Dan Hicks has recorded and performed with many top artists over the course of his more than four decades in the music industry, so when he was booked to play a couple of shows with John Hammond, he was excited about the opportunity to work with the soon-to-be Blues Hall of Fame member.

“When I first heard of it, I thought it was going to be a good bill,” Hicks said in a recent phone interview from a tour stop in Fort Myers, Fla. “I played a few times with him — at least three times that I can think of right away — and it seemed like a pretty good fit.

“We’ll do a tune or two together, though we still haven’t figured out what we’re going to do this time. Last time together, we did `Chattanooga Choo-Choo.’ “

Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, which released their first album in 1969, has been on the road quite a bit since the 2009 release of their latest traditional studio album, “Tangled Tales.” Hicks said his shows no longer are geared toward the promotion of that album, but rather a hodgepodge of songs he’s picked up throughout his career.

“I’m kind of more or less promoting the band, really,” he said. “We’re playing a lot of different songs from different things. We’ve been out for a while, so I’m just kind of pitching a lot of stuff here.

“We’re doing this trip without a lead guitar, which is OK because we’ve still got a mandolin and a violin, so we’re still good.”

Hicks and his crew have released a record since “Tangled Tales,” which was a bit of a curveball for his loyal followers. It was a holiday album, called “Crazy for Christmas,” which was greeted by rave reviews in the music press.

“That was great. That was one of the highlights of my career these days,” said Hicks, 69. “It was thrilling just to get that kind of response and feedback because a person doesn’t really know what others think about them that much.

“No one writes reviews anymore. I used to go play and I’d check the local papers the next day and there would be a review or something in there. So there’s not a lot written about me as much, but when this came out, it hit good. There was a lot of people that reacted to it — all complimentary — so I’ve got to like it.”

While “Crazy for Christmas” came out more than 40 years into his recording career, Hicks always knew it was just a matter of time.

“I knew I was going to do it. It was something that I knew I was going to do eventually, and it certainly was a long time coming,” he said. “I’d been in this kind of side band, a little novelty band, in Mill Valley, Calif., where I live, which was The Christmas Jug Band. So I’ve been doing songs with them, and I had the feel for Christmas stuff.

“It was kind of time for it and I’m glad I finally did it.”

As far as new music goes, Hicks said nothing is imminent, but he’s got a few ideas he’s been kicking around.

“There’s been some thoughts of it on the back burner,” he said. “I just have to, as they say, get my head around it.

“At some point, I do want to get songs organized and get them released as some kind of a collection of tunes. I still have to finish writing some of them and arranging them, so it’ll be a while. Maybe in about a year I’ll have another album out.”

In the meantime, Hicks still keeps a steady touring schedule and most recently introduced his latest theme concert, the Kollege of Musical Knowledge tour. For these shows, “Professor” Hicks takes his fans on a journey of musical education, fleshing out the songs with some of the history behind their creation.

“I kind of wanted to do a concept thing,” Hicks said. “I’ve done other ones where I concentrated on the folk years — where I did The Kingston Trio and Odetta and other songs from the folk-boom era — and I did another one on singing cowboys — where we just kind of featured songs by Gene Autry and the like.

“The Kollege of Musical Knowledge is just a way to have a concept or an angle on a different kind of presentation. It turned out pretty good. I did a lot of research, and I did it in kind of a chronological order. We did things from the Swing Era and there are jug-band tunes and some country stuff and there’s a narration going on of facts I found out, just stuff to lay on the people.

“It was pretty well received. I don’t know what I’m going to do with that, but I’ve got it and I’m willing to spring it on somebody if I have to.”

The Quick Center at Fairfield University is at 200 Barlow Road, Fairfield. Friday, April 15, 8 p.m. $35-$40. 203-254-4010, 877-ARTS-396, www.quickcenter.com.

- From the Hixlist

Hear Dan Hicks and his jazz combo LIVE on Sedge Thompson’s “West Coast 

Live” — San Francsico’s Live Radio Show to the World — on Sat. Feb. 26 

2011. More info on the West Coast Live website: 

http://www.wcl.org/index.html

Hixters in the Bay Area can attend the live broadcast at the Ferry Building 

by purchasing tickets from: 

http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3489085

Kollege of Musical Knowledge - Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks

ONE NIGHT ONLY!

January 4, 2011
Mill Valley, CA

Hello to all the true-blue Hixsters!  First, many thanks for the beyond-the-call Birthday greetings sent my way!  You shouldn’t have!

And thanks for the continuing “support” thru 2010.  Two thousand and eleven promises to be a fruitful year here in Hixlandia and there will be many things to chat about! Thanks again.

Yours truly,

Daniel Hicks —

His exalted most-revered high priest of folk-swingingest and mind-expanding platitudes known to human-kind, Earth-wise, Esq.

Crazy For Christmas charted #6 on the Jan 1, 2011 Top Heatseekers Albums (Pacific) chart and #35 on the Jan 1, 2011 Top Heatseekers Albums chart!! Way to go Dan & co.!

Dan’s going to be on Radio Margaritaville tomorrow (Christmas Eve) at 9pm PST and you’ll be able to catch it again on Christmas Day at noon EST.

Visit Radio Margaritaville for your listening options.
radiomargaritaville.com

“[Crazy For Christmas has] a joyously irreverent charm …[and is] a warm reminder of just how consistent, steady, and poignantly funny Hicks can be; any season of the year.” - All Music Guide

“Hicks and the Hot Licks create a sound that evokes images of Mr. Natural truckin’ along and Django Reinhardt puffing on a cigarette, playing music so rhythmic and bouncy that it could make a cadaver dance.” - American Songwriter

“One of the better Christmas albums to come down the pike in several years, combining classic sounds, a warm voice, and impeccable talent.” - Stereo Subversion

Hailed as, “The eternal hipster, purveyor of the drollest and most swingin’ tunes the rock generation ever enjoyed” (Minneapolis Star Tribune), Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks have hijacked the holidays and created a Christmas album you’ll enjoy all year long. Released on October 12, 2010 through Surfdog Records, Crazy For Christmas is classic Hot Licks, full of the same dry wit and musical brilliance that has defined Dan Hicks’ music for the past four decades and established him as one of American music’s true cult heroes.

“You may not be able to believe in Santa anymore, but thanks to Hicks and the Hot Licks you can still believe in the infinitely more valuable vibe and spirit that the Fat Man represents.” - Premier Guitar

“A Christmas record that sounds antic and deadpan, engaged and tossed off, almost magically laid-back. (Gonzalo Bergara’s Django Reinhardt-like solos ensure the professionalism.)” - New York Times

“Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks’ shiny, new Crazy for Christmas (Surfdog) is perfect for those who like their eggnog stiff and their wit dry.” - Pacific Sun

“Necessary for any holiday hipster.” - Mountain Times “a devilish twist to holiday classics.” - Metro Weekly

“The perfect accompaniment to a holiday martini gathering.” - LA Times

“Simply put: nobody else in this world – nobody – sounds like [Dan Hicks]” - Jambands.com

“[an] unholy combination of Mose Allison, Django Reinhardt and Frank Zappa.” - There Stands The Glass

“Crazy For Christmas makes you want to put on your shades (even if it’s snowing) and just lean against a wall snapping your fingers.” - Country Standard Time

“By far my favorite new holiday album, Crazy for Christmas, stands up to repeat listens, which really makes it a seasonal anomaly. It’s going in the “play it every year” file. - Lincoln Journal STar

“This CD is that rarest of beasts: a good Christmas record.” - Suite 101 “an unqualified delight.” - San Diego Untion-Tribune

“a holiday album that defines the term ‘instant classic.’” - CBS Street Date

“Perhaps your holiday celebrations get a little rowdy. Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks have got you covered.” - My Old Kentucky Blog

“a classic in the making with its signature sense of humor and witty word that we’ve come to expect from Hicks.” - Glide Magazine

“Perhaps your holiday celebrations get a little rowdy. Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks have got you covered.” - Vintage Guitar Magazine

“December 15, 2010

Dan Hicks and his band The Hot Licks apply their unique combination of blues, country and jazzy swing on a new album called Crazy for Christmas. Hicks specializes in the mood most of us want to achieve around this time of year — a relaxed, chilled-out demeanor. Hicks is shameless in reworking his material: He turns his old song “Where’s the Money?” into the low-down “Christmas Morning,” which finds Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer tossing back a couple of beers before leading Santa’s sleigh.”

Read Ken’s full article at NPR.org

The annual “Holidaze In Hicksville” tour is hitting the Belly Up Tavern on Wednesday, December 15th! You don’t want to miss the band playing brand new material from “Crazy For Christmas” along with their always amazing hits!

Belly Up Tavern
Tickets are $22 / $24 day of show
8pm / Doors at 7pm