Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout
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Mark Hummel is a harp man who started playing in 1970, has been featured on more than 30 recordings (including 2013 Grammy-nominated Blind Pig cut “Remembering Little Walter”), and has led his band, the Blues Survivors, since 1976 amid juggling sideman gigs in the studio and on the road. He’ll drop a new album shortly after he lands in Seattle, Mark Hummel’s Wayback Machine, in which he explores the Bluebird Records sound of the 1930s and ’40s. You’ll likely hear cuts off Wayback Machine at the 29th annual edition of his touring blowout, which started with four harmonica players led by Hummel, and is now a who’s who of mouth organ talent. The “Superstars of Blues” who’ll be joining him are Magic Dick (original harp man from the J. Geils Band, currently touring with guitarist and singer Shun Ng), Lee Oskar (founding member of War, currently a member of the Lowrider Band), and Jerry Portnoy (Muddy Waters Blues Band, Eric Clapton). They’ll be backed by Hummel and his Blues Survivors (Bob Welsh on piano and guitar, drummer Wes Starr, and bassist RW Grigsby), plus guitarist Duke Robillard (Roomful of Blues founder, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bob Dylan).
by Leilani Polk