SFJAZZ presents Mark Hummel's 23rd Annual Blues Harmonica Blowout featuring
  John Mayall,
  Curtis Salgado,
  Rick Estrin,
  and “Little” Charlie Baty
2014-01-12
Miner Auditorium
SFJAZZ Center, 205 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA
4:00 PM, Sunday, January 12, 2014

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2014 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2014 event list! ☸ On to the next event!

[3:58 PM lights down, musicians onstage; announcements by Barrett Shaver; then Mark Hummel introduces the band]

1. [4:07 PM] Stop Now Baby
2. [4:13 PM] Trying to Get Back on My Feet
3. [4:19 PM] She's My Baby
4. [4:24 PM] Nine Below Zero
   [Mark Hummel introduces Ric Estrin, then leaves]
5. [4:31 PM] One Way Out
6. [4:36 PM] Fattening Frogs for Snakes
7. [4:41 PM] Gettin' Out of Town (solo)
8. [4:48 PM] ? “you can't come back” - Maybe Insurance Man Blues or Collector Man Blues?
   [set ends 5:01 PM]

[5:17 PM lights down, Mark Hummel calls the band back, introduces Curtis Salgado]

1. [5:21 PM] Mr. Down-child
2. [5:25 PM] Cool Disposition
   [Curtis yaks about the Blues Brothers]
3. [5:36 PM] From the Bottom
   [Ric Estrin comes out]
4. [5:40 PM] Too Young to Die
   [Ric and Curtis depart, Mark introduces John Mayall]
5. [5:47 PM] All My Love in Vain
6. [5:55 PM] Another Man Done Gone (solo)
7. [5:59 PM] So Many Roads
8. [6:08 PM] Checkin' on My Baby
   [the no-break encore: Mark Hummel, Ric Estrin, and Curtis Salgado return, joined by Kyle Roland; Little Charlie swaps from guitar to harmonica]
9. [6:14 PM] Help Me
   [show ends 6:28 PM; no encore]

• June Core: drums;
• R.W. Grigsby: bass, contrabass;
• Mark Hummel: harmonica, vox;
• Robert Welsh, Jr.: guitar, piano.

• “Little” Charlie Baty: guitar, harmonica, vox;
• Rick Estrin: harmonica, vox;
• John Mayall: keyboards, harmonica, vox;
• Kyle Roland: harmonica;
• Curtis Salgado: harmonica, vox.

SFJAZZ has posted a promo video for this show on Youtube.

Tonight's showcase of harmonica aces was quite fun, and a big step up venue-wise from the much smaller confines of yoshi's. And as is typical for such kinds of events, each succeeding star performer tried his best to outdo the earlier performers, which made for a highly entertaining evening!

I was psyched and surprised to be checking the March tables at set break and find John Mayall standing alone and unmolested as the crowds surged about the tables set up for the first set stars. Well duh, time to buy an autographed CD, say hello and shake howdy with a true hero of modern blues. John was quite friendly (happy to have a customer, no doubt), and no more deaf than you'd expect for someone who's accumulated a lifetime of exposure to loud music at short range. It was an unexpected treat for me!

The second set began with a fun 30 minute segment wherein Curtis Salgado regaled us with tales about helping John Belushi invent the Blues Brothers in between his tunes, concluding with a high-energy harp duel between Curtis and Ric Estrin. Mark Hummel then introduced John Mayall and his band, who proceeded to saw through four solid classics. Oh yeah, mi gusta harmonica! The “encore” – quote-delimited because no one left stage – featured the addition of all the first set stars on an epic romp through the xx classic, Help Me. Indeed, help me, help me, this blues is looking me tonight!

It's easy to quibble that the short mini sets are far less satisfying than a regular performance, but I think they make up for brevity with variety, and each of tonight's stars certainly approached their set with something to prove! Got me thinking I should make this review a regular part of my calendar! Well see if I can schedule it in when the dates come up again next year.

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2014 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2014 event list! ☸ On to the next event!