Hans Theessink

Hans Theessink is a blues musician from Enschede, Austria, born in 1948. He works as a singer, guitarist and songwriter, and is known for acoustic blues and related roots styles. He also appears with the groups Hans Theessink & Blue Groove and the Hans Theessink Band.

Style and early development

Theessink begins playing American roots music from a Dutch perspective, building a career around blues, country-blues and other roots forms. He becomes interested in the blues in the early 1960s after hearing a radio show featuring Big Bill Broonzy and Lead Belly, which leaves a lasting impression. He teaches himself blues guitar without books, videos or formal lessons, and starts playing live by the mid-1960s.

He is noted for combining older blues traditions with contemporary material rather than copying early models directly. His work draws on country-blues, folk, gospel, soul, rhythm and blues, country music and zydeco, and his performances and recordings are described as recognisable for their handmade, acoustic approach.

Recordings and collaborations

Theessink’s first recording is the EP Next Morning at Sunrise in 1970. By the time of the profile, he has released 15 records and maintains a near-constant touring schedule.

He records Baby Wants To Boogie in 1986 with American tuba player Jon Sass, after a trip to New Orleans. The pair also work together on Johnny & The Devil in 1989. Both albums are released in the United States on the Chicago-based Flying Fish label and receive strong reviews, radio play and blues chart positions.

In 1991 he records Call Me in Munich, Hollywood and Woodstock, working with Jon Sass and guest musicians including Colin Linden, Maceo Parker, Bobby King, Pee Wee Ellis, Rick Danko, Terry Evans, Garth Hudson, Morris Goldberg, Richard Bell and Gary Craig. The album sells more than 50,000 copies worldwide.

Hans Theessink & Blue Groove appears in 1993 as a live album, with major contributions from Jon Sass, singer and percussionist Alee Thelfa, and singer Dorretta Carter. In 1994 he releases the solo album Hard Road Blues, built around the song “Big Bill’s Guitar”. In 1995 he releases Crazy Moon, a studio album of 13 original songs recorded in Europe and the United States, with contributions from Jon Sass, Alee Thelfa, Richard Bell, Marcia Ball, Rocky Morales, “Mambo” Traenor, Cindy Cashdollar, Ponty Bone, Terry Evans, Willie Greene Jr., The Dubliners and Art of Brass Vienna.

In 1997 he releases Journey On, recorded in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, with seven originals and songs by Muddy Waters, Lead Belly, Rufus Thomas and Willie Dixon. It also features Terry Evans and Jon Sass. In 1998 he releases Blue Grooves from Vienna, a compilation marking his 50th birthday, as well as RTL 3 – Gitarre x 3 with Austrian guitarists Peter Ratzenbeck and Michael Langer. That same year he issues Lifeline, a set of 11 original songs and covers of Reverend Gary Davis and Blind Willie Johnson, featuring Linda Tillery & The Cultural Heritage Choir, Pee Wee Ellis, Jon Sass, Alee Thelfa, Insingizi Emnyama and Charles Brown.

Live work, reputation and other projects

Theessink plays festivals, clubs and broadcast sessions internationally, including invitations to major North American events such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival and the Kerrville Folk Festival. He is described as a prominent white blues singer and guitarist, and Bo Diddley calls him “one helluva guitarplayer”.

He also publishes a songbook, Fingerpicking & Bottleneck Favourties, through Doblinger Publishing Company in Vienna, and becomes the first European artist to teach on Homespun Tapes with the instructional video Hooked On The Blues – Dynamic Guitar Techniques.

In addition to music, he appears as an actor in the film Crazy Moon, and later plays an eccentric ornithologist in Thomas Roth’s production of Der See.