Rick Hannah - jazz guitar

Rick Hannah, Jazz guitarist was born in the US in Philadelphia and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He started playing guitar at 12 yrs of age, playing rock and other pop music of the day. By the age of 19 he became exposed to jazz and funk, and for the next 15 yrs played a combination of Jazz, Funk, and Blues usually in a fusion format.
He moved to Los Angeles in 1976, where he tried to adapt to the musical culture, playing fusion music with such notables as Alphonse Mouzon, Bunny Brunel, and Brian Auger. Searching for a deeper understanding of jazz music, Rick turned his attention to the roots of American Classic Jazz and began studying and playing that music exclusively. His last few years in LA was spent playing and recording with one of the best Jazz and R&B bands in the local area: the Billy Mitchell/John Bolivar group.
In 1996 he moved back to the east coast where he met and formed a trio with Phil Cunneff and Tom Baldwin. The result of this collaboration was a recording of two CDs: "Oui Bop" and "Encore Oui Bop". "Oui Bop" was released in 2000, and was eventually distributed by the British label String Jazz. The British label Mainstem Records released "Encore Oui Bop" the beginning of 2006.
In 2005 Rick moved across the Big Pond to settle in Strasbourg, France, where he currently lives.  His "French trio" with Thomas Laedlein and Gerald Muller,  two of the finest musicians in the area,  has been together for over four years now.  In that time, he has recorded a CD with the new trio entitled "Going Forward", and has just released the last recording of his American trio, finished in 2005 - a tribute to Rick's first influence in music, The Beatles!!

To purchase my CDs you can search the following sites:

• "Oui Bop" - this CD was originally released locally in Baltimore, Maryland under the label Fells Point Jazz. It is run by drummer Phil Cunneff, who is still with us and has just released a new CD entitled "Levi". You can check out his site at: www.fellspointjazz.com. Recently, it has been picked up by Mainstem, and is now available on-line in mp3 format at the various sites, including iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon, eMusic, etc.

• "Encore Oui Bop" - this CD was released the beginning of 2008 by the British label Mainstem Records. You can find it at most Euro web stores (amazon.uk, tower.uk) or check out their web site at www.mainstem.co.uk.

• "Going Forward" - this is the first release with my new trio here in Europe on Christal Records, which I am excited about.....for more info, you can check out www.agitato.net

• "The Beatle Project" - just released the end of 2009, this is the last effort of my American trio in 2005 before I moved to Europe. The Beatles indeed were my first big influence, and this feeling has not abated for the last 40 years!! Just out on iTunes only from Mainstem!