Hank Hehmsoth
Hank's Discography
Hank Hehmsoth: Pianist, Composer, and Visionary Artist
Hank Hehmsoth stands as a dynamic force in the realm of jazz, celebrated for his prowess as a pianist, composer, and his groundbreaking fusion of music with visual art. Based in Austin, Texas, Hehmsoth has cultivated a distinctive niche within the jazz landscape, setting himself apart through his innovative compositions and exceptional improvisational skills.
What truly distinguishes Hehmsoth's creative expression is his seamless integration of music and visual art. Drawing inspiration from classical, world, and avant-garde jazz, he crafts compositions that push the boundaries of convention. As an accomplished abstract painter, Hehmsoth produces large-scale artworks that serve as both companions and enhancers to his musical creations. This innovative synergy is palpable in notable works such as "Chernobyl Cha Cha" (2022), "Circling In" (2022), “Blu-Escape” (2023), "Cabo" (2023), and "Code Blue" (2023). In these compositions, the marriage of music and visual art creates a unique and immersive creative experience that captivates audiences.
Hehmsoth's avant-garde approach has garnered recognition and admiration within the music industry. His commitment to pushing artistic boundaries, coupled with his technical prowess, positions him as a visionary artist capable of reshaping the landscape of contemporary jazz. As he continues to explore the intersection of sound and visuals, Hank Hehmsoth emerges as a trailblazer, offering a fresh perspective and a new dimension to the world of jazz and beyond.
Hehmsoth has released several albums as a bandleader, including the eponymously titled “Hank Hehmsoth - Piano”, “Exit”, “A Night of Chick Corea Jazz”, and “Night Rhythms”. He has also collaborated with other jazz musicians, including saxophonists Bob Mintzer and Joe Henderson. He has received numerous awards for his work, including being named a MacDowell Norton Stevens Fellow, a NEA Fellow in Jazz, a Fulbright Senior Specialist in American Studies, and the ASCAP Plus Award for Jazz Composition.
Hank has over 500 videos on his YouTube Official Artist Channel @HanksJazz which includes major research contributions:
Austin Jazz Composers Collective
Just Jazz - rare performances from the 1970 TV broadcasts
The History of Jazz Drums
Jerry Goldsmith Cinemagic retrospective
In addition to his performance career, Hehmsoth is a respected educator and teaches jazz piano and composition at Texas State University. His students include international students from China, Serbia, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, and Romania. He has also led workshops and master classes around the world as a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Jazz, sharing his knowledge and passion for jazz music with aspiring musicians. As a research scholar, Hank is a Jazz Research Fellow for the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University. He has produced the Dan Morgenstern Collection for the National Endowment for the Arts, and discovered rare performances from the 1970 TV broadcasts of "Just Jazz" presumed lost for 50 years.
Hank's artistic works reflect a compelling consciousness for music to reflect positively on our place in a global community. He is a Distinguished Academic Member of the International Conference on Visual and Performing Arts in Athens, Greece, and placed first in the 2010 National Association of Composers USA competition. Nominated five times for the Texas State University Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activities, Hank won the Dean's Seminar Award in 2015.
| Recent student comments: | Quotes: |
"I have very much enjoyed my time studying with you during my masters program. I came in confident of my abilities as a jazz musician and composer, but you've helped me further solidify them, as well as teach me aspects that I was weaker in or had not considered yet. My understanding of jazz harmony and composition has grown significantly since our first lesson, and I will always value my time under your tutelage. Thank you for believing in me and for challenging me to be a better composer/orchestrator and musician." "...the best teacher I have had throughout all of my degrees. His work ethic is tremendous. I have recommended him to the best students I know. He continually gave more time than was required in our meetings, and was never in a hurry to end the lesson." "...He's very knowledgeable and seems to like what he does. That quality is hard to read in others." "...This is the most fun class in the School of Music." "Thanks again for the awesome class. Seriously, this is the most useful stuff I've encountered in my education thus far." | "Hank is different from the traditional composer because he's a working jazz man. He brings that "player's" perspective to what he writes whether it's a jazz work or classical work …some of the best jazz you'll hear around here, or anywhere else, for that matter." "... very loose and open to possibilities, he takes it to another level, writing, playing, his compositions continue to evolve and grow. I had a chance to play with Hank and hear some of his compositions as well. A very fine musician, indeed! He demonstrates a strong sense of originality and compositional craft." |
Media Perceptions
Listen to Hank's interview with the Fulbright Program
on his travels and work in Santiago, Chile
Original Artwork by Hank
Hank is a MacDowell Norton Stevens Fellow in Jazz Composition
Hank is founder/chairperson of
H Project Performing Arts Association
HPPAA is a non-profit organization based in Austin/San Marcos. The mission of H Project is to continually refresh and envision the contemporary, jazz, and world music experience. H Project fulfills its mission through commissioning, performing, presenting, recording and publishing contemporary music, and collaborating with, mentoring and encouraging other artists.
My Profile at Linked-In
Article: "Hillviews Magazine"
Hank is pianist with the Grammy© nominated jazz group Times Ten
"The world is a continual emerging mystery of thought, visions, and sensations that you can view with fresh open eyes."
Pathways on WordPress
Pathways is where you'll find many and varied writings of Hank Hehmsoth, from opinions, to articles and videos from related topics, and last but not least, his music. Hank frequently gives performance/lectures and talks in Texas as well as the rest of the country. If you are a creative composer or music professor and are interested in Hank teaching a master class on improvisation, composition, and related topics, such as jazz piano and harmony, at your college or university, contact him directly.
Awards
2018 Concert with Jim Walker - Principal Flute - LA Philharmonic
2022 Inside TXST Big Ideas Podcast: A life in music with Hank Hehmsoth
1986 legendary Joe Henderson concert - Antone's, Austin, TX
Recent Students
David Mesquitic M.M. Jazz Piano 2017
Hank's YouTube Artist Channel has jazz artist transcriptions available for download
StellabyStarlight-HerbieHancockSolo.pdf
My-Funny-Valentine---Herbie-Hancock-Solo.pdf
