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"Mark Hummel came of age in the early seventies, at the height or rock and roll, but instead of picking up a guitar, like most of his peers, he went out and bought a harmonica, and he hasn't stopped playing since. A specialist in the West Coast blues, he's a seasoned showman who knows more than a thing or two about how to please an audience." - The New Yorker "Hummel whoops up clouds of volcanic ash on one number after another." - DownBeat "A fine songwriter...his band, known as the Blues Survivors, achieves an ideal balance between firmness and looseness...Hummel's breathtaking command of the harmonica is...showcased on the explosive uptempo instrumental 'Harpoventilating'". - Living Blues "Hummel plays the harmonica with the fat, full sound that made Little Walter sound almost like a saxophonist rather than a harp man". - Chicago Sun-Times |
| DISCOGRAPHY Retro-Active - 2010 Chicago Blues Party - 2009 Still Here and Gone - 2009 Odds & Ends - 2008 Ain't Easy No More - 2006 Blues Harp Meltdown Vol 3 - 2006 Harmonica Party - DVD 2006 Harmonica Party - 2004 Blowin' My Horn - 2004 Blues Harp Meltdown - 2004 Rolling Fork Revisited - 2004 East Meets West - 2004 Golden State Blues - 2002 Lowdown To Uptown - 1998 Heart Of Chicago - 1997 Married To The Blues - 1995 Feel Like Rockin' - 1994 Hard Lovin' 1990's - 1992 Up & Jumpin' - 1989 Playing In Your Town - 1985 |
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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. Hummel has achieved wide recognition through nearly constant touring and appearances at the major blues festivals which have firmly established his solid reputation around the US, Canada 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. In 1985, Mark Hummel & 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. Mark's most current CD, Golden State Blues on the Electro Fi label, was recorded with his touring band, The Blues Survivors, plus special guests such as Rusty Zinn, Anson Funderburgh, Steve Lucky, and is receiving extended radio play. 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. 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. Since 1991 Mark has been both producing and performing at his Blues Harmonica Blowout series. These shows have grown to be a much-heralded event and continue to draw sellout crowds wherever they appear. The list of participants is a Who's Who of Blues harp history: John Mayall, John Hammond, Norton Buffalo, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, Huey Lewis, Curtis Salgado, Kim Wilson, Watermelon Slim, Sugar Ray Norcia, Kenny Neal, James Harman, Fingers Taylor, Snooky Pryor, Dave Earl, Rod Piazza, Magic Dick, William Clarke, Rick Estrin, Paul DeLay, Billy Branch, Lazy Lester, Carey Bell, Little Sonny, Paul Osher, Lee Oskar, Cephas and Wiggins, Gary Primich, Paul Rischell and Annie Raines, Carlos Del Junco, Sam Myers and many more! |
BOOKING: Greg Baert baekor@telus.net Phone: (604)688-1976 RECORD LABEL: Electro-Fi - www.electrofi.com |
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