Mark Hummel & Junior Watson - Lowdown to Uptown Tour

“Mark Hummel is a harmonica God.”

–Blues Revue

“Hummel, a specialist in West Coast Blues, knows a thing or two about about how to please an audience." 

–New Yorker

"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
 

Grammy Nominee, Blues Award Winner, Author, Harp Man Mark Hummel had a banner year in 2014. Grammy Nominated for his Remembering Little Walter CD he produced and performed on, Mark also won Best Blues CD and Best Traditional Blues CD at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, TN. Mark's The Hustle Is Really On climbed to #2 and stayed in the top five for four months on the Living Blues Radio Charts. Hummel's book "BIG ROAD BLUES:12 Bars on I-80" garnered rave reviews and was nominated for best Independent Book release. 

Mark Hummel started playing harmonica in 1970 and is considered one of the premier blues harmonica players of his generation. Thanks to over thirty recordings since 1985, including the  Grammy nominated 2013 release Blind Pig recording Remembering Little Walter (part of the Blues Harmonica Blowout CD series).  Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout™ started in 1991 and have featured every major legend (Mayall, Musselwhite, Cotton, etc.) on blues harp as well as almost every player of note on the instrument - a who's who of players.

Harmonica man-vocalist Hummel and guitar genius Watson go back to 1980 working together on different projects. JR Watson is the guitarist on Hummel’s Hard Lovin’ 90s( 1990), Lowdown To Uptown (1997) & Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Meltdown One (2000). 

Watson has recorded and toured w/Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers 1976-87, Canned Heat 1988-93, Kim Wilson 1993-95, solo projects 1995-present. Watson has recorded on over 150 sessions including Jimmy Rogers, William Clarke, Charlie Musselwhite, Hollywood Blue Flames, Big Mama Thornton, George Harmonica Smith, Luther Tucker, Shakey Jake and countless others. Watson has inspired younger guitarists since the eighties, including Rick Holmstrom( Mavis Staples), Kirk Fletcher, Alex Shultz and Rusty Zinn among others. JR’s influence is huge on blues guitar!