Information/Write-up
Lloyd Hanson is a Canadian bassist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer, and recording engineer, whose work has profoundly shaped the Canadian music landscape. Based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Hanson is also the founder of Reel North Recording Studios, a former hub for creative innovation in Atlantic Canada.
Originally posted on October 15, 2017, Hanson’s debut solo album, The Great Debate (1988), is considered a rare collector's item. This groundbreaking record fuses bebop, funk, rock, Latin, ambient, and avant-garde influences, showcasing Hanson’s technical brilliance and innovative vision as a composer and performer. The album will soon be updated with higher-quality remastered tracks overseen by Hanson himself.
The Making of The Great Debate
The Great Debate stands as a testament to Lloyd Hanson’s ingenuity and determination. The album was recorded almost entirely on a Tascam 244 four-track cassette deck in Hanson’s parents’ unfinished basement. Using this modest setup, Hanson played nearly all the instruments on the album, with the exception of the horns. The title track and "Yeah Right" were the only pieces recorded outside of this setup.
Hanson began working on the album in 1986, after returning home from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Unsure of his next steps, he immersed himself in composing and recording his music. Inspired by the emerging DTK Records label in Fredericton, Hanson realized that releasing independent music in his hometown was possible. His early recordings impressed Mark Carmody, a mentor who allowed Hanson to develop his mixing skills while providing subtle guidance during the production process. Carmody’s expertise, gained from working as an audio engineer at the Banff Centre, was instrumental in shaping Hanson’s approach to production.
The Album’s Legacy
Upon its release, The Great Debate received critical acclaim. A review in Toronto’s The Record awarded the album the highest jazz rating of the issue, praising Hanson’s innovative genre-blending and technical mastery.
A unique highlight of the album’s sound comes from Hanson’s use of a six-string fretless F Bass, originally owned by Alain Caron of the Montreal jazz-fusion band Uzeb. This bass, the first of its kind made by F Bass, became Hanson’s primary instrument for jazz and progressive folk performances throughout the 1990s. Hanson’s connection to Caron came full circle when, over a decade after The Great Debate’s release, he learned that Caron had been impressed by the album, solidifying its impact on Canada’s jazz scene.
A Personal and Technical Achievement
Hanson’s recording methods on The Great Debate exemplified resourcefulness. Working with analog tape and limited equipment, he not only played most of the instruments but also spliced and edited tracks by hand. His experience recording the album shaped his career as a producer and engineer, providing a foundation for his later work with Reel North Recording Studios.
Hanson plans to revisit and remaster The Great Debate, ensuring its legacy lives on with improved sound quality. This album remains a testament to Hanson’s creativity, technical ingenuity, and dedication to music during a formative period of his career.
Read the full artist bio here: https://citizenfreak.com/artists/96264-hanson-lloyd
-Robert Williston
Lloyd Hanson: bass, drum programming, keyboards, guitar
Brian Coughlan: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Roland Bourgeois: cornet, flugel horn
Tim Launalette: bass trombone
Geordie Haley: guitar
Karl Gans: drum programming
Brian Mitton: drum set
Ian Sedgewick: keyboards
All music composed, arranged, and produced by Lloyd Hanson
Co-produced by Mark Carmody
"This album blends elements of bebop, funk, rock, Latin, ambient, and avant-garde, diverging from both mainstream jazz and typical fusion styles."
Under My Thumb
Lloyd Hanson, Brian Coughlan, Karl Gans
Yeah Right
Lloyd Hanson, Roland Bourgeois, Brian Coughlan, Tim Launalette, Geordie Haley, Brian Mitton
Clouds
Lloyd Hanson
African River at Dawn
Lloyd Hanson
The Other Planet
Lloyd Hanson
The Great Debate
(A group improvisation featuring the same personnel as "Yeah Right")
Music for the Black Cat
Lloyd Hanson, Roland Bourgeois, Ian Sedgewick
2 + 2 = 1.5
Lloyd Hanson, Roland Bourgeois, Brian Coughlan
Long Drive Home
Lloyd Hanson
So Close, Yet So Far
Lloyd Hanson
(Dedicated to Jaco Pastorius)
Special Thanks
Mark Carmody for invaluable assistance.
Jacquie Anderson for front cover photography.
Linda Knezek for back cover photography.
Mixed by Lloyd Hanson and Mark Carmody at The Crab Nebula Sanctum 2 for Compositional Research.
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