Andrew Hardin began his musical career as a drummer at age eight, and began playing the guitar as a teenager living in Hawaii. Previous to working with Russell, Hardin played progressive country in California in the mid-seventies, major-label rock with the Dingoes from Australia on A&M Records, and hard-core blues with ex-John Lee Hooker partner Eddie Kirkland.
Hardin's role as co-producer of the Tom Russell Band recordings of the mid-eighties led to a career producing other major and independent label acts in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Hardin produced the 2002 recording "In Demand" by Norwegian singer Paal Flaata for Universal Music. Hardin also has performed over the years with artists such as Dave Alvin, Ian Tyson, Katy Moffat, Sylvia Tyson, Nanci Griffith, Eliza Gilkyson, and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Andrew is featured on the current Nanci Griffith CD and DVD "Winter Marquee." Andrew played the gnarly Telecaster on the opening cut of Eliza Gilkyson's current CD, "Lost and Found." The song "Welcome Back" is currently enjoying heavy radio play in Austin.
In 2002, Andrew released his third CD, "Just Like This Train," which contains nine instrumentals and three vocals, and in addition to original compositions, features songs by Norman Blake, Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Allen Toussaint, James Burton, and Burt Bacharach. Guests include guitarist Matt Andes, steel Guitarist Fats Kaplin, and a cameo appearance by "Midnight at the Oasis" guitarist Amos Garrett. Andrew's first two CD's, “Coney Island Moon" (1996), and "Lunchtime at an Alligator Farm" (1998) featured Amos Garrett, Albert Lee, and ex-Lucinda Williams guitarist Gurf Morlix. Andrew's guitar style incorporates influences as diverse as Roy Buchanan, Clarence White, Ry Cooder, Gabby Pahinui, and Grady Martin; that is to say it contains elements of blues, rock, R&B, country, tropical, and Spanish-flavored music.
After witnessing a performance in California in September 2001, Tom Montgomery of San Francisco wrote: "... I can say that I'm pretty sure that I've never heard anyone in my life play the guitar any better than Andrew Hardin."
|
