BWW Previews: STEEV RICHTER at The Hudson House

If you are in Rockland County tonight, July 21st, the ONLY place you want to be is The Hudson House on Main Street, in Nyack, where the marvelous singer songwriter, Steev Richter will be playing. you were to cross a young Tom Waits with Randy Newman you would get Steev Richter.

The soulful singer, song-writer, pianist Steev Richter is unfortunately a too-well-kept secret. Richter is little known outside the vibrant local music scene of Rockland County NY, but his new CD may change all that. For the latest disc, he recruited an all-star lineup to help him make the album, and the result is a small, intimate gem.

The album was produced by Woodstock's Danny Blume, former member of Kid Creole and the Coconuts, and features performances by Tin Hat ensemble's Mark Orton, Wilco guitar god, Nels Cline, organist John Medeski of Medeski, Martin and Wood, drummer Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel and Paul McCartney), horn player Ralph Carney (Tom Waits), harmonica player Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson), and Tess Wiley (Sixpence None the Richer) on vocals.

"I was involved early in the process-having heard Steev's songs when they were in their demo form: just piano and voice," Orton says. "I was immediately drawn to his songwriting-tuneful, great lyrics, and deeply soulful...I was so happy to hear those same qualities come through in the final production."

"I wasn't aware of Steev and his talents until Danny Blume lured me into his world of song," says Cline. "And a compelling world it is-attractive and groovy in many ways while also possessing an almost troubling current of raw insight and emotion. I am certainly better for having heard his music. I hope many others can find him and find time to listen."

His band tonight is the Cosmic Wondernauts-featuring Joel Newton, Frank Colonnato, Scott Hogan, and Will Burgaleta, and singers Natasha DeMarco and Dan Rappaport.

If you are in Bergen, Westchester or Rockland County tonight, you might want to make your way over to the Hudson House in Nyack. You won't regret it!

Performances at Hudson House, 134 Main St., Nyack are at 7p and 8:45p on Friday, July 21. Tickets are $10 and available online: http://steevrichter.weebly.com/ Check Facebook for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/315286012239489/

Richter and his band also are doing two shows at Maureen's Jazz Cellar, 2 North Broadway, Nyack, on Wednesday, at Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available online: http://steevrichter.weebly.com/maureens.html

- Peter Danish