"[Distillations of the Blues] delivers introspective lyricism with a cabaret swagger,
capturing a range of emotion - the star attraction here is Hefko’s showcase of
multi-instrument prowess."
Frank Etheridge in Offbeat September 29, 2015
"A wonderfully wild ride, this is a distillation of what it is to make an underground
record that somehow everyone finds out about. From the heart and the gut as well
as the cerebellum, this is simply a gasser that'll keep you on board and wondering
if you heard what you think you just heard."
Midwest Record, May 18. 2015
"[Distillations Of The Blues] was recorded in Brooklyn and New Orleans
and immerses you in an atmosphere bluesy, jazzy swing and country twangs. The
album is a series of songs that will not leave you unmoved, the perfect backdrop
supervisor of the balmy summer evenings, which will follow.
Eric Schuurmans www.rootstime.be june 10th 2015
"Everything that came from those speakers sounded right on: sometimes we knew
every single word, sometimes we found ourselves with an “I don’t know this, but I
like it” feeling. Either way, by the end of the night we knew that we’d love to have
these guys come down ... and do an On the Hill Session.
Interview at Kettle Pot Tracks, January 27, 2015
"... the real showcase is Ted Hefko’s voice. It’s got the heft and gravitas of
someone like Dr John while staying approachable and good-natured."
Calvin Powers, *AmericanMusicShow.com* Feb. 25, 2015
"... recorded both in Brooklyn and New Orleans, is bluesin' up the retro swayback,
take-your-shoes off, ever-so-swingin’ country Cash-like twang with the saxiest
menage of vocals and guitar..."
–Dionne Charlet, *Where Y'At* Feb. 15, 2015“
For us, (If I Walked On Water) is one of the most beautiful CDs that we have
reviewed so far this year and the disc will certainly have a prominent place in our
private collection. ”
- Fred Celis, Rootstime (Belgium) (Nov 10, 2009)
“Follow that brooding Southern-fried piper dripping with sass and eloquence, and
one song leads to another. There’s a little romance. Foot tapping quickly escalates
to a slow dance with a sound match made somewhere between Dixieland and
heaven.”
- Dionne Charlet, Where Y'at (Dec 01, 2011)
“A sonic breath of fresh air, entertaining and a nice slice of Americana roots music
without every coming close to the self indulgent pitfalls more common today by
most artists”
- Brent Black, Critical Jazz (Jul 27, 2012)
“There's something extremely accessible about the simple and direct approach of
the lyrics on this album. You don't really have to think about them, but the lyrics
still evoke feelings and imagery that strike deep and true. A lot of people try hard
to be profound, it seems to be effortless for Ted and the Thousandaires.”
- Isaac Story, i write about music - blogspot.com (Jul 19, 2013)
“If I Walked on Water makes a welcome break from the legions of hot jazz combos
blasting their way through one upbeat number after another: it draws you in rather
than hitting you over the head.”
- delarue, Lucid Culture (Aug 16, 2012)
“If I Walked On Water - has songs about trains, buses and taking steps to get some
where you want to be. - They will make you laugh, dance and think”
- Oscar Brooks, The Examiner (Jul 30, 2012)
“Ted Hefko writes New Orleans inspired jazz that appeals to the NYC crowd. That's
a tall order but he and his band, the Thousandaires, know how to make music that
sounds upbeat, sophisticated, and fun while staying true to the spirit of New
Orleans. Think of him as an urban Dr. John.”
- Calvin Powers, Taproot Radio (Dec 12, 2011)
“I'm not big into jazz, but I easily fell under The Thousandaires influence and soon
found myself tapping my foot and snapping my fingers to the infectious beat of this
record.”
- Andre Ziehli, Americana Gazette (Dec 01, 2011)
“Placing disparate but complementary musical sounds side by side with a wide
range of storytelling, Ted Hefko & The Thousandaires convincingly turn out a fine
tribute to the Crescent City in Egyptland.”
- Jeff Boyce, Jupiter Index (Feb 06, 0010)
“When New Orleans grabs hold of a musician’s soul, the ties run deep, and there
are ties of the deepest kind in Egyptland -a trek down Bourbon Street where the
sounds drifting over humid cobblestones lead you in and out of a musician’s very
soul. -Thousandaires are one in a million.”
- Dionne Charlet, Where Y'at (Dec 22, 2010)
“Egyptland blends Jazz, Southern Funk, Blues, Folk, Rock and Latin styles in almost
effortless fashion.”
- Wildy Haskell, Wildy's World (Sep 11, 2009)
“Ted Hefko makes an illustrious mix of Jazz, funk, folk and blues”
- Johan Shoenmakers, altcountry forum (Netherlands) (Oct 05, 2009)
“Ted Hefko and The Thousandaires bring you a jazz infused, sometimes bluesy,
sometimes folksy, mellow musical mixture. Ted has proficiently captured his
individual laid-back style.”
- Andrew Lockwood, allgigs.co.uk (Nov 11, 2009)
“Hefko and his Thousandaires are such a bright light in the music world that no
mater your taste or period of music - jazz, folk, country, Dixieland, R&B - you'll find
a connection to this collection.”
- Grady Harp, Amazon.Com (Jul 12, 2012)
“If I Walked on Water is a Ben Sidran / Mose Allision affair trading in a good deal of
jazz edge for post-beatnik Greenwich folk cool gliding between generations but
always hanging a flourish of Dixie and New Orleans right around the corner. Put on
some sandals and a pair of cheaters and then tuck them Marlboros inside yer t-
shirt sleeve as you saunter bemused alongside sunrays, sidewalk, and Sweet Sally.”
- Mark S. Tucker, acousticmusic.com (Aug 14, 2012)
“Add a bit of straight-ahead jazz touched with New Orleans, a bit of stripped down
folk and Americana, top it with some of the cleverest lyrics you've heard in some
time, and you've got If I Walked on Water, the new album from Ted Hefko and the
Thousandaires. If you like witty lyrics sung with style, if you like tuneful melodies
played with some down home flair, if you like simplicity that may not be quite as
simple as it seems, you'll want to give a listen...”
- Jack Goodstein, blogcritics.org (Sep 12, 2012)
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