Wayne Hancock Tulsa CD

As on his previous six albums, Wayne "The Train" Hancock channels Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers, for an utterly vintage take on American music. With revered producer Lloyd Maines at the helm, TULSA swings, cooks, and slinks along in classic country style. Hancock's voice is pure honky tonk, with plaintive hiccups and petulant yowls adding color to his amiable baritone. He and his band, particularly Eddie Rivers on steel guitar, have mastered the traditional forms--swing, country-blues, twilight ballads--so well that listeners may find themselves checking the copyright date just to be sure this really was made in 2006. Maines's sparkling production is the only real giveaway.

Personnel: Wayne Hancock (vocals); Eddie Biebel, Eddie Biebel (guitar); John Doyle , John Doyle (clarinet); Bob Stafford, Bob "Texaco" Stafford (trombone); Chris Darrell (bass instrument); Dave Biller, Paul Skelton (guitar); Eddie Rivers (steel guitar).

Dirty Linen (p.89) - "Hancock has represented the high-water mark for authentic, traditional country music, and he continues to set the pace with his latest gem, TULSA."
No Depression (p.108) - "[H]e's not looking to simply preserve antiques or overstuff his wallet, but rather to perpetuate the spirit, as the musical greats he emulates did."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.102) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "He writes and records new original material in the old tradition. Joyous stuff."