DISCOGRAPHY (all sound samples are in streaming audio)
Ain't Easy No More
Electro-Fi has just issued Hummel's Third album for the label, Ain't Easy No More, that will delight his fans and blues harp fans. A mixture of Hummel's originals and some choice rearrangements of previously recorded blues, Hummel impresses most as a harp player and his band (augmented by horns on several tracks) is terrific supporting him. Hummel also writes some strong originals, including the topical "Big Easy (Ain't Easy No More)," based on his reaction to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
LEGENDS - Blues Harp Meltdown Vol 3 - Double CD
With Carey Bell, Lazy Lester, Steve Freund, Phil Wiggins, John Cephas and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith!
Mountain Top and I have been overwhelmed with our fans response to Harp Meltdown Vol 1, Vol 2 and East Meets West. Lovers of true old-time blues will not be disappointed with the live results in these grooves. The old-timers here are delivering the goods in bunches ....which is why we titled this CD: LEGENDS
Rolling Fork Revisited w/ Johnny Dyer
On this album, Johnny Dyer and I put together a list of Muddy Water's faves. Mountain Top wanted to put out a CD with Johnny singing Muddy's parts, and me blowing Little Walter and James Cotton parts behind him with an authentic sound. We brought in my band, The Blues Survivors, Rusty Zinn on guitar, Bob Welsh on piano and guitar (Charlie Musselwhite Band), as well as two former Muddy sidemen, Paul Oscher (harp and slide guitar, from 1967-1971), and Francis Clay (drums from 1957-1966), who played on many of the original Muddy sides on Chess Records. Check out the amazing Steve Wolf on electric Fender bass getting a stand-up bass sound. If you close your eyes, you'd think you're in Chess Records' Studios in 1957.
Blowin' My Horn
“Mark Hummel is rockin’ his boogie on Blowin’ My Horn. Give it a listen and you’ll be rockin’ your boogie too”. – CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE
“Mark Hummel is simply one of the best Harmonica players working today. The rhythm section is kicking and Charles Wheal’s guitar is a special delight”. – HUEY LEWIS
Golden State Blues
This CD was recorded with my road band in the
studio,we really tried for a live sound on this, mainly room mics with lots
of ambience.
I got Rusty Zinn & Anson Funderburgh on a couple, Steve Lucky
on keys & great horns by John Firman & Robb Suddeth (same guys as Married to
the Blues). I'm doing tons off this cd as we speak, so if you like the gigs you'll
like this cd!
East Meets West
This is the second volume of Blues Harmonica Meltdown.We recorded this cd at Moe's Alley again in Aug. of 2002 with Gary Primich, Johnny Dyer, Paul Rischell & Annie Raines (the best woman I've heard on the blues Harp), Gary Smith, RJ Mischo, Frank Goldwasser, plus myself & my band the Blues Survivors (backing all the artists here). The results were stunning, as you will see & no harp player will walk away from this dissapointed. Check it out! It's a good un.
Blues Harp Meltdown Double CD Live
This CD is from the
Santa Cruz, Ca. Blues harmonica Blowout at Moes Alley in 2000, this
was a summit of most of the top west coast players (the show added
Piazza the following nite in Oakland). Kim Wilson, Rick Estrin (Little
Charlie), James Harman, me, Billy Branch (from Chicago but raised
in LA), Gary Smith, & RJ Mischo plus my band with a stunning, stealing-the-show
Jr. Watson. This IS the best live harp cd available-too much for
one listening. I think I'll give it a spin right now!
Lowdown Uptown
I like this one alot, it's
got Jr. Watson playing his butt off, Dave Maxwell playing his keys
off, & Brenda Boykin takin' charge. The track I did at the end
with the late Charles Brown is the last piano piece he recorded
in the studio before his health went, a piece I'm still extremly
proud of, "In a Sentimental Mood". I'd wanted to record
these songs with Brown for 9-10 years before we got to do them &
he sounded even better then I'd imagined.
Heart of Chicago
This was a dream come
true. An idea Rusty came up with as we were leaving Chicago one
visit, he thought Flying Fish (a Chicago label) should record a CD
there with me and the old timers. Then they got sold to Rounder.
I talked Rosie at Tone Cool into the idea & we recorded at Delmark's
studio. I didn't even know till the last minute if Dave Myers would
actually show, but he was the first one there when we showed up (I
knew THAT day was gonna be good! Produced by my friend Steve Freund, who
knew everybody, except Dave, a little better then I did, this is
my strictly Chicago Blues cd. I tried to cover every style, from
Tampa to Muddy, from SonnyBoy 1 to Earl Hooker, hope you like this
one!
Married To The Blues
Definitely my best cover
art, except my newest. This is my DIVORCE CD, done right before
the separation. So much that my ex wanted to sue for royalties from
it cause she said it was about her life. I beg to differ. You'll
find alot of good covers on this as well. Duke Robbilard & Rusty
Zinn battling it out on guitars, Musselwhite & me battling it
out on harps, & two rhythm sections working together as one.
See,it wasn't just about her. Nice horns on this and great piano
from Steve Lucky.
Feel Like Rockin
This cd was produced by
Rick Estrin. I still like this cd alot & still do quite a bit
off it on my live shows. Rusty Zinn & Ronnie James were with
the band at the time & play on this set, Jimmy Bott as well.
I had guests on it like Brownie McGhee, who plays on my sobriety
anthem, "Learned my lesson, Change my Ways" with me. Sue
Foley also appears on a cut we recorded in '89 when we worked together, "I'm
Gonna Quit"(originally a song about quitting smoking). Charles
Brown played & sang the last song on the album, a beautiful closer
called" When I'm not with You".
Harmonica Party
This
cd is a compilation of different sessions & musicians from
1984-1993. A few different current stars appear here, Rusty Zinn, Ronnie
James Weber (T-Birds, Little Charlie), Jimmy Bott, Ron Thompson, Jim
Pugh, Carl Severied (both w/Robert Cray), Kenny Dale Johnson (Chris
Issac), Dona McGee, Mike Judge (Anson, Beevis &King o'the Hill)& many
others. A mix of songs a little heavier on the Chicago Blues side but a few jump numbers thrown
in for good effect.
MERCH
Harmonica Party Instructional DVD
WINNER - INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO OF THE YEAR - Real Blues Magazine The instructional video "Harmonica Party was made for harp players that can already play single notes & bend a step down on 2-3 draw. 2/3s of the vid are diatonic & the last 1/3 are Chromatic related. This tape deals with positions on the harp, Juke in different pos. & the blues masters' styles. Tongue blocking techniques, head shakes, lipping tricks, etc. Every secret I know what the harp no other player would tell you. These things used to never get shared among players, but they're Top Secret no more!
These T-Shirts come in S-M-L-XL & XXL
They were designed and drawn by Frank Goldwasser (aka Paris Slim) and done with aid of a photo of the model.