Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout
May 08-May 10, 2009
Featuring: John Hammond, Norton Buffalo, Sugar Ray Norcia, and more With Rusty Zinn
Friday - Saturday 8pm & 10pm shows $30
Sunday 2pm Matinee:
kids $5, Adult (with children) $18, Adult (General) $30
Sunday 7pm show $30
» BUY TICKETS
» SEND TO A FRIEND
The past decade has seen the emergence of young harmonica-led blues bands. In California, groups that draw their inspiration from the Chicago school but add elements of jump blues and rock 'n' roll into the mix have come up with an exciting new style of West Coast blues. In Oakland, the northern capital of California blues, resides the incredibly powerful harmonica player and vocalist Mark Hummel, leader of The Blues Survivors, who has been a major force in shaping and defining this musical genre.
Mark Hummel is a road warrior - a true Blues Survivor. Along the way, he has crafted his own trademark harmonica sound - a subtle combination of tone, phrasing and attack combined with a strong sense of swing. While Mark is new to Electro Fi Records, his earlier albums, constant touring and appearances at the major blues festivals have firmly established his solid reputation around the US and Europe.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut and raised in Los Angeles, California, Mark absorbed the music of such Chicago based harp blowers as Little Walter, James Cotton, and Sonny Boy Williamson, before settling in Berkeley, California in 1972. There he played with local bluesmen such as Cool Papa, Boogie Jake, Mississippi Johnny Waters and Sonny Lane. In 1980, he took the helm to lead the popular Blues Survivors Band.
Mark Hummel In 1985, the Blues Survivors released Playing in Your Town, on Rockinitus Records, and immediately went out on the road. Earning their name, they toured virtually non-stop throughout the United States, Canada and Europe often playing alongside such blues greats as Charlie Musselwhite, Brownie McGhee, Lowell Fulson and Eddie Taylor.
While on tour with his band in 1988, Mark was introduced to Canadian guitarist and vocalist Sue Foley. After several tours that year, Mark and Sue released Up & Jumpin', which also features piano legend Charles Brown. Eager to revive the Blues Survivors, though, Mark hit the road again in 1990, before releasing Hard Lovin' in 1992 on Double Trouble Records. He has been on the road constantly since then, stopping only to record Feel Like Rockin' in 1994 and Married to the Blues in 1995 on Flying Fish Records. He has performed at numerous festivals across the country, including the San Francisco Blues Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, King Biscuit Blues Festival, Waterfront Blues Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, and has performed and judged at the Hohner Harmonica World Championship, held in Germany.
For Heart of Chicago, Mark's sixth release and first on Tone-Cool, Mark traveled to the Windy City to record with some of the city's most legendary players and pay tribute to his Chicago blues influences. Featuring former Muddy Waters sidemen Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and Bob Stroger on drums and bass, guitarist Dave Myers from Little Walter's band, and others. In 1998 Mark released Lowdown To Uptown,his 7th cd, a mix of Chicago blues & uptown jazz. This cd featues great guests such as Jr. Watson, Mike Welch, Brenda Boykin & the last piano recording of the late, great Charles Brown. Mark's most current CD is called "Ain't Easy No More" on the Electro Fi label. A mixture of Hummel's originals and some choice rearrangements of previously recorded blues. It's receiving extended radio play at the moment.
Since 1991, West Coast harp ace MARK HUMMEL has been producing and performing at his annual BLUES HARMONICA BLOWOUT shows. These shows have grown to be a much heralded event and have drawn sellout crowds. The list of participants, a virtual who's who of Blues harp, have included James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Lee Oskar (War), Magic Dick, Jerry Portnoy (Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton), Kim Wilson, Huey Lewis, Carey Bell, Billy Boy Arnold, Rod Piazza, Snooky Pryor and Sam Myers.
Featuring the very best of his legendary Harmonica Blowout shows from 1993 - 2007, STILL HERE AND GONE--MARK HUMMEL'S BLUES HARMONICA BLOWOUTS (Electro-Fi Records), the new live 2 CD set contains all previously unreleased gems from 12 of the greatest blues artists to draw breath through the harmonica including Magic Dick, Lee Oskar (War), Rick Estrin (Little Charlie & The Nightcats), Paul deLay, William Clarke, Billy Boy Arnold, James Harman, Johnny Dyer, Carey Bell, Sam Myers and Mark Hummel.
Oakland, California-based blues harmonica ace/vocalist Mark Hummel has long been a major force in shaping and defining West Coast Blues -- music that draws its inspiration from the Chicago school but adds elements of jump blues and rock 'n' roll into the mix. Along the way Mark's crafted his own trademark harmonica sound -- a subtle combination of tone, phrasing and attack combined with a strong sense of swing. Blues Harmonica sensation Mark Hummel is a road warrior - a true Blues Survivor.
*JOHN HAMMOND is celebrating four decades in the blues biz as a singer, guitarist & harmonica man. Hammond is one of the first recorded white bluesmen, making his first record on Vanguard in 1962. Seeing Jimmy Reed at the Apollo Theatre in NYC hooked Hammond to the blues as a teen. He plays guitar with a racked harp as Bob Dylan, one of his early contemporaries, does. In Greenwich Village he learned from older black blues masters like Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James & Rev. Gary Davis.
Hammond's father, John Hammond Sr. discovered Dylan, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughan & many others. What most people don't realise, is the younger Hammond also had an ear for talent, hiring a young Jimi Hendrix before fame came along-as well as Robbie Robertson. Charlie Musselwhite, Mike Bloomfield, Dr. John, Duane Allman,David Bromberg and many others, before they were household names. These famed players played on his early recordings before they started their respective careers.
Hammond played on & scored director Arthur Penn's 1970 LITTLE BIG MAN.
In the '90s, Hammond's demand at festivals increased, he received two Grammy nominations , and put out the Tom Waits tribute cd WICKED GRIN.
Hammond's mainly plays as a solo artist on the majority of his shows, as he will do on the Yoshi's Blowout. He will jam with the Blues Survivors and other harpsters on the finale.
NORTON BUFFALO is one of the most in-demand session men of the last 30 years, playing with Bonnie Raitt, Doobie Brothers, Steve Miller, Elvin Bishop, Bette Midler, Johnny Cash, Judy Collins,
Marshall Tucker Band, Kate Wolf, Amy Grant, Arthur Godfrey, David Grisman, Jerry Garcia, Commander Cody (who Norton started with), Kenny Loggins, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Maria Maldaur,Tuck & Patti and countless others.
Buffalo has appeared in and played soundtracks on numerous films including THE ROSE and HEAVEN'S GATE. Buffalo has done performed on Letterman, Jay Leno, Austin City Limits, many of the Garfield & Charlie Brown specials, Midnight Special, Starsky & Hutch(actor & music), and several PBS features.
Buffalo is a longtime member of Steve Miller's band, half of the popular duo with guitarist Roy Rogers as well as bandleader of the Knockouts. He has a Star on Hollywood Blvd. Walk of Fame, a Grammy nomination in '92, Grammies for both a Steve Miller record-79 & Doobie Bros.(record of the year). Buffalo was nominated for a Grammy in '09 for his role on a traditional Hawaiian cd, SPIRIT OF HAWAIIAN SLACK KEY GUITAR.
This will be Norton Buffalo's first Blowout since 97.
SUGAR RAY NORCIA started the popular East Coast blues band THE BLUETONES 30 years ago with guitarist Ronnie Earl. They backed Big Walter Horton, Big Joe Turner, Jimmie Rogers, Otis Rush, JB Hutto & countless others in the early '80s all over the North East. They've recorded two albums for Rounder Records.
In 1991 Norcia hooked up with Roomful of Blues and toured the world with the 11 piece band, appearing on their Grammy-nominated Rounder release TURN IT ON,TURN IT UP. Norcia also recorded the Grammy nominated Telarc release SUPER HARPS during his Roomful tenure with harmonica heavywieights Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton and Billy Branch. In 2001, Norcia reunited the Bluetones with guitarist Kid Bangham & later Monster Mike Welsh. The Bluetones have recorded four cds on Severn Records, their latest being MY LIFE, MY FRIENDS. MY MUSIC.
http://www.markhummel.com/
