Greg's Music

        Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 14^th, 1953 (and, aside from trips hither and yon, remaining in the general orbit of greater Cincinnati his entire life),

       Greg Hansen began playing guitar and piano at the age of 10.  A host of influences were involved, most notably his dad’s classical music collection and his maternal grandparents’ infectious love of music.  Piggybacking his sister’s piano lessons beginning in 1963, then taking up the guitar in spring-summer of ’64, he leaned mostly to the guitar for 3 or 4 years, then began piano lessons in earnest in 1967, with tentative plans to become a composer, concert pianist, or other such classically useful title.  He continued to play guitar during that time, and the classical instructions began to bleed over into his guitar technique.  He began dabbling with fingerstyle guitar in high school, and would eventually gravitate to almost exclusive fingerstyle playing.

        While the composer/concert pianist goal did not materialize, his classical music studies were an invaluable asset to his overall musicianship, and still flavor his arrangements and performances today.  The piano did figure prominently for many years, and for 12 years he was a music minister at a local church, holding down the piano post, working with band and vocal arrangements, and leading much of the worship.  While still playing guitar during those years, it took an unfortunate back seat for a while.  By the time the early ‘90s arrived, he had become incurably infatuated with the guitar again, and, for a period of several years, the proverbial pendulum swung far to the guitar side, and the piano was left wondering why it had been all but deserted.  While that span of years could be the subject of many sessions on a psychiatrist’s couch, he has managed to bring both instruments to the peace table in his own mind and heart, and thoroughly enjoys both.

        He’s been playing solo acoustic music in the Cincinnati area since 1997, occasionally joined by his son, Greg, on bass, performs occasionally (far less than he desires) with his brothers Joe and Steve, and Joe’s wife Liz, and has performed with the New Europa Troubadors and the Doug Perry Ensemble (DPE still regroups in some form or fashion every couple of years).

       Some guitarists that have influenced his approach to music over the years include Roger McGuinn, Robert Fripp, Phil Keaggy, Leo Kottke and Lindsey Buckingham.  Those playing a more direct role, musical and otherwise, include his dad, Charles Hansen – who inadvertently started a lot of classical music running through his head from a very early age, his grandparents, Frank and Norma Klensch – who would play violin/piano and sing on most visits to their home, and his piano teacher, Pam Lockstead – who instilled intense attention to dynamics and heart in his playing…and also was able to slice through some pretty thick hallucinogenic walls to warn him that a mind is a terrible thing to waste…he eventually agreed.  

        He’s composed several instrumental guitar pieces, some of which are on his 2003 CD, “The Detour And The Open Road”, and has written a handful of songs.  He’s put other works to music, including a poem by Hermann Hesse, called “Lament”, and has co-written a song with his wife, Mary Kay, called “Sofia”, for their niece and her husband, in celebration of their adoption of a baby from China – Sofia.  Quite a few recordings are ready for another release – maybe on CD, but at least in MP3 format.