J. Hansen

I play drums for Rick Estrin and the Nightcats (formerly Little Charlie and the Nightcats). I've been with them the past seven years, and I love it. This band is awesome. Period. I have played onstage with lots of different blues and jazz artists, including: Little Charlie, Rick Estrin, Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Wilson, Rusty Zinn, Mark Hummel, Lavay Smith, Magic Dick, Jerry Portnoy, Steve Lucky, Miss Carmen Getit, Narvin Kimball (of the Preservation Hall JB), Taj Mahal, Jimmy Vaughn, Buddy Guy, Phillip Walker, Pinetop Perkins, Curtis Salgato, Tee Carson, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and lots of other cool people I can't think of right now. Although I primarily play the blues for a living, I enjoy playing jazz, swing,rock and roll, funk, soul and R&B styles as well. Some of my musical influences include: Count Basie, Led Zeppelin, Roger Miller, Prince, Muddy Waters, Kiss, Elvis Presley, James Brown, Rick Estrin, and the music of New Orleans. My drumming influences are (in no particular order): Baby Dodds, AL Jackson Jr., Fred Below, Sonny Freeman, Gene Krupa, John Bonham, Peter Criss, Elvin Jones, Sonny Payne, Stevie Wonder, and Buddy Rich. I have a music degree, but don't hold it against me. I'm mainly educated by my CD/record collection and gigging the past 22 years. I write lots of songs and perform some of them with the Nightcats. I am about to release my first solo CD "Give the Drummer Some" in March 2009 featuring my own songs, and my singing and drumming. All the Nightcats are on it, as well as some other special guests. If your sound is on, you're listening to it right now! So far in 2009 I will be drumming on new releases by Rick Estrin and the Nightcats, Little Charlie Baty, Noora Noor, and Charles Wheal, in addition to my album.
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HERE'S MY CD'S FIRST REVIEW! (from IllinoisBlues.com)
J. Hansen - Give the Drummer SomeGreaseland Recordswww.myspace.com/jhansendrums11 tracks/35:50For the past seven years, drummer J. Hansen has been a member of the Nightcats , backing Little Charlie and now Rick Estrin. His current band mates are all here - Estrin on harmonica, Lorenzo Farrell on bass, Kid Andersen on guitar and Bob Welsh on keyboards. With one exception, Hansen wrote all of the tracks and produced the recording. The songs showcase the musical forms that he is passionate about - blues, country and rock & roll. Instead of mixing his influences, Hansen writes in one style for each track. He has a solid voice with plenty of range that easily can handle the demands of his tunes.“Firecracker” opens the proceedings with a quick burst of rockabilly. Hansen pounds out the beat, while Andersen supplies the first of his dynamic guitar solos. The abrupt ending leads straight into “I’m Takin’ Out My In-Laws,” a humorous examination of the perils of married life. Rick Estrin takes honors on the slow blues piece, “Wigglin’ on the Pole”, blowing hot harp licks that dance around Hansen’s vocal. Andersen lays down some awesome Muddy Waters-style slide licks with a full, rich guitar tone. The song examines a failed relationship with a stripper.Hansen switches to an easy swinging jazz groove on “Equal Opportunity Lover,” which features Clint Baker on trombone. “My Little Girl” is Hansen’s tribute to his daughter done in a straight country format. Kid Andersen breaks out his wah-wah pedal on “No Good”, a funky track with one of Hansen’s strongest vocals. Hansen slows the pace on “Really Living”, a ‘50s style ballad with Welsh’s piano driving the arrangement and Andersen contributing a brief but intense guitar interlude. “Workin’ Man” is a tune that falls squarely on the point where country morphed into rockabilly - the beat a little harder and faster, Hansen’s singing using inflections common to the early rockers. The disc closes with minimal take on “Mack the Knife”, serving as a showcase for Hansen’s skills as a drummer. The cut is less effective due to his too hip vocal .It might be tough for Hansen to get attention for this release as it will be competing with the new Rick Estrin and the Nightcats title on Alligator Records. In fact, one of the strongest cuts on this disc, “I’m Takin’ Out My In-Laws”, has a lengthier version on the Estrin disc. The other drawback to Hansen’s recording is the short playing time. That said, Hansen sings and drums with gusto on a batch of listenable original tunes. The support is impeccable, especially from Kid Andersen. Give the Drummer Some is not an essential purchase but it is definitely a solid listen..Reviewer Mark Thompson is president of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL