Heading South
Jason Hannan is originally from Mississippi, but resides in Frederick, Maryland, where he is a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, and has played with several D.C. area groups like Clear Spring, Crop Dusters, and others. He plays guitar, mandolin, and bass, and he is joined on this project by his wife, Michelle Hannan (vocals, harmonica), Howard Parker (resonator guitar), and Rob Benzing (banjo). Guests on a couple of cuts are Shannon Bielski (fiddle), and Matthew Geiger (vocals).
This project is a collection of Hannan’s original compositions along with tunes from such sources as Hoyt Axton, Joe Diffie, George Strait, Pete Kuykendall, Hylo Brown, and Adam Mitchell. Hannan’s tunes include “My Father’s Songs,” “Heading South,” “Back In The Ground” with Michelle, “Sweet Summer Rain,” and “Long Lonesome Train.” The other songs include “Lighting Bar Blues,” “Fool Hearted Memory,” “Paint Me A Birmingham,” “Lovesick and Sorrow,” “Remembrance of You,” “Home,” and “Out Among The Stars.”
Hannan has a pleasant voice and he blends well with his wife, Michelle and the other vocalists. The band is a tight foursome with nice arrangements where everyone gets to shine, and guest Bielski’s fiddle work fits well in the mix. This new project shows Hannan’s love for the music of country and bluegrass.
