[Harp-L] Harmonica Blowout

[Daniel Fritz <bluesharp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Great players...great show...

Must say, while I don't think I'm too much of a purist, Sugar Blue plays a style I just don't like...seventeen notes where one will do...certainly skilled, though.  His "Badda-Bing" patter doesn't really cut it either, IMHO.

I am always amazed at the tone and energy displayed by Mark Hummel. He can truly do it all, and do it great.

   Rod Piazza is such a wonderful player that I'm willing to overlook his stage accent (I didn't realize they talked like that in Orange County).  What great tone, and tremendous re-creation of the classic licks.  I think he is one of the best players out there.

  I had never seen Carlos Del Junco in person...wow, what an innovative artist, impeccable taste and an original approach to the instrument.  I hope to see more of him.

  Seeing Billy Branch was a true treat.  His playing is so toneful, soulful  and classy, and he shows respect for the masters but adds his own personal touches.  Really good singer, too.

As to amps, it looked like there were two tweeds on stage, one an Avenger and the other perhaps a reissue 
Bassman.

Does anyone know what the stick mics were that Carlos Del Junco and, I think, Billy Branch were using to play through the PA?  (Greg Heumann "Ultimates"?)  I guess they were high-end vocal mics from Yoshi's stash, but was curious to know what they were.

It's too bad that Yoshi's allots such a short time per set.  I thought it was a great sign of much-deserved respect that each of the harpers gave up some of his limited time to make sure that Rusty Zinn took a solo in each song...he is so skilled and has an incredible range of style and incredible tone.  He seems so modest that he would probably have been fine with no solos, but I for one was pleased that he got to show his stuff a little.  

I thought the band was fine...tough task to handle all those different playing styles, personalities, volume levels, etc. with such rapid changeovers...I felt they pulled it off really nicely.  Totally tuff rhythm section, great keys, and Rusty Zinn...couldn't ask for more...

Thanks to Mark Hummel for putting together this wonderful show, year in and year out, and for his own really fine performance.
Sent from my iPhone