Lance Hatch

The J Sessions - Wishin’ . . .

Lance Hatch, a Boston-based singer songwriter, writes and performs - what he refers to as - little American songs. In his words, Lance states: “I always wanted to write the perfect little American song. Whether I’ve achieved that or not, well, I’ll leave that up to the musicians, critics and scholars of popular music to determine. But, I will say I’ve achieved my goal by presenting my version of the little American song in this, sort of, song cycle of a CD called The J Sessions - Wishin’ . . ..

Based upon the ups and downs of a romantic relationship turned friendship, and musically inspired by the music of such artists as Emmylou Harris, James Taylor, Alison Krauss, Ryan Adams, Nickel Creek, Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Petty, Nanci Griffith and Fleetwood Mac (to name more than a few), Lance culled twelve songs from his repertoire to depict - in song - various moments and resulting emotions rising from the experience of this transformative relationship from that of lovers to friends.

The Making of The J Sessions - Wishin’ and the Evolution of The Flying Cowboys

The recording of The J Sessions - Wishin’ . . . occurred as a result of Jay Paget (drums) asking Lance whether he had considered recording any of his songs. Lance, Jay and Kristin (guitars, harmony vocal) met when Jay came to participate in a music social group that Lance and Kristin had formed for local musicians to come together and share their music. Lance responded that he hadn’t really considered it, but Jay suggested much of the material was accessible and people would enjoy it.

A couple of years passed and Lance found himself stirring while waking in the morning hours of several days in November 2006 with ‘visions’ of images and ideas for tying together songs to create a true concept album. Along with these inspirations, Lance received a bit of a financial windfall and the search for a recording studio and band began in earnest. After researching some studios via the Internet, Lance approached Dan Silvia of Hillgrove Recording in Boston, MA. Based upon a single meeting, where Lance played Stevie Nick’s “Rose Garden” for Dan and Jay, the trio decided to work together, eventually sharing co-producer credits on the disc.

Now, the band, The Flying Cowboys, exists primarily as another ‘concept.’ Since his mid-twenties, Lance had always dreamed of forming a band called The Flying Cowboys, but being the true definition of A Legend In His Living Room, Lance never found the right combination of time, place and talent, until now to form a band. And, true to its concept, the band consists as an almost revolving door-like manifestation of well-known and well-heeled local talent; hence, the name: The Flying Cowboys.

Nature and Nurture

As a teenager, Lance was drawn to the introspective music of the singer/songwriters that began to emerge independently and as part of the 1970’s Southern California Sound defined by the likes of Linda Ronstadt and Jackson Browne, The Eagles and the latest incarnation of Fleetwood Mac, recently rejuvenated by the addition to the band of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.

But, through the departure of one of Bette Midler’s original back up singers, The Harlettes, Lance found his first and most significant early influence. Experiencing both solace and inspiration in the early music of singer/songwriter Melissa Manchester (especially her work with lyricists Carole Bayer Sager and Adrienne Anderson), Lance desired to emulate the confessional style of the singer songwriter. In a style that couldn’t be further from Bette Midler’s on her first LP for Atlantic Records, The Divine Miss M, Melissa co-wrote, with an almost feminist bent, these inspirational stories of introspection, self-awareness and emotional growth that appealed to the maturing adolescent.

Coming Into His Own

During that time, and through to today, Lance - unwittingly - amassed a popular music education that informs, indeed - forms - the music that he produces. And, with a listen to The J Sessions - Wishin’ you’ll hear it all: tight little pop compositions, country flavored guitar licks and riffs, jazzy vocal nuances, tight vocal harmonies, tambourines and twelve-strings. It’s all there.

In addition, Lance studied piano for seven years until he graduated from Mansfield High School. In addition, he participated in his elementary, middle and high school choruses. In high school, he was chosen, in competition, to participate in the Massachusetts’ Southeast Regional chorus. During college, he originally majored in music at New York University’s School of Education, Health, Nursing and Arts Professions (SEHNAP). He eventually graduated with a B.A. in Communications Theory.

Around 1979-80, Lance worked as a rehearsal studio hand at Richard Sarbin’s Quack Productions, at 12 East 12th Street in NYC’s Greenwich Village. He got the gig via a mutual friend of his and Robert Crenshaw. Robert, besides being