Happy Harmony

Valley Life editor

As he strums his guitar during an impromptu rehearsal, musician John Cook not only hears Allison Ingram's voice covering his notes, he feels it.

"Her voice, it springs my songs to life," Cook said as he started in on his song "Are You Really Gone" recently. "On this song, her voice just makes me melt."

Cook, an Eagle River resident, and Ingram, from Wasilla, met through open mike night at Great Bear Brewing Company, less than a year ago. After playing with each other a couple times on stage, they knew they had something.

"John played with us, and sometimes I'd get up and sing to his songs, and it all just worked," Ingram said.

It was perfect timing, too, because Cook was half of the musical duo Cook and Greene, but Greene -- Robin Greene -- had recently left the state. After playing together at Great Bear Brewing Company a couple of times, Ingram stepped into the void Greene's departure left, and has been singing with Cook ever since.

Their relationship has developed through a mutual respect for each other's musical abilities, and each other's strengths as musicians.

"I'm not a singer. I needed some female vocals, and Allison's voice was perfect for my music," Cook said. "She's very casual, but very good."

Now, after working together in the studio for more than a month, Cook is releasing his second CD, featuring the singing of Ingram for the first time. "Out of the Basement" is expected back sometime this month, and the pair will host a CD release party in September. They are playing on July 31 where it all started -- Great Bear Brewing Company.

"I'm ecstatic about the entire process," Ingram said. "I love music. Twenty-four seven, I have music playing or its in my head. I love singing, I love hearing guitar and I love original music."

She said she's been interested in music all her life -- she started writing music in middle school -- but this is the first time she'll appear on a CD release. Cook said he's more than pleased with the direction of "Out of the Basement."

"Allison stepped right in and nailed it," he said.

Cook wrote all the songs on the album, and when asked if he has a favorite, he said that's "like picking which is your favorite child." He admits, however, that while he skips some of the songs on the master CD while in his truck, there's one he always listens to -- "Are You Really Gone."

"This was a John Cook CD, but it would have been a whole lot different without Allison," Cook said. "'Are You Really Gone' probably wouldn't have been on the CD at all, but now it is, and it's one of the best songs on there."

For Ingram, her first musical experience in a studio setting was a good one, she said.

"I wasn't naive, I knew it would be pretty technical," Ingram said. "But I'm glad I didn't have to run the board."

The pair plays almost every weekend at events around the state. During the Fourth of July weekend, they played at the Girdwood Forest Fair and they'll be playing at the Kodiak Bear Country Music Festival this weekend. Originally, a CD release party was scheduled for July 31, but scheduling conflicts have forced the delay of the event.

Cook has his own Web site, www.acousticxx.com, but is in the process of overhauling it. Eventually, it will be up and running with plenty of information.

"It used to be Cook and Greene. Now, I guess one side will have to be Cook and Green and the other side will have to be Cook and Allison," he said with a chuckle. "That's OK, though."