What people are saying about Dan Hazlett...
“Dan’s performances at Nor-East’r Music Fest were met with full (almost capacity) crowds that came to see his unique guitar style, excellent songwriting and outstanding performances. His Songwriting Workshop was highly attended by new potential songwriters, AND professional songwriters that see Dan as an expert in this area. Dan has a way of keeping his audience in the palm of his hand - sometimes the quirkiest jokes get the largest laugh during his shows. His performance of “She Will Have a Home” - one of Dan’s many originals - includes a wonderful sing-along, and many feel very at ease in singing along as this performer invites the audience to become part of the show.
“He’s a wonderful human being and you feel that commitment to excellence in his songs and performance. He just has a very, very warm feel you get from attending a Dan Hazlett performance - he was a very huge hit at our venue.
"This
is one of our favorite performers. We love his songs, we love his guitar playing, and we
love his performances. He's a great man and we are grateful to have his support in our
fundraising efforts as well as performing in our festival."
Craig Carrick / Nor-East'r Music & Arts Festival
"Dan
is an excellent songwriter and performer - especially interactive with the audience.
Highly recommended."
Dennis Kingsbury / Live at the Living Room Concert Series
“This is a very special album. Dan knows how to turn the mundane into the magical. His gift for poetry and the art of melody are most notably present in this fine work. Dan and singer/songwriter Beth Lodge-Rigal collaborated together on the song "Guess My Name”, and the result is one of mystical sensuality. The melody is tantalizing and the lyrics compelling. Dan demonstrates his talent on trumpet on "Rush Home Road”, turning an everyday childhood memory into a lively, jazzy, upbeat, feel-good song. Dan also has received some recent airplay from the boys on NPR's "Car Talk”. His ballad, "Fine Old Motor Car” was featured in a recent edition of that show.
“Dan's
guitar technique and his singular gift for lyrics shine in "Water Over Stone”.
Be sure to listen to "When The Pale Moon Shines”, because it's a stellar
example of Dan's extraordinary songwriting. Lightness and beauty of melody
illuminates his pure, lyrical expression like moonlight on a desert mesa.
Stunning!”
Maggie Ferguson / The Old Front Porch Radio Show
WXOU - Auburn Hills
“As I listened to Dan Hazlett’s new
CD, Water Over Stone, one thought kept popping up: Is there anything this man can’t
make into a song? And I don’t think there is! Hazlett writes about a
little bit of everything, from carpet stains to schizophrenia. The result is a CD
everyone can enjoy and relate to . . . a combination of folky rock,
jazz, and the kind of music that makes you smile, laugh, and sing along. Dan’s
unique vocal styling is paired with excellent guitar playing and thoughtful lyrics.
Each song is a story that unfolds and takes you along for a fun ride. His guitar
skills added a great dimension to the original, imaginative lyrics, coming together into a
complete package of musicality.”
Andrea Hill – Singer Magazine
Recently, I had a chance to see a truly great
singer/songwriter. Dan lived up to all the positive things I had heard and read.
Hazlett's passion for his music is obvious. His humor and laid-back cheerful
demeanor make that passion infectious. One of the
marks of a great folk artist is the ability to tune into every day situations and
characters, seeing them for everything they are and could be. He finds much of his
inspiration from his family, working his lyrical magic on father/song relationships, his
daughter's toys and other family matters. I would like to recommend Dan's
music to anyone who appreciates honest and witty songwriting.
John
The Procrastinator - Jam Rag
"Dan Hazlett on lead
guitar is a force of nature. Dan alone can add a few licks and turn an otherwise mediocre
melody into a walk in a beautiful mountain valley in spring, in British Columbia, with a
head full of schroom buzz. Combine that with a delightful personality and you have all the
ingredients required to have what Jewish Rabbi's call a very nice day." - Trout
Pomeroy /
Author/Singer/Songwriter
"A slice-of-life singer/songwriter collection, with a strong
sense of how to put words together to tug at the heart. Dan's acoustic guitar-heavy sound
finds the place where the listener keeps the photos in their head, and gets out a very
large lasso . . .Dan's vocals are soft and stuffy, like warm socks on a cold
evening." - Robert Barry Francos / Shredding Paper
"I played with my Barbies much as a boy might according to your
song. . . and was in a stitch listening to it . . .and secretly relieved to have the
subject explored so successfully by you. And then, as we rode south on 69 through Indiana,
I was later simply stopped dead in my tracks . . . tears and devastation . . . at Family
Album. Wow Dan, you can write a song!!!! We love your
CD . .. besides the writing, I really like the jazzer in you, and the lovely production
and, well just about everything." - Beth Lodge-Rigal / Singer/Songwriter
"Dan arrived in the early afternoon so we were given the
opportunity of a beautiful afternoon to get to know each other a little bit. I hope that
Dan succeeds to get on the national singer/songwriter radar. His lyrics are infused with
insight and his communication skills are enhanced by his mastery of guitar accompaniment.
We were very happy that Dan made the long journey to play for us in Lake Winona." -
John Nyman / Winona Folk Concerts
"I must confess I really enjoy your music, it has a very jazzy
touch giving a soft and delightful flavour to your beautiful and clever songs. The voice
is always pertinent to the climate as well the arrangements are nicely sparse and
different but above all I find you have a very interesting guitar style, it is complex but
at the same time it does not seem just a slave of a mere and
cold virtuosity: this surely makes your music richer and sometimes reminds me of the best
James Taylor, although the jazz feel surely brings a certain degree of personality."
- Massimo Ferro / Radio Voce Spazio "HIghway 61" and "Un Mondo Di
Musica"
". ..great baking cookies music - homey ...Very soothing -
chock full of heart thoughts - nice touches with instruments and harmonies . . ." -
Lucy Webster / Singer/Songwriter
"It is seriously good! . . .NICE production . .. yours DOES
stand out." - Jere Stormer /WDET-FM
"As for the CD, I enjoyed it a lot! It's REALLY tight,
everything goes together so well, and the lyrics are WONDERFUL!!!" - Keith Parmentier
/ Singer/Songwriter
"I took some of these tunes so personally and selfishly. I know
that they weren't written with me in mind but the magic of your artistry made me and, I'm
sure, everybody else who has had the pleasure of a listen . . . feel the same way." -
Jeff Deeks / Author/Poet
"Really enjoy your CD . . . even if I'm not a stay at home dad.
Your cover & visual concept are/is a work of art in itself." - Patricia Pettinga
/ Singer/Songwriter
"Thank you for writing such good and positive songs. Thank you
for singable choruses and melodies, and those incredible guitar things you do. Thank you
for real songs about real people. From beginning to end, thank you for a fine piece of
art! - Kathryn Morski / Delta Folks
"Your CD is great. You are such a poet, so thoughtful, so
clever. The artwork is cool, too. . . The musicianship on the CD is wonderful, and I think
you got great acoustic guitar sounds . . ." - Tom Gorman / Singer/Songwiter
" . . .thanks for sending your very excellent "Family
Album" CD . . . You've a good style . . and way with words." - Eddie Russell /
Radio Personality
"This is the best folk album I have listened to in a long time!
. . . I think it is the best new folk/roots album since the soundtrack to "O Brother,
Where Art Thou". Dan Hazlett is a great up-and-coming artist who is bound to give
artists such as Allison Kraus a run for their money. With some jazzy, bluesy flavors
stirred in for taste. Family Album is never dull. A must
listen!" - Elly / Victoria, B. C. Canada
" . . wanted you to know I am really enjoying your cd! I love
your perspective. It is so refreshing to hear an artist write about the day-to-day things
in a non-Hallmark kind of way. . ." - Sara Q Singer/Songwriter
"thanks for making great music so I can play it on the radio .
. ." - Susanne Millsapps / KRCL Radio Host
"Your playing was fantastic . . . I loved the first song you
played for us, actually brought tears of joy to my eyes. Your musicianship is on par with
Dave Matthews, with sweet free-form jazz style chordings together with intelligent
lyrics." - Bill Watts / Producer/Singer/Songwriter
"We do so love your music here!" - Sue and Tom Ness / Jam
Rag Publishers
"Family Album is
heartfelt, reminiscent of wonderful warm family times. The sound is beautiful and it looks
GREAT! . . . A keeper for sure. Enjoy the
ride on the journey that this album will bring to you. Continued greatness !!!" -
Beverly Meyer (The Music Lady)
"Dan Hazlett's Family Album is a wonderful mix of solid
songwriting, soulful singing, and nimble guitar work. I wonder how a new dad finds the
time . . . Dan certainly has, and with style and grace." - David
Roth/Singer,songwriter.
"The production is very nice and your playing is beautiful. The songs are all very strong too. . .gorgeous poetic images and a way of getting at something very difficult to describe." - Steve Gillette/Singer,songwriter.
"...fine work... the music has a sunlit quality to it...I'm delighted to have been a small part of it. -"David Barrett/songwriter,composer,performer.
"VERY nice work. I love the way the songs all seem to hang together with each other: something I've always wanted to do but have never been able to. Also I feel that the graphics of this project match the mood & depth just perfectly. It's a fine package on all planes." - Peter Berryman/Singer/Songwriter (Lou and Peter Berryman).