Singing the blues: Harpist extraordinaire Mark Hummel coming to New York Mills

Harpist extraordinaire Mark Hummel has been at the center of the blues world for a long time and has seen a number of changes, not all of them to his liking, with blues fests and clubs featuring more and more nonblues artists.

“It reminds me much of what happened to Country Music in modern times, where Led Zeppelin had more in common with it then George Jones,” laments Hummel. “I never understood how the big rock acts had hits with Muddy’s songs while he could barely make a dent till Johnny Winter produced him.”

Well, if blues is going to be relegated to a niche crowd, Mark’s going to make sure he keeps those purists happy.

“I guess some stuff never changes,” he says, “but my love for real blues will survive.”

The Mohawk Valley Blues Society will be bringing Hummel and his band, the Blues Survivors, into the Roselawn Banquet Facility in New York Mills on Wednesday, June 8 for a 7 p.m. performance.

“Mark Hummel’s band is hotter than a grease fire,” promises MVBS entertainment chairman Bernie Clarke. “His bands have always included the best, and this time, he’s got (guitar standout and Blues Music Award nominee) Rusty Zinn with him. “This is one not to be missed.”

Joining Hummel and Zinn will be Mike Law on bass and Nick Toscano on drums.

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Grammy nominee and multiple Blues Music Award winner Mark Hummel has been a mainstay on the blues circuit for decades. He started playing harmonica in 1970 and is now considered one of the premier blues harmonica players of his generation.

Hummel has toured or recorded with a who’s who of blues legends, and always has been quick to pay tribute to those heroes. As part of his quest to promote traditional blues, Hummel is doing some dates with members of James Cotton’s Band in “A Tribute to Cotton.”

“I was of a very fortunate generation, as so many of the originals were still touring, recording and it was possible to work with them,” recalls Mark. “I got to play a lot with Brownie McGhee, Lowell Fulsom, Luther Tucker, Jimmy McCracklin, Nick Gravenities, Charles Brown, Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, Lazy Lester, Billy Boy Arnold, Carey Bell and many more.”

Despite his busy recording schedule, constant touring and appearances at all the major blues festivals, Hummel always manages to make time to spread the gospel of the blues to dedicated fans.

“(The Mohawk Valley) Blues Society and a few others, Baltimore, Omaha, Sacramento and Dallas, as well, have been helpful,” notes Mark. “You have to love blues and not just your friend’s band to have a great blues society. Bringing in touring blues acts – that’s real blues support.”

Opening the show will be MVBS favorite Tas Cru. Tickets are $20 for MVBS Members and $25 for nonmembers and are available online at https://www.simpletix.com/e/mark-hummel-tickets-102972

For more information or for information on online ticket sales, visit the MVBS Facebook page.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Blues harpist Mark Hummel to play at Roselawn in New York Mills