Jazz performing artist Hank Hehmsoth heads the Jazz Piano Studio at Texas State University School of Music , and is Director of Computer Applications in Music at the Music Computer Center (MC2), Senior Lecturer in Music Technology, and WebMaster. Hank's jazz band The Hehmsoth Project plays in Austin and puts on special concerts twice a year.
show schedule
fri/sat/mon 5:30~12:00
Sullivan's/Austin
Hank has two music piano performance degrees from UT Austin (student of John Perry ) with doctoral and post-grad jazz work at NTSU (student of Dan Haerle ) and Eastman (student of Bill Dobbins ), including master classes with Alfred Brendel , Aaron Copeland , Vladimir Ashkenazy , Bill Evans , and Phil Woods . Hank has played with Joe Henderson (Check out the video on this site!), Freddie Hubbard , and Phil Woods. In 1979 Hank won a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz grant . In 1980, Hank joined Christopher Cross , winning 5 Grammies© , and ASCAP, Emmy, Golden Globe, and Academy Awards for Best Original Song (Arthur), with national and international tours with Fleetwood Mac (Tusk tour), The Eagles (Long Run tour), and Bonnie Raitt (see my pic !).
Other awards include 1981 Cakewalk CAL programming contest winner. He founded Music Design Group 1986 producing feature length film scores, documentaries, commercials, and multimedia. Guest MIDI/Computer Music artist at the "Austin Computer Expo/Fair" (1986-89). In 1991 Hank scored the feature-length film " Scary Movie ", (out on video, winner WorldFest International Film Festival ). Hank is cited in " Who’s Who in Entertainment " since 1993. In 1995 the Austin Critics Table Awards nominated Hank "Best Musical Director" ("Hair'95"). In 1996 Hank was commissioned a new work "Ritú del Sol Andes: Diem" for the Ballet Austin , Toni Bravo Choreographer . Also in 1996 Hank was commissioned to compose a new musical including lyrics "Walk with Me", debuting at the Mary Mooden North Theatre / Melba Martinez Director. 1996 honoree at the Austin City Council Chambers " Live Music Capital of the World ". In 1997 he scored the documentary "LadyBird Johnson" for the National Park Service (runs hourly at the Johnson National Historical Park , Johnson City, Tx.). In 2000 he produced a new arrangement of "Jesus Christ SuperStar Millenium Edition" for the Austin Music Theater / Paramount Theater featuring a Broadway Cast and national tour. Hank can be heard playing jazz piano on the Microsoft PC game " Casino " with the Paul Baker Studio Orchestra .
Additional professional activities include an Interactive Workshop, Seminar, and Master Class " Computers & Music (MIDI) " sponsored by the NARAS Foundation, Inc., which also Hank is a lifetime Voting Member for the "GRAMMY© Awards". In show business Hank has performed and toured with Bonnie Raitt, Fleetwood Mac ("Tusk" tour), The Eagles ("The Long Run"), Christopher Cross , Beverly Sills (she sang Gershwin and I accompanied her on piano), Bob Hope (show at Texas AM), Chuck Berry , Count Basie (I "subbed" for him once when he was sick!), Kenny Loggins (outdoor concert in Santa Barabara, JoAnne Worley (in "Nunsense II"), Mikhail Baryshnikov (he hurt his back during the grand opening of UTPAC and decided to sing some jazz instead!), Nelson Riddle Orchestra , Red Skelton (show at Texas AM), Sid Caesar & Imogene Coca (reunion show at the Paramount), Bob Newhart (in San Antonio), and Steve Allen (corporate event in Austin, he played great piano!). He has performed for Pres. George Bush, Pres. George W. Bush, Pres. Ronald Reagan, Mr. Jack Lemmon, Gov. Ann Richards, and Gov. Mark White. Hank's jazz band " The Hehmsoth Project " has performed benefit concerts for the Michael Jordan Foundation , the Lance Armstrong Foundation , Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund , and performs sold-out concerts throughout the year. Also Texas State Jazz faculty perform regularly. In 2005 Casey Monahan, Director of the Governor's Texas Music Office , invited Hank to record on piano with Cirque du Soleil during their first recording studio visit to Texas (we also recorded Juliana Sheffield ). Hank has performed at Pres. Reagan White House, Pres, Johnson Texas White House, Tokyo Nippon Budokan , London Palladium , New York Radio City Music Hall , Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl , Los Angeles Greek Theater , Orlando Disney World , NYC The Bottom Line , LA The Roxy , Las Vegas The Sands (closed now), Lake Tahoe Caesar's Palace (see my pic there w/Smokey Robinson!), the " Texas Jam " at the Cotton Bowl w/ Journey, Cheap Trick, Sammy Hagar, and The Eagles, Red Rocks /Colorado, and Austin Frank Erwin Center (hung out w/ Earl Campbell backstage!). Appearances on TV include " Solid Gold© "(4 appearances), "Academy Awards© " (1981), "GRAMMY© Awards", "Late Night w/ David Letterman©", " Midnight Special - ABC"© w/ Wolfman Jack , "ABC's 20/20©", " On The Road w/ Charles Kuralt© ", King Biscuit Flower Hour© , live radio broadcasts from the Continental Club/Austin , and " Austin City Limits© ". Theater work includes "Hair" - Musical Director, "Walk with Me" -Musical Director, "Jesus Christ SuperStar" - arranger, "Beauty and the Beast" (original Disney production), "Chorus Line", " Tommy Tune " (Texas tour), "Scrooge", "Nunsense II (the second coming)", "Together Again", " Nosferatu " (1922) , " Wings " (1927) , "Androcles and the Lion", and Austin's own " Esther’s Follies ".
40 more songs right here!