Calgary-based guitarist Reed Shimozawa has built a solid reputation for his work in classic rock, playing for iconic acts such as Queen, U2, and Heart. Now, he is bringing a new tribute to life with a performance of David Bowie’s groundbreaking 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
Shimozawa, who has been an avid admirer of Bowie’s work, explains how the album made a lasting impact when it first debuted. “He must have seemed, well, like an alien, when he burst onto the scene with this album, because it broke a lot of ground in so many ways – his songwriting, the direction of it, the concept, his appearance, everything,” he said, reflecting on Bowie’s innovative approach that changed the music landscape.
On Thursday, April 3, Shimozawa will take center stage at the Jack Singer Concert Hall as part of Classic Albums Live’s presentation of Ziggy Stardust. Stepping into the shoes of the legendary Mick Ronson, Shimozawa will perform the iconic guitar parts that defined the album.
Unlike typical tribute acts, Shimozawa emphasizes that the show is focused purely on the music. “It’s not a visual tribute. It’s entirely driven by music,” he explained. The performance will feature a track-by-track rendition of the album in its entirety, with the second half of the show showcasing other popular Bowie hits.
This concert is the latest in a series of musical projects for Shimozawa, who also plays bass with the band Wide Mouth Mason. “It’s become a very fulfilling endeavor of mine to play music on a different instrument and to find my own voice. Certainly, they are amazing musicians and it’s an honor to play with those guys,” he said of his experiences with the group.
Fans of Bowie’s work will not want to miss this opportunity to hear Ziggy Stardust come alive in a fresh and electrifying way, as Reed Shimozawa and his talented team bring the timeless sounds of one of rock’s most legendary albums to the stage.
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