German-born, Seattle-based, Award winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
Hans York has quickly made himself a name as an extraordinary DADGAD player
and strong, engaging performer with a distinctive style and an irrepressibly
delightful and approachable manner. His intimate and distinctive voice draws
comparisons to Sting, Paul Simon, Kenny Rankin or Michael Franks and captures
the audience instantly with its honesty and clearness.
Hans accompanied Robert Palmer on German TV, toured as bassist with the
New York Broadway Ensemble, played throughout Europe with master harp
player Rüdiger Oppermann, and performed a Concerto as Soloist on
fretless bass with the "Ars Quittilinga" Chamber Orchestra (Concerto
written by contemporary German composer Thomas König). Hans York
co- founded the German Worldmusic cult band Moka Efti and recorded three
CDs with them. The third album, “Fata Morgana” features US saxophonist
Charlie Mariano and producer/saxophonist Heinrich von Kalnein (Vienna
Art Orchestra).
Hans spent six months in Rio de Janeiro where he studied Samba, Bossa
Nova and popular Brazilian music, an experience that upon his return to
Germany, inspired his first solo album Hazzazar.
His 2008 album "Young Amelia" is a low-key gem showcasing York’s
impressive acoustic guitar playing, appealing tenor and strong songwriting
skills. His approach to the guitar blends jazz, folk and Classical European
styles into a sound that’s both familiar and unique. Self-produced
and recorded live in the studio in a mere two and a half days with the
help of some talented friends (credits below), Young Amelia shows off
York’s distinctive guitar sound, full of rhythmic and melodic flourishes
that impress without overwhelming the songs. York favors open tunings,
which give his playing an expansive feel, marked by full, round notes
and chiming overtones.
"Young Amelia" takes you on a subtle journey to explore the
hidden recesses of the human heart with outstanding musicianship and deep
compassion. The set includes “Tell Me Why,” a jazzy, Brazilian
flavored tune marked by York’s impressive fretwork; the classic swing
of “Invocation,” which will be the album’s first single,
where York drops a bit of tongue twisting vocalese worthy of Jon Hendricks
into the mix, and the gently rowdy ragtime of “Never Been in Love,”
a tongue in cheek celebration of life after a failed relationship. Other
standout tracks include “Young Amelia,” a ballad full of melancholic
poetry that investigates the heartbreaking tension between love and loss,
youth and old age; “Snow,” a tune with a circular guitar melody
that suggests swirling snowflakes; the elegant, measured ballad “Inner
Windows;” the newgrass bounce of “Lifeline,” and “Letting
Go,” a hushed meditation on the death of a parent with one of York’s
most poignant vocals. York will be touring extensively to support Young
Amelia, impressing audiences with his remarkable musicianship and low-key
charisma.
Hans York is a world musician in the true sense of the term, drawing
most of his present day inspiration from his vast eclectic background.
Buy Hans York
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