Hans Theessink – 70 Birthday Bash
Hans Theessink - Vocals, Guitar [click here to see more vinyl featuring Hans Theessink]
Vocals - Knud Møller (A1, B4), Dorretta Carter (A1, B5), Alee Thelfa (A1, B5), Meena Cryle (A2, B2, B5), Insingizi (A4, B1, B3, B5), Sjef Hermans (B1), Theo de Koning (B1), Brigitte Guggenbichler (B2, B5), Sassy Holzinger (B4), Schiffkowitz (B5), Vlado Kreslin (B5)
Guitar – Knud Møller (A1, A3, B4), Chris Fillmore (A2, B2, B5), Theo de Koning (B1)
Tuba – Jon Sass (A1, B5)
Harmonica – HT (A1), Gait Klein Kromhof (A3, B1),
Percussion – Alee Thelfa (A1, B5), Insingizi (A4, B1, B3, B5), Peter Lenselink (B1)
Bass – Herbert Novacek (A2, B2, B5), Peter Bout (B1)
Saxophone – Herbert Graf (A2, B2, B5)
Trumpet – Bernhard Rabitsch (A2, B2)
Keyboards – Roland Guggenbichler (A4, B2, B5)
Drums – Peter Lenselink (B1)
Lap Steel Guitar – Geert de Heer (B1)
Banjo – Sjef Hermans (B1)
Insingizi = Blessings "Nqo" Nkomo, Dumisani "Ramadu" Moyo, Vusa Mkhaya Ndlovu
Written by Hans Theessink (A1, A3-4, B1-3, B5), Jimmy Reed (A2), Townes Van Zandt (B4)
1 LP, standard sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Live
Record Press : unspecified
Label : Pro-ject, Blue Groove
Original Label : Pro-ject, Blue Groove
Recorded live at Metropol, Vienna, April 4, 5, 6 and 7, 2018
Engineered and mixed by Thomas Löffler
Mixed at Thomas Löffler Studio, Austria
Mastered by Horst Pfaffelmayer, Sebastian Porstner
Produced by Hans Theessink
Released in 2019 (first release)
Tracks:
Side A:
- Stormwarning
- Honest I Do
- Vicksburg Is My Home
- Set Me Free
Side B:
- Running Home
- Leaving At Daybreak
- Old Man Trouble
- If I Needed You
- Slow Train
Reviews:
"Dutch acoustic blues master Hans Theessink has been playing the blues for five decades and delighting audiences around the world with his deep, gravelly voice and metronomic country blues finger picking. He’s released more than 30 albums, and has played with artists like Terry Evans, Ry Cooder, the Holmes Brothers and a host of others. At 70, he’s showing no sign of slowing down, constantly playing live music to appreciative audiences and winning new fans.
For many years, Hans has been hosting a “birthday bash,” an opportunity to share another anniversary with musical friends and fans. Last year, for 4 nights in April, Hans celebrated his 70th birthday in the Metropol in Vienna, with musical friends from all over Europe and North America, including The Blind Boys of Alabama , tuba player Jon Sass, the trio Insingizi from Zimbabwe, Austrian singers Meena Cryle and Sassy Holzinger, Danish singer-guitarist Knud Moller, British jazz singer Dorretta Carter and the Zeeland blues band, Champagne Charlie, and Hans’s own band, Blue Groove. Hans is clearly enjoying performing as much as ever – as he said to me a few months ago: “Keep doing what you love doing. And if people catch your enjoyment, you being happy doing what you do, that really rubs off.”
And that’s exactly what you find as you listen to this 2-CD set which captures these upbeat, heart-warming concerts. Now this album really is a delight, and if top-notch roots music is your thing, you need to check it out. It’s got old Theessink favourites, like Vicksburg is My Home, Walking the Dog, Slow Train and Zambesi, some of gospel numbers, a number of blues standards, like St. James Infirmary and some songs with an African feel, helped along by the lovely Insingizi harmonies.
The Blind Boys of Alabama feature on 2 of the songs, Uncloudy Day and Will the Circle Be Unbroken – it’s always great listening to the stirring gospel sound of the Blind Boys and it’s good to hear Jimmy Carter in fine voice at 90.
As you listen to the songs, you realize afresh what a fine guitarist Hans Theessink is – that rhythmic picking, and the fine slide work just draws you in again and again. His singing power is undiminished, too, an unmistakable baritone, and he knows how to turn around a phrase in a song.
It’s hard to pick a favourite out of this collection – but maybe I’d plump for the lively version of Jesus on the Mainline, driven by some nifty slide guitar and cool tuba playing (yes, a tuba can be cool!) and Hans’s own Slow Train which closes the album, a lovely laid back song nudged along by his characteristic guitar picking, with colour added by a number of his musical collaborators. As he sings, “I’ve been on my way for such a long time, Singing the blues up and down this road,” you’re thinking – thanks for that Hans, and may you keep on for a long time to come!" Down at the Crossroad
Ratings:
Discogs : 4.39 / 5