JUST THE FACTS: BAND MEMBERS: Ryan Hartt: Vocals & Harmonica Eric Ducoff: Guitar Jeff “JB” Berg: Bass Nick Toscano: Drums BAND FORMED: April 2000 GENRE: Mixture of Chicago, Texas and jump blues DISCOGRAPHY: "Empty Wallet" - Released 1/03 on Far-Tone Records "Yeah Man!" - Released 3/05 on Far-Tone Records DISTRIBUTION: Hep Cat Records & Distribution AWARDS / ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Top 8 Finalists: International Blues Foundation's 
"Best Self-Produced CD" contest - 2006 Int’l Blues Challenge Competitors: 2004, 2007 & 2010 Voted "Best Blues Band" 2005, 2007 & 2008 in
Hartford Advocate's Grand Band Slam poll CT Blues Society Challenge WINNERS: 2003, 2004, 2009 Boston Blues Challenge Finalists: 2003 & 2004 Click here for more highlightsBio.htmlshapeimage_3_link_0
PRESS DOWNLOADS:
“Eric Ducoff is right up there with Junior Watson and Doug Deming as far as combining the chops, phrasing , fire, taste, and TONE in the way it should be!” don "t-bone" erickson - founding editor, blueswax “If you thought West Coast-styled blues only came from the well-known names many are familiar with, dig into Ryan Hartt & The Blue Hearts and find out what you've been missing. “Yeah Man!” is a masterful follow-up from a relatively new band to be reckoned with, as they continue on their path of tearin' it up!” craig ruskey - blindman blues “On our way to the IBC in Memphis, I was saying that I hope we weren’t in the same venue as Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts or Chick Willis. Then we get there and I find out we draw the same venue as both of them!” sean carney - 2007 international blues challenge winner “Although nominally a jump blues band, this tight quartet can slip from one genre to another – including all manner of blues to roots rock to jazz – with remarkable authority. Along the way they demonstrate an impressive understanding of influences as diverse as Slim Harpo, Bo Diddley, Jimmy Smith, Chuck Berry and Buddy Guy. Much of the burden is shouldered by Ducoff, and some the band’s best work on this album are instrumentals featuring the guitarist playing his own compositions with guest Mark Stevens on keyboard. Ducoff’s growling, fuzzy licks are the centerpiece of his “Deep to Left,” a big, driving swing track; he, Stevens and drummer Nick Toscano mesh perfectly on “I Thought You Went,” a textbook organ trio jazz number. And even if front man Hartt does flirt with cliché on “Hangover Blues,” he and Ducoff together achieve a heartbreakingly bluesy sound that more than redeems the track. As a bonus, the album also features a guest appearance by guitarist Junior Watson, who puts his vaunted West Coast swing stamp on three tracks, including “Boogie Guitar,” an instrumental duet with pianist Stevens, and a hard-rocking cover of a Dave Bartholomew tune, “Do Unto Others.” david cudaback - playbluesguitar.com “Connecticut’s Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts are young East Coast masters of the jumping West Coast sound. Hartt’s a stunning harp player with crazy chops and some of Bill Clarke’s dramatic flair. His band (Nick Toscano on drums and Steve Combs on bass) swings hard, and guitarist Eric Ducoff has just the right tone and dictionary of preposterous phrases and quotations to make this kind of music cook. Each cut shifts shape with every listen. It sounds as if the Blue Hearts logged a ton of bandstand time with these songs before recording “Empty Wallet” in two days’ time. Having Rick Holmstrom produce couldn’t hurt; he contributes guitar to a few tracks, as do Troy Gonyea and Nick Adams. Highlights abound: There’s the Little Walterish “On My Mind,” the Jimmy Reed-style shuffle “New Love, Old Love,” the nasty “I’d Be a Fool,” and the devastating closer, “North of Franklin.” tom hyslop, blues revue magazine - august/september 2003
”With approximately 30 newly received CDs on my desk, most won’t ever make it to one of my play lists. Often an entire CD won’t last 30 seconds after the needle drops. I need to hear a couple of hits on a record before I’ll even consider it for air play. The latest CD by Ryan Hartt & The Blue Hearts, “Yeah Man!” is chock full of hits. Go get it, play it and jump around the room!” beef stew, “sunday night blues” - wccc 106.9 - hartford, ct ”It ain’t only the guys on the West coast who can jump the blues. This is one CD guaranteed to turn any room in the house into a swinging, Friday night juke.” art tipaldi, senior writer for blues revue magazine “With this latest release, Ryan Hartt & the Blue Hearts will become established amongst the best American blues bands. The Connecticut-based combo has to be regarded as a serious competitor to established bands like the Mighty Flyers. Hartt and Ducoff (who also produced) are excellent, tasteful musicians. A superb album.” detlev hoegen - crosscut records - germany “Yeah Man!” is probably the best recording ever by a CT band, and stands with the best recordings from the rest of the country, too.” peter rost - wwuh 91.3 - w. hartford, ct “Check the small print on their rear view mirror; The print that reads, “Rising young blues stars may be approaching faster than they appear...” chuck nevitt, dallas blues society records “The State of Connecticut might not be the average blues fan’s first thought when someone mentions West Coast jump and blues, but harmonica player Ryan hartt and his band are bound to change that. Their sound caught the attention of Rick Holmstrom, who produced the group’s 2003 debut with blues-verite sonics and genre-bending tunes. Now comes Yeah Man!, another sizzling set combining sounds of the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s with the attitude and style of recent California-based artists such as William Clarke, Rod Piazza, James Harman and Hollywood Fats. The Blue Hearts remain the same unit that was successful on Empty Wallet. New bassist, J.B. Berg has a solid upright sound and meshes unobtrusively with the groups stylish timekeeper Nick Toscano. Guitarist Eric Ducoff spins, bobbing and weaving single note lines when he’s not comping greasy tweed-toned chords (listen to his instrumental “Deep to Left” for a primer in his style). He gives imagination, dynamics and daring equal emphasis. Hartt’s harp sound continues to dazzle. Whether blowing simply over a raw swamp groove on “Doubt My Love,” pushing the band with an unamplified train groove on “Sonny Boy Nighthawk” or laying down chromatic flash on ”Rock All Night,” his phrasing and sense of time are arresting. His singing is equally confident and unaffected. In addition to the core group, Mark Stevens’s strong piano adds an essential element, and the great Junior Watson plays guitar on three songs. Holmstrom guests on guitar on “Doubt My Love.” The group expands its stylistic spectrum a bit this time. In addition to rocking, expertly delivered songs such as “Yes It Is” and wobbly, weird, wonderful Watson-esque choices such as “Drop Anchor,” Yeah Man! Includes the Crescent City-style “Do Unto Others” and surprises from the opens of Hartt and Ducoff that incorporate Latin beats (“Oh Espanada”), lowdown Frankie Lee Sims grooves (Two Gizzards and a Neck,” sung by co-writer Berg), and cool B-3 jazz (“I Thought You Went”). There’s no filler on Yeah Man!, just 15 tracks certain to satisfy hardcore blues fans. Highly recommended. tom hyslop - blues revue magazine - dec/jan 2006

  1. ★Hi-res press photos: (Click individually to download)

  1. ★PROMO POSTER: RyanHartt_Poster.pdf

  1. ★BIO SHEET: RyanHartt_presskit.pdf

SHOWS MUSIC IMAGES VIDEO BIOGRAPHY BLOG CONTACT PRESS STOREShows.htmlMusic.htmlImages.htmlVideo.htmlBio.htmlBlog/Blog.htmlContact.htmlhttp://www.cafepress.com/blueheartsshapeimage_20_link_0shapeimage_20_link_1shapeimage_20_link_2shapeimage_20_link_3shapeimage_20_link_4shapeimage_20_link_5shapeimage_20_link_6shapeimage_20_link_7

  1. ★Need more? Contact Eric Ducoff