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It appears that my last e mail got scrambled somewhat! Here's another try...
HANS THEESSINK is appearing at THE BULLFROG BLUES CLUB, SOUTH PARADE PIER,
on Thursday 20th May!!!!!!!
Hans Theessink - the man described by Bo Diddley as "One helluva guitar
player" - is one of the most sought after live performing artists on the
international blues scene. We're indeed exceptionally fortunate that he is appearing
at The Bullfrog on Thursday! I was lucky enough to catch him at a festival in
Glasgow this January, and the man just blew me away!
A Dutch musician interpreting American roots music is not the easiest formula
for success, but nearly twenty albums later and a virtually non-stop
touring schedule suggests he definitely took the right road! Hans has played around
the globe at festivals, clubs and on numerous radio and TV programmes. He's
not only one of the leading white blues singer/guitarists, he's also a
prolific songwriter. Over the years Hans has built up a strong following, regularly
playing at prestigious festivals like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
Festival, The Chicago Blues Festival and Kerville Folk Festival,
In the early sixties Hans became obsessed with rural country-blues. Slowly
he began to master the blues guitar, although there were no books, no videos
and few teachers in those days. This experience led Hans to release, in 1995,
the instructional songbook "Fingerpicking & Bottleneck Favourites", and an
instructional video "Hooked On The Blues - Dynamic Guitar Techniques, taught by
Hans Theessink".
By the mid sixties Theessink started playing live in front of an audience.
His first recording, the 1970 EP "Next Morning at Sunrise", is now very
collectable!
In 1982 Hans recorded "Cushioned For A Soft Ride Inside" with the great
Gerry Lockran, followed by the solo album "Titanic" in 1983.
After a trip to New Orleans in 1986, Hans teamed up for a unique
extraordinary joint-venture with American tuba player Jon Sass, to record the album
"Baby Wants To Boogie" followed by the 1989 release "Johnny & The Devil"
Jon Sass was also featured on Hans' 1991 album "Call Me", recorded in
Munich, Hollywood and Woodstock. The album also featured contributions from Maceo
Parker, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson, (from The Band) Bobby King & Terry Evans
(from Ry Cooder's band) amongst countless others. The album sold over
50,000 copies worldwide.
The 1993 album "Hans Theessink & Blue Groove" was recorded live from a
number of locations, sometimes with Jon Sass on tuba, singer/percussionist Alee
Thelfa and singer Dorretta Carter.
In 1994 solo-album "Hard Road Blues" was built around the key song "Big Bill
’s Guitar", a superb Delta blues album.
In 1995 Hans released the album "Crazy Moon" - an eclectic collection of
13 original songs, recorded in studios in Europe and the U.S.A., Again, Jon
Sass contributes on tuba with Alee Thelfa on drums, Richard Bell on piano
and B3 Hammond organ.
Then there is the AustinTexas connection, with Marcia Ball, Rocky Morales,
"Mambo" Traenor, Cindy Cashdollar and Ponty Bone; and the L.A. connection with
Terry Evans and his gospel-vocal troup including Willie Greene Jr. on bass
vocals. There’s even a celtic connection! The Dubliners contribute to the ballad
"Sail Away". The Vienna connection is covered by Art of Brass Vienna -
classical heavyweights who supply some unusual hornparts. Austrian film director
Peter Patzak used the music for his movie, but he also gave the film the same
title "Crazy Moon". In this movie Hans made his debut as an actor in the roll of
a musician.
In 1997 "Journey On", a series of recordings made during Hans' 1996 U.S.
tour, was released. Seven originals and a song each by Muddy Waters, Leadbelly,
Rufus Thomas and Willie Dixon were recorded in studios in Philadelphia and
Los Angeles. Along with tuba player Jon Sass, the album also featured Terry
Evans, an extraordinary singer well-known for his work with Ry Cooder.
Even though Hans’ roots are in country-blues, he also adds portions of other
roots music forms like gospel, soul, folk, rhythm ‘n blues, country and
Zydeco to the musical melting pot. Theessink sticks to his "handmade music"
formula, that makes his music readily recognisable and unmistakable – even well known
blues standards sound like Theessink originals!
In April 1998, to celebrate Hans' 50th birthday "Blue Grooves from Vienna"
was released, a compilation of old and rare recordings.
1998 also saw the release of "RTL 3 – Gitarre x 3" together with Austrian
guitarists Peter Ratzenbeck and Michael Langer.
Hans‘ third 1998 CD, "Lifeline"; featured eleven original compositions and
also songs by Reverend Gary Davies and Blind Willie Johnson. The album included
contributions from American gospel / rhythm‘ n blues outfit The Holmes
Brothers, who Hans was touring with in late 1997. Other outstanding musicians on
the album include Linda Tillery & The Cultural Heritage Choir, backing vocals,
Pee Wee Ellis on sax, Jon Sass on tuba and Alee Thelfa on drums/percussion,
and even Insingizi Emnyama, a male choir from Zimbabwe! A wish came true when
blues legend Charles Brown lent his voice to Hans‘ song "Love Sweet Love" –
the first time Hans has left the lead vocalist role to another person. Hans had
planned to record some tracks with blues mandolin-player Yank Rachell but
sadly, Yank passed away before they got together. The song "Mandolin Man" is
dedicated to Yank Rachell and his music.
In 2002 Hands released the "Banjoman" album, - a tribute to Derroll Adams,
followed by the 2003 release, "Songs From the Southland". Hans has a new album
"Bridges", out now, which will be on sale at The Bullfrog Blues Club.
Han's simple philosophy is "If the groove is right you can’t go wrong" - so
don't miss HANS THEESINCK at THE BULLFROG BLUES CLUB, SOUTH PARADE PIER, on
Thursday 20th May. Doors open 8 p.m.