Hank Shizzoe – the best roots album that doesn’t come from the USA

Hank Shizzoe, the man whose real name is Thomas Erb, is in a class of his own on the strings. Five years after his last album, “One More Day” is now being released, which was released on the 16th of November. The work of the 58-year-old roots guitarist, singer, bandleader and composer was created in Shizzoe’s large gymnasium studio on Länggasse in Bern.

“I’m getting closer to what I’ve always strived for,” says Shizzoe about the album he recorded with his dream band, Tom Etter (guitar), Michel Poffet (bass) and Simon Baumann (drums). Commercial considerations played no role in the creation of the album. Rather, Shizzoe speaks of the pure desire to create this album with these songs and these people. “The album came about by itself,” he says contentedly.

Stylistically, Shizzoe, who lives in Muri near Bern, remains true to himself and the broad field of Americana. Six of the thirteen songs are his own compositions, plus songs from the treasure trove of American traditionals and covers by people like Nick Lowe, Nashville legend Cindy Walker and singer-songwriter MC Taylor.

“One More Day” is a guitar album by a guitarist. It is all the more surprising that it is a guitar album without guitar solos. The band leader is a song-oriented guitarist. He doesn’t particularly like the term tinkerer, however. But he is undoubtedly a guitar freak and perfectionist. One who conjures up the best and most beautiful sound from his instruments with heart and dedication on “One More Day”. A string artist who moves between traditional American styles in a fast, provocatively relaxed manner.

Luke Bulla: A world champion on the fiddle

In “One More Day” we meet old companions like the Irish singer Shirley Grimes, the keyboard players Christian Brantschen and Ben Jeger. But above all, the fiddle player Luke Bulla is a real eye-catcher. The American is a world champion on his instrument and has been on the road for a long time with genre greats like Lyle Lovett, Rodney Crowell, Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, Alison Krauss and Shawn Colvin. “With Luke, a dream has come true,” says Shizzoe.

Rolling Stone magazine once called Shizzoe “the best roots-rock songwriter and guitar stylist not from the USA.” On “One More Day” he confirmed this assessment. And his new album “One More Day” is the best roots album of the year not from the USA.

Hank Shizzoe: One More Day (Erb Musik). Only available physically, as LP or CD.