Terry Hanck I Still Get Excited

Terry Hanck
I Still Get Excited
TVR/VizzTone

It has been three years since The Terry Hanck Band's last album, "From Roadhouse To Your House Live," which I summarized captured "the engaging and strong blues, R&B and rock of the Terry Hanck Band… ." Hanck returns on this new release with his saxophone and vocals with his band of guitarist Johnny' Cat' Soubrand, bassist Tim Wager and drummer Butch Cousins along with the keyboards of Jim Pugh and guitar, bass and more from Kid Andersen. Anderson co-produced this recording with Hanck, which has several special guests including June Core on drums, Rick Estrin on harmonica, Chris Cain on guitar, and Tracy Nelson on vocals.

Reviewing that live recording, I observed that "Hanck is quite a congenial vocalist with a bit of grizzle whose robust saxophone with a mix of King Curtis yackety-yak with Junior Walker honking." There is no reason to change that observation based on the performances here that range from blues, rock and roll, and swamp pop. It also does not hurt to have such an excellent band, including the guest musicians. This is heard throughout the 11 performances here, starting with the opening title track. It is a gem of rock and roll with a tagline "I might be old as sin, but in my mind, I am just a kid, lawd I still get excited." Pugh channels Johnnie Johnson or Lafayette Leake, Soubrand takes a rocking solo with Hanck riding the song out with some honking and high note screeching.

Louis Jordan is among Hanck's influences, as shown by a cover of "Early in the Morning," but also on his original "Smooth Tyrone." This song sounds like the Jesse Mae Robinson-Louis Jordan penned "Blue Light Boogie." In this song, Hanck has provided original lyrics replacing those of the original. Pugh, Soubrand, and Hanck all shine musically here while Kid Andersen on bass and June Core on drums keep a relaxed shuffle groove. "Here It Comes" has a relaxed early 60s' R&B groove while it incorporates a bass riff from the Solomon Burke classic "Cry to Me." In addition to a heartfelt vocal, Kid Andersen contributes some neat Spanish-tinged acoustic guitar. On the Chuck Willis-styled shuffle, Rick Estrin adds his sax-like harmonica on "Come On Back," soloing as well as having interplay with Hanck. It is followed by the appealing instrumental, "Rosita (No Wall Call Hold Our Love)."

Several remakes are not far removed from the originals recordings. These include Bobby Charles "Why People Like That?" with some 'yackety-yak" sax and "Howlin' For My Darlin'" with Soubrand channeling Hubert Sumlin. Also heard are energetic renditions of Eddie' Cleanhead' Vinson's "Hold It Right There," and "Feel So Bad," based on Little Milton's Checker recording, with more exceptional Soubrand guitar. One exception is an older Little Milton recording, "Spring," that Hanck and Tracy Nelson, in marvelous performance, transform into swamp pop. It stands out in another splendid collection of blues and roots performances by Terry Hanck.

I received my review copy from VizzTone.  Here is a video of Terry Hanck performing "Sweet Tyrone."

 

The Terry Hanck Band From Roadhouse To Your House Live!

The Terry Hanck Band
From Roadhouse To Your House Live
Vizztone

Two years after The Terry Hanck Band's last release, VizzTone has issued a new live recording by them "From Roadhouse To Your House Live!," recorded at the California State Fair by Chris 'Kid' Andersen. the band consists of Hanck on saxophone and vocals, guitarist Johnny ‘Cat’ Soubrand, bassist Tim Wager and drummer Butch Cousins, with special guest Jimmy Pugh on keyboards. About their last album, "Gotta Bring It On Home To You," I noted the range of music from lively R&B, straight blues, swamp blues and pop and if anything, they continue in this vein on what must have been quite a performance for those at the Fair that day.

Hanck is quite a congenial vocalist with a bit of grizzle whose robust saxophone with a mix of King Curtis yackety-yak with Junior Walker honking. Wager and Cousins provide a solid foundation with Pugh (who also gets to display his Hammond B-3 sound on the opening track, Hanck's "Good Good Rockin' Going On," an updating of "Good Rockin' Tonight," on which Soubrand tears off one of his blistering solos. Some yackety-yak sax opens the rollicking cover of T.V. Slim's "Flatfoot Sam," with Pugh's boogie-infused piano leading into a crisp guitar break. Hanck's "Junior's Walk," is the leader's tribute to the Motown legend while Soubrand's tremolo on Chuck Willis' "Whatcha Gonna Do When Your Baby Leaves You," gives the performance the feel of some of Little Willie John's recordings. Hanck's "Smilin' Through My Tears," is an appealing swamp pop-styled ballad with a booting sax solo.

The remainder of this performance is equally varied and entertaining including a cover of Louis Jordan's "Ain't That Just Like A Woman," which opens with Hanck playing Cleanhead Vinson's "Kidney Stew" followed by a bit of "Chattanooga Choo Choo," before launching into the Jordan song. This is followed by a cover of Tyrone Davis' classic "Can I Change My Mind" (there is also a nice rendition of "Slip Away" here). Dave Spector's "Octavate'n," is an instrumental with Soubrand featured and pulling out all the stops. Hanck's original, "Peace of Mind," is evocative of some of Magic Sam's recordings and Soubrand's guitar evokes Sam here.

"From Roadhouse To Your House Live!" captures the engaging and strong blues, R&B and rock of the Terry Hanck Band in very strong form.

I received from my review copy from VizzTone. This review originally appeared in the November-December 2016 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 369). Here Terry in performance.

 

Terry Hanck Gotta Bring It On Home To You

Saxophonist and vocalist Terry Hanck has a rhythm and blues party on his new Delta Groove release, “Gotta Bring It On Home To You.” The CD is by The Terry Hanck Band and Friends which has Hanck and his band of guitarist Johnny ‘Cat’ Soubrand, bassist Tim Wager and drummer Butch Cousins joined by friends guitarist (and producer) Chris ‘Kid Andersen; guitarist Debbie Davies; keyboardist Jim Pugh; Baritone saxophonist Doug James; pianist Bob Welsh; organist Lorenzo Farrell and background vocalists Lisa Leu Andersen and Dennis Dove.

Bringing his vocals with a touch a grizzle and his mix of King Curtis yackety-yak with Junior Walker honking, Hanck and his friends bring together a lively part of rocking R&B on Elvin Bishop’s Right Now Is The Hour evoked Hank Ballard; the straight blues Peace of Mind with Soubrand sounding like a cross between Magic Sam and Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson; the swamp pop flavored My Last Teardrop, although the performance shifts midway into a West Coast R&B rocker; the King Curtis influenced organ sax groove of T’s Groove; and the  straight cover of Tommy Ridgely’s classic instrumental Jam Up.

There are plenty of production touches such as the cheesy fafisa organ used on Pins and Needles that lends it a Tex-Mex flavor. Hanck’s band is excellent and the guests all acquit themselves quite well. Also, production and recording is excellent, as expected with Delta Groove. Gotta Bring It On Home To You is another fine CD from Hanck.

I received my review copy from Delta Groove. Here is a video of the Terry Hanck Band with some booting sax to kick things off.