Hanna and the Blue Hearts
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Hanna and the Blue Hearts channel a wide variety of the blues, from pre-war styles to 50’s & 60’s Chicago blues, to boogie woogie. Fueled by a love of jazz, they are always ready to swing as well!
Vocalist/pianist Hanna PK is the leader of the band. Her solid left hand reflects those traditional blues masters’ rocking’ and shuffling bass patterns, while her right hand grooves along, dancing all over those 88’s and she leads the band with her sultry voice. In the summer of 2015, they released the 1st CD “Rearview Mirror” which includes Hanna’s original songs showing that she’s not only a traditionalist but also a creative songwriter. The new CD “The Blues Is Here To Stay” released in 2018, includes classic blues tunes like Worried Life Blues, two versions of boogie woogie classic, Honky Tonk Train, story telling, and soulful originals like Dirty Dishes and Love Keeps Walking In. |
In June 2018, Hanna and the band's guitarist Aleks won 1st place at Memphis Bound, and represented Western New York at the International Blues Challenge, in Memphis TN in January 2019 and made a strong first impression by making it to Semi-Finals.
There are currently three other members though at times some of them join Hanna as a duo or trio.
Guitarist Aleks Disljenkovic brings tremendous knowledge and experience to the band as well as his thoughtful accompaniment and beautiful tone. He is the leader of the White Hots, and worked with Rochester Music Hall of Famer Joe Beard for many years. In the mid-1980s, Aleks toured the U.S., Canada, and Mexico with a number of blues headliners as well. He’s a quintessential guitarist whose soulful solos never fail to make a statement.
There are currently three other members though at times some of them join Hanna as a duo or trio.
Guitarist Aleks Disljenkovic brings tremendous knowledge and experience to the band as well as his thoughtful accompaniment and beautiful tone. He is the leader of the White Hots, and worked with Rochester Music Hall of Famer Joe Beard for many years. In the mid-1980s, Aleks toured the U.S., Canada, and Mexico with a number of blues headliners as well. He’s a quintessential guitarist whose soulful solos never fail to make a statement.
Tony Hiler takes his seat at the drums. His dynamic and versatile musical style enables Hanna and Tony to perform even as a duo with plenty of excitement and groove. Tony is a multi-instrumentalist, a music director at his church, and an inspiring teacher as well.
And the newest member of the band is Gian Carlo Cervone, who has been in Rochester’s blues and jazz scene for many years as a pianist, but this time, brings his swinging organ to the band.
As is the case with all true blues performers, they work from and in the tradition of the music while bringing their own stamp of creativity and originality to it. It’s life’s most wonderful thing to follow one’s bliss — when you hear this band do just that with such passion, it is infectious.
And the newest member of the band is Gian Carlo Cervone, who has been in Rochester’s blues and jazz scene for many years as a pianist, but this time, brings his swinging organ to the band.
As is the case with all true blues performers, they work from and in the tradition of the music while bringing their own stamp of creativity and originality to it. It’s life’s most wonderful thing to follow one’s bliss — when you hear this band do just that with such passion, it is infectious.