Look Out!

Thanks to his new label affiliation tenorman Terry Hanck’s latest CD will—one hopes—reach a larger audience than his five previous, mostly self-released CDs, for this ex-Santa Cruz bluesman certainly deserves one. Even though he moved to Florida a few years ago, he’s no stranger to the Golden State, having played here most recently at the first KZFR Blues Bash in February. In addition to his regular band (guitarist Johnny “Cat” Soubrand, bassist Tim Wagar and drummer Butch Cousins) this disc features several West Coast talents including Chris “Kid” Andersen, the Norwegian (now-Californian) ex-Hanck guitarist who’s now with Rick Estrin & the Nightcats. Andersen lends his considerable musical talents—playing on seven of the disc’s 13 tracks. Hanck is a full-bodied saxophonist and sensationally soulful singer who’s chosen some great material to work out on. In addition to a handful of his own songs—the slow, soulful and rueful “You Coulda Let Me Go” (“But instead you started a flame”) and the topical “Appreciate What You Got” (he’s got a stack of bills, a bad hip, etc.)—they pep things up considerably with Tiny Bradshaw’s “The Train Kept a Rollin’” and a powerhouse version of Louis Jordan’s “Ain’t That Just Like a Woman.” This CD definitely lives up to its subtitle: “Greasy Soul Rockin’ Blues.”