Patrick Hazell

Patrick Hazell handles piano, neck-rack harmonica, and drums simultaneously as a solo performer from Washington, IA. Although he is white, background details like these hold little relevance, since his music fully recalls the late-1940s and early-1950s recordings. Superlative rhythmic momentum defines his approach, while his overall tone and manner closely match those of Memphis one-man-band figure Joe Hill Louis. Raspy harmonica and vocals, both routed through the same distorted microphone, gain strength from solid song choices, a nonstop pulse, and striking atmosphere, allowing him to stake out a long-dormant corner of blues territory. In the present-day white-boy blues world, where clusters of players appear on every corner wearing shades, pleated pants, and beat-up Stratocasters, Hazell registers as markedly singular and compelling.