|
|
Blues Underground Network |
|
|
Terry Hanck "Look
Out"
The cover of his newest CD really
says it all as we see a smiling Terry Hanck holding his Sax with the words
Look Out emblazoned across the front. Terry Hanck couldn't look happier
and he certainly has every reason to be. Born in Chicago in 1944 and now
in his 67th year of life, Terry Hanck is once again at the top of his game
and proving that there is lots more yet to come from this Sax Man
Extraordinaire.
Recent milestones for Terry Hanck
have been coming fast and furious with two Blues Music Award nominations
(2009 & 2011), plus a recent invite to play on Elvin
Bishop's, his longtime friend and musical cohort, CD, "Raisin' Hell
Revue". Put that all together with his recent signing to the Delta
Groove Record Label and as the Album cover of his new release say, we
better all "Look Out", because Terry Hanck's train is coming down the
tracks and it is leaving a whole bunch of "Greasy Soul Rockin'
Blues", at every stop.
"Look Out" clocks in at just over 60
minutes and consists of 13 great tracks, most of them over 4 minutes with
a couple of real gems clocking in at over 7 minutes. Writing credits go to
Terry for 5 tracks of which he wrote four by himself and co-wrote one
with longtime friend and former member in one of his bands, Chris "The
Kid" Andersen. Terry met Chris "The Kid" Andersen over in
Oslo, Norway, at the now defunct Muddy Waters blues club and quickly
formed a friendship which saw Chris moving to the U.S. and joining Terry's
band, a stint which latest for four years. Chris "The Kid" Andersen then
joined Charlie Musselwhite's band and after became part of Rick Estrin
& The Nightcats. Throughout it all Chris and Terry have remained close
friends and have collaborated on all of Terry's albums since 2002. Chris
and Terry, together, co-produced "Look Out". Engineering was done at
Chris's Greaseland Studios.
Terry Hanck chose to put a mix of 7
covers on "Look Out", which covered a broad brush stroke of interesting
songs written and originally sung by musical greats, such as, "Ain't That
Just Like A Woman", a song of Louis Jordan's that was "written by
Claude Demetrius and Jordan's wife, Fleecie Moore", and "My Girl
Josephine", a song written by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew. "Ain't
That Just Like A Woman" has been covered many times, over the years, by a
lot of different artists including Alice Cooper on his 2005 release
"Nobody Like...Alice Cooper Live". Coincidently that album also contains a
cover of a Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew song called "Goin' to the
River".
In addition to Terry Hanck
(Lead/Background Vocals/tenor sax), and Chris "The Kid" Andersen, whom
plays Guitar (six tracks), Bass (one track), Piano (one track), Organ
(one track), and Background Vocals, "Look Out" also includes a great
lineup of Artists, which included Johnny "Cat" Soubrand (Guitar,
Background Vocals), Tim Wagar (Electric Bass), Butch Cousins (Drums), Bob
Welsh (Piano, B3 Organ), Dennis Dove (Background Vocals #2,4,7,10 and
Drums #7), Lorenzo Farrel (Upright Bass #3 and 5/Electric Bass #7/B3
Organ #8 and 10) and Hans Bosse (Congas). Johnny "Cat" Soubrand was Chris
"The Kid" Andersen's replacement when Chris left the band in 2004. Bassist
Tim Wagar replaced "Terry's longtime friend and bandmate Michael "Fly"
Brooks who unfortunately passed away on September 20, 2010".
The cover of "Look Out" describes
Terry's music as Greasy Soul Rockin' Blues, something that has been his
trademark and along with his legendary status as a Saxophone player,
this special interpretation of that style has been his meat and potatoes
for many years. Something else that has followed Terry Hanck throughout
his career is his amazing vocals which show no hint what so ever of a
singer approaching his 70's. They still come across young, vibrant, and
full of life, something you will notice from the get go on "Look Out",
especially on the opening track, "Here It Comes", as well as, "You
Coulda Let Me Go" and the slightly reggae infused "Girl, Girl, Girl".
Despite Terry's great vocal delivery, there is still no doubt that his
forte' is his sax playing, which we all receive royal treatment on many of
the tracks on "Look Out", especially on, "Train Kept A Rollin", and "Side
Tracked". "Side Tracked" also features Johnny "Cat" Soubrand at his very
best on Guitar.
One of my favorite tracks on "Look
Out" was the track 4 cover of "Catch That Teardrop", with it's great
harmonizing courtesy of Dennis Dove's Background Vocals along with
Terry's great Sax and Chris "The Kid" Andersen's killer Guitar
work.
"Look Out" is Terry Hanck's first
release since 2008 and many including myself are saying that this one may
be one of his best. With it's super fine collection of originals and
covers, plus a group of artists that would be the envy of many a
band, "Look Out" comes across as one release we need to be all Lookin' Out
for. A fabulous release from a simply fabulous artist.
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues
Underground Network)
Additional Info
Tracklist
1. Here It Comes 3:09
2. Keep A Drivin' 2:47 3. Ain't That Just Like A Woman 5:35 4. Catch That Teardrop 4:16 5. You Coulda Let Me Go 7:01 6. Side Tracked 4:48 7. Girl, Girl, Girl 3:48 8. Appreciate What You Got 4:41 9. Train Kept A Rollin' 4:13 10. I Keep On Holding On 5:31 11. You Give Me Nothing But The Blues 7:14 12. My Girl Josephine 3:50 13. Just One More Time 4:39
Listen To Samples Here...
Websites:
|