Review of Mark Hummel’s
Blues Harmonica Blowout

February 18, 2024

For over 30 years, Mark Hummel entertains and educates with his annual Blues Harmonica Blowout.  Harmonica’s role in the blues goes way back, and is a vital core of the genre.  Here, Hummel showcases veterans and upcoming harmonicists.  The backing musicians Bob Welsh, Chris Cain, June Core, and Randy Bermudes too, move the music seamlessly with encouragement and support. 

Andrew Alli, the up-and-comer for this year’s caravan, is from Richmond, Virginia.  That area is known for its great Piedmont blues.  Although Alli performs in the Piedmont style acoustically, this night he played powerful, hard hitting Chicago blues.  Despite acknowledging the area’s blues roots, he understands blues as a rainbow of styles and wanting life beyond his hometown in the song “30 Long Years.”

Jason Ricci re-defines blues, blues harmonica, heck harmonica period.  He’s stretched and incorporated a variety of music styles within the blues, bringing new “air,” in both his playing and songwriting.  He transitions moods from sad to soulful to joy, moment to moment within a piece. During “St. James Infirmary” guitarist Chris Cain carried a Wes Montgomery influenced solo and Ricci a beautiful, touching inspirational classical music / blues infused solo. His stage mannerisms are like an actor naturally improvising a script.  Hopefully we will see this NOLA resident return to California and perhaps someday to our Central Coast shores.

Mark Hummel played the good time swinging old school West Coast sound that came from “fathers” like Johnny Dyer and George “Harmonica” Smith.  Like Smith, he ably commands chromatic harp as well as diatonic harp.  It’s nice to know that folks like him, San Pedro Slim, John Clifton, Gary Smith, Rod Piazza, R.J. Mischo, and Rick Estrin continue to forward this sound.  On “Double Trouble,” Cain and Bob Welsh bring a beautiful melancholy intro before sliding into Hummel and the band bringing it home

After the intermission, Cain paid a beautiful homage to B.B. King, while continuing his debt to Wes Montgomery.  It is just the supporting band of Chris Cain, Bob Welsh, June Core, and Randy Bermudes, giving the harmonica players a break.

Kenny Neal brought a moving spiritual experience, as if it were Sunday morning service.  He had a downhome spirit that grew as his set progressed.  At one point, after encouraging the audience to sing along, they were so impressed that, on their own accord, clapped in rhythm.  On Muddy’s “Got My Mojo Working,” drummer June Core’s symbol work hit right to the bone, and overall, Core was impressive throughout the concert.

Lee Oskar, one of the founding members of War, gave hints of his work in that band.  However, his best work was on “Song for Mom” and “Never Forget,” inspired by the horrors of the Holocaust that directly affected his family.  It was subdued and poignant, with klezmer overtones.  His “An American Waltz,” further drove home the need to support those who come to our Country, as this happened with his family.

This event is proof why Hummel showcases the harmonica with his annual Blowout tours.  Many have graced the stage, and with names too numerous to count.  His vision of the blues harmonica is a multi-culture of individual styles, yet unified by a vision of its soul cleansing feel.