Better Live
Veteran Hickory Artist Releases New Album
As seen in The Outlook

HICKORY – Hickory is full of surprises, but perhaps Hickory shouldn’t be surprised by the tremendous body of work being celebrated in one of its cardinal singer/songwriter’s latest album, “Better Live.”

Jeff Hartman is a singer/songwriter, actor, music director, film composer, engineer, producer, philanthropist… Did I mention father, husband and teacher? He’s been writing, recording and touring original music across the country while calling the unifour home for 20 years. He has released dozens of albums, including two movie soundtracks.

“This collection means a lot to me. We started putting it together in 2010. It represents a lifetime of writing and over a decade of touring in a variety of places with a variety of musicians in a variety of ways. It reflects original songs we always felt sounded, well, ‘better live.'”

Hartman most recently scored and appeared in the film “Pendulum Swings,” founded and directs Hickory Arts (an instructional performance and production space for up and coming artists), directed music for “The Full Monty,” winner of the 2012 “Outstanding Ensemble” Kay Award and nominated by the Metrolina Theatre Association for “Best Music Direction/Conductor” and is preparing to reprise his award-winning role in “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [abridged].”

“Better Live” is available internationally on most popular digital music platforms, including Spotify, Amazon.com and iTunes. itunes.apple.com/us/album/better-live/id532123984

“Music and the industry can be your best friend and worst enemy at times. But this album, the music, these moments, transcend those up’s and down’s.”

The album was mastered in Hickory by Michael French of Down to Hear, whose client list includes Jeff Beck, John Oates, Lenny Kravitz, Billy Bob Thornton, Hartman, Billy Gibbons and Terry Clark.

More information about Jeff Hartman, his body of work, including Hickory Arts can be found at jshartman.com.