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With a recording release for almost every year John Hammond has played professionally
(40), one which brought him a Grammy and the last four which have been
Grammy nominated, and with tens of thousands of live performances under
his belt, it is significant that John has the ability to bring a freshness
to each performance. The passion he brings to the blues is a testament
to the dedication and reverence he has for the musicians who first walked
the path he has chosen to follow. Tom Wait’s, when asked about John
said, “John’s sound is so compelling, complete, symmetrical
and soulful with just his voice, guitar and harmonica, it is at first
impossible to imagine improving it.” Wait’s, as producer, composer
and lyricist in Wicked Grin, John’s new CD from PointBlank/Virgin,
was able to bring Hammond’s unique sound into the realm of his own
singular musical vision. The result is a rich and dynamic synthesis of
the warm, rootsy style Hammond has honed. Wait’s continued, “I’ve
been a fan of John’s since his first record and was proud to be a
part of this, [Wicked Grin]. He’s a great force of nature. John sounds
like a big train coming. He chops them all down.” Legendary blues
man T Bone Burnett wrote, “John Hammond is a master...He is a virtuoso.
A Conjurer...A Modernist...John is in a very small circle of men with
a guitar and a harmonica. Jimmy Reed, Howlin’ Wolf, Bob Dylan. The
guitar is an orchestra. He’s sending messages. Storytelling. All
mystery. Protection. The language goes out through the night...The Big
Boom. Boom the room. Gone, Johnny, gone.”
Charlie Musselwhite
Both an innovator and traditionalist, Charlie Musselwhite has been respectfully
pushing the limits of the blues since his first recording for Vanguard
Records in 1966. Charlie has performed and recorded with legends of the
blues including Muddy Waters, Big Joe Williams, and John Lee Hooker, as
well as contemporary artists Bonnie Raitt and INXS. Recognized as one
of the country's premier blues men, Charlie's harp playing has won him
six WC Handy Awards for "Best Blues Harmonica," as well as the
1995 Handy for "Best Blues Band," and his last two releases
have received Grammy nominations. Charlie has also been featured on Saturday
Night Live, Late Night with David Letterman, CBS This Morning, and Live
from the House of Blues. His album, Rough News (Virgin/pointblank), features
traditional blues as well the Brazilian influenced "Feel It In Your
Heart," continuing in the Musselwhite tradition of expanding the
boundaries of the blues.
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