Interesting news about Hank

[iefje]

I wonder too which record label will release the new album. I guess Universal will probably see it as a "Guardian Angel" kind of album, a big risk of becoming a flop. On the other hand, Hank's (all acoustic) "Guitar Player" album from 2002 was also quite different from anything he released before. Maybe Hank will come to Britain to promote it on radio and television, as he did for his last album "Guitar Man" in 2007. Quite rare these days too to do a live TV performance, as he did with "Summer House".

[Rosemary]

I don't know much about jazz but know that a lot of classical orchestral musicians play jazz in their spare time and I imagine it's the improvisation that holds a lot of appeal. For instance a clarinettist has to play notes exactly as Beethoven wrote them but with jazz they can play around with the music a bit. The Shadows have stuck pretty closely to their original recordings in their live concerts which we all appreciate so much so playing another style of music is very understandable. I like what I've heard from the few YouTube clips and would definitely go to see Hank if he played here. It's great to hear he's still recording and performing.
Best wishes
Rosemary

[cockroach]

Perhaps he went bonkers on jazz after having to play the same old Shadows hits note for note for donkey's years!

[JimN]

Perhaps he went bonkers on jazz after having to play the same old Shadows hits note for note for donkey's years!

Maybe, but Hank has long been known to be a fan of jazz guitar - and an exponent too. In the very earliest days of The Shadows as hitmakers in their own right, Hank let it be known that his favourite guitarists were Chet Atkins (no slouch at jazz) and Barney Kessel (an outstanding jazz guitarist standing in the direct line of succession from Charlie Christian). The Shadows even played a Barney Kessel compsition on broadcasts (and perhaps also in concerts). Then there was Nivram, and Dean's Theme, and Maggie's Samba...

JN

[BrianD]

I think it is great when well known musicians demonstrate their interest in other genres to those they are associated with. A couple of years back I bought a CD which features that great orchestral conductor, Andre Previn (better known to Morecombe and Wise fans as Andrew Preview!!!!), playing jazz piano with Joe Pass on guitar and Ray Brown on bass. It is a great CD, if you like jazz, called After Hours, and openned my eyes to a totally different side of Andre Previn.

Personally I love well played gypsy jazz guitar and look forward to hearing Hank's performance on his new record. Regrettably I wont be able to go to the Croydon concert as we will be away sailing at that time. I hope this isn't the only concert he will be giving in UK but haven't spotted any others so far.

Brian

[iefje]

I have checked the Instrumental Review website again, but it seems the information about Hank recording a new album has been removed.

[s4wgb]

The full dates are now on the Leos den website.Click on the Tours and goto the bottom of the page.

[iefje]

The full dates are now on the Leos den website.Click on the Tours and goto the bottom of the page.

Yes, but there's no information about the new studio album Hank is about the record.

[shadfanjohn]

Just read about the tour next year in another thread, I was hoping for a CD. I will be ordering a copy and waiting with anticipation.

[Iain Purdon]

As a matter of pure interest, how many others here were fans of Django Reinhardt even before Hank turned to the dark side in recent years?

Being married to a Django fan, I claim my place on the list. There is an unwritten rule in our house that every Shadows record played prompts a Hot Club record to even things up!.

from what I've seen and heard on You Tube as a gypsy jazz guitarist, (Hank) becomes just another one of a very large crowd of very similar sounding Djangos all over the world...

Given the explosion there's been in the last 10-15 years, Hank also becomes just another one of a growing crowd of similar sounding Hanks all over the world!

In the end, music is music and players are players. It is for all and can, in theory, be done by all. What we play or listen to at any particular time is a matter of personal taste. If I were Hank, I wouldn't let myself be imprisoned by someone else's expectations!

What do you think? 10 out of 10 for pomposity?

Iain