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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > The Hustle Is Really On - Mark Hummels New Album
The Hustle Is Really On - Mark Hummels New Album
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BluesJacketman
107 posts
Mar 17, 2014
5:53 PM
I went to see Mark Hummel at a local club here in the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday. I saw a posst earlier that day on his facebook page that his new album would be available for the for sale at the gig for the first time. not in stores until April 15, so I of course went to the bank before the show to get some cash so I could buy it.

Mark Hummels as always live puts on a fantastic show. He is one of the best traditional harp players in this business, and one of the few among Rod Piazza, Rick Estrin, and himself still playing the West Coast Chicago/Jump/Swing style that has always been a staple here on the west coast. The concerts was great played 3 or 4 Little Walter tunes, finished the night with a story about the old days in the Bay Area and a 10 Minute version of The Creeper which did not disappoint.

The Album is great! Produced very well with half the tracks featuring the Golden State-Lone Star Review Featuring Little Charlie Baty and Anson Funderburgh on Guitar. For those of you who don't know who Funderburgh is he was Sam Myers musical partner. The other half of the album Features Chris "Kid" Anderson of The Night Cats on Guitar and Sid Morris on Piano.

The album has a great mix and variety of blues with many upbeat swinging numbers. 2 Little Walter numbers, a T-Bone walker tune, a Muddy song among many other clocking in at a little under an hour. Mark Hummel is playing very well and the rhythm section is really throwing down. This is definitely a West Coast Blues album even if it has some Texas players on it and half was recorded in Chicago.

Some drawbacks for me were the fact that Hummels previous album; Retro-Active had some soul, funk, and good fun classic R&B thrown into the blues. This album is missing that. In my opinion Retro-active is way more fun to listen to. But if you are looking for a definitive Modern West Coast Blues album don't miss out.

Last Edited by BluesJacketman on Mar 17, 2014 6:04 PM
didjcripey
726 posts
Mar 17, 2014
10:53 PM
Thanks for the heads up. I'll be checking it out. Love his work, especially 'Hand Jive' and 'Backscratcher' off his harmonica party album.
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Kingley
3524 posts
Mar 17, 2014
11:18 PM
Looking forward to hearing that album. Mark has a great body of work and all his albums feature some of the best players around. I've been a fan of his music for a long time. His rhythm section players over the years have always been outstanding players. Marty Dodson and RW Grigsby are two of my particular favourites.

Last Edited by Kingley on Mar 17, 2014 11:22 PM
BluesJacketman
129 posts
Apr 21, 2014
6:19 PM
the original post about hummels new album.
atty1chgo
899 posts
Apr 22, 2014
4:26 PM
Going to see him this Friday in Chicago at an event called "Harmonica Convergence II" at Old Town School Of Folk Music. The lineup will be:

Mark Hummel
Billy Boy Arnold
Joe Filisko
Corky Siegel

with a house band of Billy Flynn on guitar, RW Grigsby on bass, and Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith on drums. Should be a great concert.

http://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2014/04-25-2014-harmonica-convergence-7pm/
Joe_L
2464 posts
Apr 23, 2014
7:22 PM
Mark Hummel always puts on a solid show. RW Grigsby is still playing with Hummel. Marty Dodson moved south and is playing with Nathan James and James Harman.

Lately, he has been doing some very cool duo gigs with Sid Morris on piano or a trio by adding a drummer.

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TBird
62 posts
Apr 24, 2014
5:13 PM
Just heard him last night. Really fun show! I hadn't had much exposure to him up 'til now… I think I'm going to dive in.


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