With dancing drums like a legendary New Orleans funeral band, brass full of soul, guitars that fuse every style of blues and folk, Hugh Coltman has built himself a sublime backdrop for these eleven songs over which his warm journeyman’s voice expresses his deep understanding of human emotions and sentiments, an indulgent listen for evening lovers, loners at dawn or the melancholic listener at midday… Who’s Happy?, his new album asks. Everyone and no-one, he seems to reply…
Hugh Coltman has always been true to himself without ever doing what you might expect. Born in Britain but residing in France, the former leader of blues-rock group The Hoax morphed into a folk-rock songwriter before exploring the finest in jazz heritage in his forties. It was a new chapter in the adventures of an artist who is keen to break boundaries, formats and conventions.
Press
“Die Mischung stimmt, die Stimme überzeugt, die Arrangements treffen die Seele der Songs – eine beeindruckende Revitalisierung der Musik des begnadeten Pianisten und Sängers Nat King Cole.” – Jazz Podium
“Songs, die uns in eine Atmosphäre versetzen, wie man sie auch bei einer New Orleans-Größe wie Jon Cleary begegnet oder auf 80er Jahre-Alben von Tom Waits.” – Sarah Seidel, NDR
“Coltman nähert sich diesen Songs mit allem, was er im Pop und Blues gelernt hat und präsentiert sich als reifer Sänger, einfühlsam und emotional, dessen Interpretation mitten ins Herz trifft.” – Der Sonntag