Richard Shindell

An enigmatic performer whose output shifts between sharply ironic humor and deep spiritual reflection, Richard Shindell first drew notice through contributions to the Fast Folk Musical Magazine series, the same outlet that had earlier introduced figures such as Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith. Born in Lakehurst, New Jersey, and once a seminary student, he received his earliest musical experience strumming guitar in the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band alongside a youthful John Gorka. Songwriting began for him toward the close of the 1980s, and a grassroots following soon developed through personal recommendations. After joining the Shanachie roster he unveiled his debut recording, Sparrow's Point, in 1992. Two years afterward came Blue Divide, and his profile rose further in 1997 when Joan Baez interpreted three of his compositions, among them the title track of that year’s Reunion Hill. He subsequently joined Dar Williams and Lucy Kaplansky to form Cry, Cry, Cry, which issued a self-titled collection of reinterpretations in 1998. Following several seasons of joint performances, he entered the new century by aligning with Signature Sounds, the label that issued his fourth solo project, Somewhere Near Paterson, in the first months of 2000. Around the same period his Argentinian spouse moved their household from New York to Buenos Aires. Although the live set Courier appeared in 2002, the next studio album, Vuelta, did not surface until 2004; recorded after his relocation to South America, it featured work with the Argentine ensemble Puente Celeste. Activity continued through the decade with the 2007 interpretations release South of Delia and the original-material collection Not Far Now in 2009. The wryly named 13 Songs You May or May Not Have Heard Before arrived in 2011, offering a veteran artist’s fresh takes on earlier compositions. In 2015 he rejoined former Cry, Cry, Cry colleague Lucy Kaplansky for Tomorrow You’re Going, another set of covers centered on love songs of various kinds. Dividing his residence between New York’s Hudson Valley and Buenos Aires, he prepared the new originals that comprise Careless, issued in September 2016.