David Hansen

David Hansen (http://davidhansenmusic.com) creates Easy Listening music that can reel in not only suburban housewives but college professors as well. It's not as easy as you think (don't try this at home, kids). For the former, there are somewhat jazzy ballads like the title cut; "Love in Three Days"; and "The Meaning." These songs find Hansen spellbound, and at times punched, by love. Hansen's crooning is subtle, restrained, thankfully free from any Michael Bolton histrionics. As you can tell from the classy photographs of him on the sleeve, Hansen isn't peddling cheese. When he sings, "The love within my heart waits for you to come and share this bond," on "Love in Three Days," his voice isn't cracking in anguish. The wounds may be deep, but the blood isn't overflowing.

On the other hand, Hansen has an experimental vision as well. "Armada," with its wall of synthesizers, is jazz fusion at its most poppy and enjoyably so. You can feel Hansen's affection, his zest for life, in his playing. This isn't some egghead tinkering with his expensive toys. "Toleetah" dances with invigorating New Age rhythms, shedding the genre of its icy stereotypes. The title track is energized by Jim Widlowski's fiery drumming.

While "there's something here for everyone" has become cliche, it's certainly apt in describing Hansen's CD. - Adam Harrington from whisperinandhollerin.com

David Hansen/All That I Could Give

David Hansen certainly gives his all on this intimate and hopelessly romantic album; every track was written, produced, and arranged by himself. Hansen juggles several styles here – contemporary classical, jazz, New Age, Adult Contemporary, and world music – and manages to stitch them together in the context of moving ballads and spunky instrumentals. Snappy drums and upbeat keyboards produce a playful groove for the opening piece, “Armada.” The synthesized rhythms have a somewhat ’80s flavor that might remind you of fusion efforts from that era.

On the title track, we can hear Hansen’s voice for the first time; it is soulful and deep, not too different from Peter Gabriel’s. A tale of lost love, Hansen’s melancholy lyrics blend well with Joel Hips’ smooth-jazz riffs, increasing the pensive emotions of the piece. “Love in Three Days” thematically seems to be a continuation of it with Bob Mathis’ tropical flute adding an island flavor to the song. There has to be a personal heartache behind these compositions. Throughout the record Hansen balances the experimental tendencies of New Age with the fine craftsmanship of contemporary classical and the unguarded feelings of pop; whether he’s expressing himself wordlessly or through the warm glow of his singing, Hansen has us in the palm of his hands.

- Vivian Fields from midnightjazzreview.com

RadioIndy is pleased to present David Hansen with a GrIndie Award for the CD "All That I Could Give-New Edition"
David Hansen’s “All That I Could Give-New Edition” is a wonderful piece of music that really delivers to the adult contemporary crowd. Although his background is strongly rooted in jazz music, Hansen throws out more of an adult pop punch on his most recent effort. On the title track “All That I Could Give” screams of classic James Taylor vocal approach and is smooth and silky in style. If you are looking for some soothing jazz then “Love In Three Days” is a good track to check out. It features some very well polished jazz flute riffs and invites you into the artist true musical taste. This CD could easily be spun on any light rock radio station today and is a great listen. Should you find yourself wanting to hear something new and in the musical style of James Taylor or Steve Winwood then “All That I Could Give- New Edition” is a CD you will want to add to your collection.



- Shaun and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team

Rarely does a contemporary classical or New Age CD arrive in our offices which has vocal parts alongside instrumentals. Of course, that has never been a requirement for quality in the field; it’s just that you don’t see it often. David Hansen is among the exceptions, and what is even more remarkable about his record All That I Could Give is his singing voice. Hansen lays down some tear-jerkingly plaintive vocals on a few tracks on the CD, especially on “Love in Three Days,” wherein he has seemed to find true love, only to see it slip away. It’s the kind of composition that could transcend the classical roots of Hansen’s style and cross over into the adult pop market.

For devotees of jazz fusion and New Age, Hansen has that side of the coin cornered, too, with a couple of striking instrumentals. Percolating synthesizers deliver the goods on “Toleetah” while “Ladder of Being” moves to a steady, irresistible groove. Given Hansen’s eclectic tastes, it’s hard to classify All That I Could Give into a single genre, but then that’s a large part of its appeal, too.

- Carson James from thechilloutisland.com