Recorded live in Vienna, Austria – True & Blue, like the prize-winning predecessor albums, Visions and Delta Time – is a naked and intimate, bare to the bone, live recording, that leaves a lot of space for Hans Theessink and Terry Evan’s expressive voices and instruments. This is handmade roots music at it‘s best.
It’s evident that Evans and Theessink were in a super good mood this particular evening and the audience was immersed in a hot night full of timeless blues and roots music – brought to life by these two gifted masters.
With only two guitars and two unmistakable voices, they generate an honest, unadulterated musical force in a stripped down setup. The cool vibe is contagious and flows in a casual rhythm, naturally. Here are two friends at work and this recording captures their mutual respect and the enormous fun they make together singing and playing.
Hans Theessink and Terry Evans may be from separate sides of the Atlantic Ocean but they work together beautifully and make sense as a natural combination. These two vastly experienced and respected musicians are committed performers who are a perfect foil to each other. Theessink’s lazy baritone and Evans’ extraordinarily soulful gospel tones are tailor made to blend together with spine-tingling results. Their two, previously recorded studio albums Visions (2008 featuring Richard Thompson) and Delta Time (2012 featuring Ry Cooder) got great reviews and won several international prizes. Visions was nominated for the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, TN in 2009.
Hans Theessink is probably Europe‘s number one blues export. After more than 7.500 concerts, 50 years “on the road” and more than 30 albums, an instruction video, a songbook and a DVD to his name, Theessink has become a roots and blues institution. The press has called him, “An international blues treasure” and “One of the world‘s pre-eminent pickers.” Terry Evans hails from Vicksburg, Mississippi. At a very early age he was exposed to gospel music in the local church and knew that singing was his calling. In a career that spans over 50 years, Terry has done several albums under his own name and has a long working relationship as a backing vocalist with Ry Cooder. Terry‘s voice is pure “Mississippi magic” – the real deal and one of the most soulful voices in the business.
True & Blue – A transatlantic blues summit!
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