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What reviewers are saying about
Ted Hefko and the Thousandaires'
Down Below
"The tunes on the album reflect a deep curiosity in a variety of genres from Americana, blues and country to roots rock and, of course, jazz. Yet they all coalesce into a powerful individual statement. This is an album from a songwriter fully inhabiting his creations." Jay Mazza in OffBeat Magazine's The 50 Best Albums Of 2021 In Louisiana Music
"Ted Hefko and the Thousandaires exemplify the unique alchemy of the New Orleans music scene - seasoned professionals crafting a distinctive sound with roots in blues, jazz, funk and folk." Tim Sweeney - Sweeney's Gumbo Ya Ya Dec 2021
"Nothing but decades of performing in front of live audiences can teach a songwriter how to write like this."
Calvin Powers, Americana Music Show
"Ted Hefko is a multi-instrumentalist tunesmith who usually heats up the night with a classy mix of blues, jazz and soul, but takes an interesting turn here by infusing backwoods country and old-school Louisiana R&B, too. The Thousandaires will have you grooving no matter what blues-rooted style they're playing."
Marty Gunther's Red, Hot 'n Blues Music Reviews - December 2021
"The urban poet strikes again with another striking set of tales from the dark side of Nawlins.....imagine a Tom Waits without the growl!"
Chris Spector, Midwest Record 8/21/21
"Ted Hefko really comes out hard with a terrific track, sounding like a new formation of The Band. The writing is powerful, the vocals very good."
Bman's Blues Report Aug. 27 2021
What reviewers are saying about
Ted Hefko and the Thousandaires'
Gas Station Guru
“'Gas Station Guru', the latest release of Ted Hefko And The Thousandaires, has a true New Orleans sound, but in a unique way interpreted. Hefko has completely given its own twist and translated it to the time of today. That is why you not only hear the specific rhythm & blues and jazz sound that the city has always exuberated, but also the sounds of country, folk, roots and even a bit of cajun.”
Ella-Milou Quist, Blues Music Magazine, August, 2018
“years spent in devout study and constant gigging have paid huge dividends, as Gas Station Guru reveals Hefko as adept in songcraft—from lyricism to arrangements to production quality—creating an album that’s fun, funky and fulfilling.”
Frank Etheridge, Offbeat Magazine July 2018
“Hefko has a knack for good songs, and he concocts a gumbo of sounds that draw from blues, R&B, jazz, and that swampy vibe that is NOLA.”
Jim Hynes, Elmore Magazine, April 2018
“a well done roots-y, rhythm & blues, New Orleans R&B-jazz slice of music. I’m so glad this band finally crossed my path.”
Greg “Bluesdog” Szalony Blues Blast Magazine July 2018
“Gas Station Guru is a superlative release from Ted Hefko and The Thousandaires, who manage to capture everything that’s wonderful about the music and the city of New Orleans in just over 40 minutes and nine songs.”
Graham Clarke, Blues Bytes, July 2018
“Ted Hefko And The Thousandaires bring the sweet-tea taste of the Big Easy to this collection, meant for all us rodeo bums and son of a guns to find the “Gas Station Guru” that lives deep down in all of us!”
Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society
Ted Hefko leads his own flavor of New Orleans jazz… with the easy stride of the Night Tripper himself
Bman’s Blues Report, May 2018
“Ted’s songs bounce around musically, skipping like a stone on Lake Pontchartrain, through rhythm and blues, early jazz and folk music. The ripples they make linger in the best way, and after a song or two you’ll swear that you are back in the Crescent City.”
Greg Victor, Parc Bench Live, April 2018
“Hefko’s rich music is a breath of fresh air.”
Richard Ludmerer, Making a Scene, March 2018
What reviewers are saying about
Ted Hefko and the Thousandaires'
Distillations of the Blues
Here’s something different and interesting for you: Ted Hefko and his Thousandaires deliver a classy collection of material with a throwback feel that bathes you in the feel of the New Orleans on every cut.
Marty Gunther in Blues Blast Magazine June 2, 2016
"[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
"Destillations Of The Blues". The album 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
" 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
"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
What reviewers are saying about
Ted Hefko and the Thousandaires'
If I Walked On Water
“For us, this 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)
"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."
Issac Story's Music Reviews - July 19, 2013
"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)
"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)
"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)
"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)
"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)
What reviewers are saying about
Ted Hefko and the Thousandaires'
Egyptland
"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)
