Assorted Sea Critters
Published on
January 19, 2021 at 3:34:16 PM PST January 19, 2021 at 3:34:16 PM PSTth, January 19, 2021 at 3:34:16 PM PST
I sat across from Hanan and his beautiful fiancé, Molly, in a quaint sushi parlor in Cliffside Park, NJ. Hanan and I had exchanged emails and phone calls numerous times in the months prior, but had never met face-to-face. After completing a stiff nine-hour drive over highways littered with furious 18-wheeled monsters, my editor and I were in desperate need of raw food and good conversation. We entered the restaurant with a familiar quickness and began saying our hellos.
Presently, Hanan is the standing guitarist for the Alicia Keys band. Like any hardworking musician, his membership in one HUGE performing act does not hinder his ability to play alongside other artists such as J.T. Taylor, Rita Ora, Carole King, Ellie Goulding, David Byrne...the list goes on for longer than I have "remaining characters" in this article.
after a few brief formalities...
...the four of us settled into casual chatter. I had been following Hanan's work over the last year or so after he began using a medley of Mojotone Pickups in his Old Moon Strats. Hanan was introduced to the company by a mutual friend in the NYC recording scene. Since then, we have had the distinct pleasure of watching him sport our gear in a number of different venues with some of music's biggest names.Presently, Hanan is the standing guitarist for the Alicia Keys band. Like any hardworking musician, his membership in one HUGE performing act does not hinder his ability to play alongside other artists such as J.T. Taylor, Rita Ora, Carole King, Ellie Goulding, David Byrne...the list goes on for longer than I have "remaining characters" in this article.
In addition to his contributions as a performing artist...
...Hanan is a highly sought-after session player, recording engineer, mix master and producer."You guys ready for some sushi?"He asked, with both hands on his stomach. While Hanan is handling the order for round one, let's take a look at some more pictures...
"Well let's go ahead and get started. You gonna write any of this down?" asked HananI raised my hand slowly, index finger poised, and double-tapped the side of my head. We both shot a smile across the table and leaned in to spare our speaking voices.
Hanan was born in israel
After moving to New Jersey, he realized that he was officially, "the new kid." Given the free time that many new kids find on their hands, he realized his passion and aptitude for music. He began to familiarize himself with guitar, keys, drums and whatever else he crossed paths with. By age 14, Hanan was landing session work in professional studios and even had the opportunity to work with world-renowned songwriter and producer, Preston Glass. One day, during a session with Glass, he heard a familiar sound bleeding in from the next room. It was the legendary George Benson. Being the astute young man he was, Hanan decided to introduce himself...he and Benson hit it off. Soon after, the two gentlemen discovered that they were practically neighbors in New Jersey. They started hanging out more regularly, jamming, and building what turned into a solid friendship. Benson and Glass later wrote recommendations for the then 19-year-old Hanan as he applied for enrollment at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music. While on his way to become the youngest graduate in his class, Hanan had also hoisted his status in the NYC studio community. Apart from freelancing in just about every major recording studio in the city, he had also earned himself a position as staff first engineer at Unique Recording Studios."Alright guys, what are we getting for round two?"...he asked. Again, with both hands on his stomach. Round one had found me quite content...