Uncommon Ground ^ John Hasbrouck

John Hasbrouck
John Hasbrouck burst onto the national acoustic music scene with the release of his critically-acclaimed debut cd, Ice Cream – cited by Acoustic Guitar as one of the Top CDs of 2002. His second release, Some These Days (June 2004), is a deep meditation on American Roots Music.

It demonstrates Hasbrouck's firm grasp on the rich musical heritage that has shaped his art over three decades of music-making.

Working with independent recording engineer Steve Albini, Hasbrouck has produced a follow-up to Ice Cream that is rootsy and dense. Some These Days is a many-sided collection of vocal tracks and

instrumentals, originals and covers. The originals are sometimes moody, sometimes playful, often emotionally complex, and always daring. And as listeners of Ice Cream know, Hasbrouck’s interpretations of songs with traditional roots are about as far out as you can get.

Like his debut, Some These Days showcases Hasbrouck's mastery of bottleneck and fingerstyle playing on a variety of six- and twelve-string flattop and resonator guitars. Several originals together form a tribute to the great Delta songster Charley Patton. The disk also features a deconstruction of classic country ("Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow"), some contemporary powerhouse fingerpicking ("Back Into Days" and "Hubbard's Cave") a 12th-century English murder ballad ("Henry Lee," referred to by Hasbrouck as his "medieval bottleneck piece") and a postmodern interpretation of Appalachian mountain music ("False Hearted Lover's Blues").

What the critics said about John Hasbrouck's Ice Cream:

“(Ice Cream is a) whimsical gem, melding Delta blues with John Fahey-and Michael Hedges-style picking and a wicked sense of humor...(Hasbrouck) projects a postmodern whimsy...like a cross between Kelly Joe Phelps and Lou Reed.” – Acoustic Guitar

“(Hasbrouck’s) fretboard virtuosity is readily apparent (and his) mesmerizing, easy-going vocal style (and) clever arrangements...positively shimmer.” – Sing Out!

“(Hasbrouck) appears equally at home playing traditional blues…jazz...and country.” – Blues In Britain

“(Hasbrouck’s) mastery of the guitar is only surpassed by his sensitivity to (his) material...” – Richard Milne, WXRT 93.1 FM, Chicago

“(Hasbrouck is a) guitarist of considerable talent...(with a) high level of taste and ability.” – The Isthmus, Madison, WI

“2002 New Talent of the Year ... Ice Cream is pure pleasure; indulgent, enrapturing, seductive...” – Windy City Times

“(Hasbrouck) can play the guitar with such dexterity I find myself just staring at my stereo with my jaw bouncing off of the floor.” – Chicago Arts & Entertainment

“(Ice Cream) is a well-recorded, wonderfully diverse collection... to be savored through repeated listening.” – minor7th.com

“(Hasbrouck) plays in a haunting way...with fingerpicking and slide that are funky, bent and altogether exceptional.” – Music Matters Review

Buy John Hasbrouck CDs:

Visit the John Hasbrouck web-site

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Uncommon Ground Past Show Dates

2007-07-28 (293 days)