & Ukulele. Jon Mayer - Drums & Lead Guitar on "Rearview Mirror", Upton Ethelbah III - Bass on "Rearview Mirror". Phillip Dale Collison, Lyrics and Music on "Looking for the Day"

Instruments Vocal Chords, Martin D-28 6 String Guitar , R&L Custom Concert Koa Ukulele, & Electric Bass & Guitar, Drums, on

Albums Arthur Davenport

Press Reviews REVIEW 1) "Using only an acoustic guitar as backup, Arthur Davenport crafts sparse, haunting folk songs with a wry sense of the absurd. Deftly hopping from one vocal personality to another, sometimes within a line, this far-out mountain man keeps the listener guessing! ***** Mike McGuire at Listen.com ***** REVIEW 2) "Reality Bends" is, with the exception of one song, a solo creation by Arthur Davenport; he has written and composed everything else on the CD, singing and accompanying himself on guitar or ukulele... His has a truly individualistic style, in that it defies any one categorization -- some tracks are traditional folk, others breathy and quirky, sometimes speaking, others singing -- and the subject matter of his songs is equally diverse. One or two could be thought of almost as nursery rhymes for the young-at-heart, others display very original thought processes and an adult sophistication. ........ Covering love, relationships, nature and travel, there is surely an offering on Reality Bends for everyone. His folk sound is often reminiscent of Cat Stevens, particularly notable on "Rain." ........ Davenport's vocals alter subtly with most of his songs, seemingly seeking to emphasize the subject matter, but his accent remains a curiosity. His accompaniment is minimalist, fingerstyle, allowing the lyrics -- or poems, if you prefer that definition -- to be heard clearly throughout each song. ........ If you are looking for something off the beaten track, look out for Arthur Davenport. Try and get a feel for his style -- but if you initially don't like it, try again another day! You may surprise yourself by completely changing your mind. ........ - www.Rambles.net, written by Jenny Ivor, published 27 September 2003

Additional Info Fan Mail: ArthurDavenportMusic@yahoo.com

Location Hilo, Hawaii - USA

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