Hans Theessink & Jon Sass (NL/USA)

HANS THEESSINK (pronounced Tay-sink) took the road less travelled. A Dutch musician interpreting American roots music is not the easiest formula for success. But ten records later and a virtually non-stop touring schedule suggests that HT took the right road. Bo Diddley called him "One helluva guitarplayer". Presscritics, all over the world, have praised his concerts and albums and generally regard him as one of the leading white blues-singers/guitarists. Hans is also a prolific songwriter.
In the early sixties HT had his first meeting with "THE BLUES": A radioshow, featuring Big Bill Broonzy and Leadbelly, left a deep and lasting impression: Hans got obsessed with the sounds and emotional richness of rural country-blues.
Slowly he began to master the bluesguitar (no books, no videos, no teachers). Hans has a deep respect for the old masters but - unlike many others - does not make the mistake to become a copyist: He's an exploratory improviser who likes to blend musical ideas, often coupled with contemporary songs that reflect on the world today.
Over the years HT has built up a strong following. His musical abilities, stage-presence and entertainer-qualities also earned him lots of recognition in the country where it all comes from: invitations to play at prestigious North-American festivals like the "NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL" and the "CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL" speak for themselves. His songwriterqualities got valued by the renowned "KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL" - Texas' songwriter-heaven - where Hans appeared in 1988, 89, 91, 94.

JON SASS: TUBA (USA) Born 1961 in New York. As a boy, Jon spent a lot of time in West Virginia, where his grandfather ran a farm and occasionally would pick the guitar and sing blues and folksongs. His father sang bass in a professional gospel-quartet. After "Music and Arts" in New York, Jon studied tuba with Sam Pilafian in Boston. While still at college, he was invited to join the Vienna Art Orchestra. After a few years of commuting, he settled in Vienna where he was a member of the V.A O. from 1983-89. Apart from his involvement with Hans Theessink, Jon also plays classical gigs (a.o. with Art of Brass, Vienna) and joins the V.A.O for special projects like "Fe and Males" and "The Beauty and the Beast". He's made intermittent appearances with the David Murray Big Band, Henry Threadgill and Michelle Rosewoman. In 1990/91 he teamed up with Jamaaladeen Tacuma to supply the bass for Wolfgang Puschnigg's "Alpine Aspects". Jon also plays with Austrian jazz/rock bigband "Heavy Tuba" and has been involved in various recording-sessions, a.o. "TUBA - a six-tuba musical romp" (the new tuba-reference recording) and sometimes conducts tuba-workshops. Jon is an allround musician and a master on his instrument - amazingly versatile and equally at home in classical, jazz, avantgarde and blues.

THE DUO: After a trip to New Orleans in 1986, Hans he teamed up with Jon Sass to record the album "BABY WANTS TO BOOGIE". Jon is an amazing tubaplayer and the ultimate groove-master - no oompah bassline in sight. Somehow the two men "clicked" and decided to intensify their musical relationship and to dig a little deeper into the unusual, stripped naked, guitar/tuba sound-spectrum. They developed a full, tight sound where both instruments play lead, accompaniment and bass - always sensitive to the feel and the contents of the song. Also on the next many albums, the guitar/tuba combination was used to great effect and Hans & Jon show their creativity within the bluesidiom: with a non puristic approach they come up with an unique acoustic sound.

One of the most original duos I’ve heard in many, many years. (Wavelength, New Orleans, USA). Imagine Mississippi John Hurt & Ry Cooder jamming with a tuba and you get the idea. (Guitar Player Magazine, USA)

Even though Hans Theessink & Jon Sass are a duo, they sound as full as a whole band. Their sound is sparse and transparent. They're probably the only guitar/tuba duo in the world today - unusual and full of surprises! Over the last few years Hans Theessink & Jon Sass have performed in clubs and at festivals in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia, Denmark, Turkey, France, Croatia, Slovenia, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Great Britain, Eire, Norway, USA and Canada.They have appeared at radio- and TV-shows in all these countries as well.
The music is bluesbased but there are also many contemporary songs and elements of jazz, gospel and roots-related music. Both musicians' main concern: "Keep it funky - if the groove is right you can't go wrong!"

Booking:

MILICA
Liebhartstalstrasse 15/5
A-1160 Vienna
Austria
Phone: +43.1.911 37 01
Fax: +43.1.914 08 82
Email: [email protected]