Masters in town

 WHAT: 11th annual Blues Masters at the Crossroads.
 WHEN: 7:15 p.m. Oct. 17-18. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.
 WHERE: Blue Heaven Studios, 201 S. Eighth.
 TICKETS: $40 a night, general admission.
 INFORMATION: 825-8609 or online at www.blueheavenstudios.com.

By GARY DEMUTH

Salina Journal

This year's Blues Masters at the Crossroads concert will be filled with harps.

Harps as in harmonicas, that is.

Several performers at the annual two-night blues concert will be featured on harmonica, including Oakland, Calif., musician Mark Hummel, who has produced a Blues Harmonica Blowout series on the West Coast since 1991.

"To me, the harmonica is the centerpiece of the blues," Hummel said. "People usually think of the harmonica as a folk or campfire instrument, but you can play any kind of music you want on the harmonica, including classical, bluegrass, death metal or the blues."

Hummel will be joined at the Blues Masters concert by acclaimed harpists Kim Wilson, formerly of The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Magic Dick, a founding member of the J. Geils Band. The trio currently are touring together in a new Blues Harmonica Blowout show, Hummel said.

"We each do a 30-minute set and then play a jam session," Hummel said.

The trio will perform Oct. 18 at the 11th annual Blues Masters at the Crossroads at Blue Heaven Studios, 201 S. Eighth. The two-day concert will feature eight blues performers on Oct. 17 and nine different musicians Oct. 18.

Blues Harmonica Blowout founder Hummel has played at blues festivals throughout the U.S. and Europe and is a former member of the 1980s band The Blues Survivors.

Detroit-born Wilson is best known for his work with The Fabulous Thunderbirds, particularly their hit single "Tuff Enuff," but he also is an in-demand session harmonica player who has played for Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon and Carlos Santana, among others.

Connecticut-born Magic Dick (a.k.a. Richard Salwitz) played on many of the J. Geils Band's 1980s hits, including "Freeze Frame" and "Centerfold." He also has played with Patty Smyth, Full Circle, the Del Fuegos and Ryuici Sakamota.

"They're both essentially blues players, but they made their names in the rock world," Hummel said.

The harmonica is a musical instrument many people take for granted, Hummel said.

"It's an instrument that's really easy to play, but to master it is a whole different thing," he said. "What surprises people is how rounded the harmonica is, and how stylistically different everyone who plays it is."

General admission tickets for both concert nights are selling briskly, according to Chad Kassem, owner of Blue Heaven Studios and Acoustic Sounds, a Salina-based audio equipment and vinyl album distribution company.

"The place fills up every year," Kassem said of Blue Heaven, a former church sanctuary that seats about 450 people.

The Blues Harmonica Blowout may be a highlight of the Oct. 18 concert, but the previous night's concert will feature another couple of legendary harmonica players, Jerry "Boogie" McCain and Lazy Lester, Kassem said.

"I don't know if we've ever had so much harmonica, but it's always been a lead instrument in the blues," he said.

The line-up Oct. 17 also features Kenny Neal, a Louisiana-born swamp blues guitarist, singer, pianist and harmonica player; drummer Cedric Burnside and guitarist Lightin' Malcolm; Archie Bell, a rhythm and blues singer who recorded 48 singles with his group Archie Bell and the Drells, including the 1968 hit "Tighten Up;" Marquise Knox, a 17-year-old St. Louis-based blues guitar and harmonica prodigy who opened for B.B. King in January at the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts; Louisiana blues guitarist Paul "Lil' Buck" Sinegal; and Major Handy, an accordion player and zydeco musician.

Performers Oct. 18 include Hummel, Wilson and Magic Dick; boogie woogie blues pianist Little Willie Littlefield, who recorded the classic 1952 tune "Kansas City;" D.L. Menard, a Cajun roots guitarist and vocalist; zydeco musicians Clayton Sampy and Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes; a return appearance by Lil' Buck Sinegal; and singer Bobby Allen, who recorded the classic Christmas hit "Please Santa Bring My Baby Back" and the cult classic "Soul Chicken."

Kassem said he's happy with the diversity of this year's line-up.

"We try to get the best of the living legends, but with a lot of new people, too," he said. "All we're missing this year is a big blues woman."

nReporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.

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