MARK HUMMEL
The past decade has seen the emergence of young harmonica-led blues bands. In California, groups that draw their inspiration from the Chicago school but add elements of jump blues and rock 'n' roll into the mix have come up with an exciting new style of West Coast blues. In Oakland, the northern capital of California blues, resides the incredibly powerful harmonica player and vocalist Mark Hummel, leader of The Blues Survivors, who has been a major force in shaping and defining this musical genre.

Mark Hummel is a road warrior - a true Blues Survivor. Along the way, he has crafted his own trademark harmonica sound - a subtle combination of tone, phrasing and attack combined with a strong sense of swing. While Mark is new to Electro Fi Records, his earlier albums, constant touring and appearances at the major blues festivals have firmly established his solid reputation around the US and Europe.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut and raised in Los Angeles, California, Mark absorbed the music of such Chicago based harp blowers as Little Walter, James Cotton, and Sonny Boy Williamson, before settling in Berkeley, California in 1972. There he played with local bluesmen such as Cool Papa, Boogie Jake, Mississippi Johnny Waters and Sonny Lane. In 1980, he took the helm to lead the popular Blues Survivors Band.

In 1985, the Blues Survivors released Playing in Your Town, on Rockinitus Records, and immediately went out on the road. Earning their name, they toured virtually non-stop throughout the United States, Canada and Europe often playing alongside such blues greats as Charlie Musselwhite, Brownie McGhee, Lowell Fulson and Eddie Taylor.

While on tour with his band in 1988, Mark was introduced to Canadian guitarist and vocalist Sue Foley. After several tours that year, Mark and Sue released Up & Jumpin', which also features piano legend Charles Brown. Eager to revive the Blues Survivors, though, Mark hit the road again in 1990, before releasing Hard Lovin' in 1992 on Double Trouble Records. He has been on the road constantly since then, stopping only to record Feel Like Rockin' in 1994 and Married to the Blues in 1995 on Flying Fish Records. He has performed at numerous festivals across the country, including the San Francisco Blues Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, King Biscuit Blues Festival, Waterfront Blues Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, and has performed and judged at the Hohner Harmonica World Championship, held in Germany.

For Heart of Chicago, Mark's sixth release and first on Tone-Cool, Mark traveled to the Windy City to record with some of the city's most legendary players and pay tribute to his Chicago blues influences. Featuring former Muddy Waters sidemen Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and Bob Stroger on drums and bass, guitarist Dave Myers from Little Walter's band, and others. In 1998 Mark released Lowdown To Uptown,his 7th cd, a mix of Chicago blues & uptown jazz. This cd featues great guests such as Jr. Watson, Mike Welch, Brenda Boykin & the last piano recording of the late, great Charles Brown. Mark's most current CD is called "Ain't Easy No More" on the Electro Fi label. A mixture of Hummel's originals and some choice rearrangements of previously recorded blues. It's receiving extended radio play at the moment.

Since 1991 Mark has been both producing & performing at his annual Blues Harmonica Blowout™ series. These shows have grown to be a much heralded event & continue to draw sellout crowds wherever they appear. The list of participents is a who's who of Blues harp history, James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Norton Buffalo, Kim Wilson, Huey Lewis, Carey Bell, Billy Boy Arnold, Rod Piazza, Rick Estrin, Paul deLay, Snooky Pryor, James Harman, Gary Primich, Sam Myers, in just the last three years of this 11 year event.


RUSTY ZINN



BIOGRAPHY:
Time after time, Oakland-based bluesman Rusty Zinn’s raw, burning guitar work and soulful vocals leave listeners open-mouthed in amazement. That is, until their feet start to move uncontrollably and lead them to the dance floor, as Zinn’s jumping blend of 1940s and 1950s West Coast swing/blues and gritty Chicago blues takes over. Zinn has electrified audiences around the world with his fiery live shows and critically acclaimed recordings, both as a leader and as a sideman.  Zinn’s raw talent and deep feeling for the blues have earned him gigs and recordings over the past ten years with many blues masters, including Jimmy Rogers, Snooky Pryor, Luther Tucker, James Cotton, Mark Hummel and Kim Wilson (who helped Rusty get his first recording contract and co-produced his first album, Sittin' & Waitin’ for Black Top Records in 1996). Upon the album’s release, The Memphis Commercial Appeal raved, “Rusty Zinn is the real deal. To say this is the best blues release of the year is an understatement.” With Zinn’s Black Top follow up, Confessin’, things got even more exciting.  “The cuts on Confessin’ play like time-capsuled tunes in a forgotten Memphis jukebox,” shouted Blues Revue.  “If rompin’, stompin’ pedal-to-the-metal blues is your thing, here’s a record for you,” announced Vintage Guitar.

Zinn’s Alligator release, THE CHILL, features his forceful, tasteful, fat-toned guitar playing and R&B-inflected vocals on a vibrant mix of obscure blues songs and heart-pounding originals.  Featuring twelve songs (with five Zinn originals), THE CHILL swings, rocks and rolls from start to finish. From the soulful Ladies Choice to the pumping She’s Got Style to the down home Moonlight Blues (with a guest appearance by Elvin Bishop) THE CHILL will bring Zinn to the top of the blues world. Little Charlie Baty called Rusty, “The most impressive guitarist I’ve heard in years. He’s the real deal.” “Zinn’s sharp and assertive guitar work is one of the undersung pleasures of the current blues scene,” shouted Down Beat. The album will no doubt make these words ring true all over the world.

Born in Long Beach, California in 1970, Rusty Zinn grew up in Santa Cruz.  His brother introduced him to the blues at the age of 15 by bringing home Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf records. As Zinn recalls, “I heard them and asked my brother, ‘What’s that?’ He said, ‘That’s the blues!’ I just loved it.  From then on it just snowballed.”  Rusty picked up the guitar at age 17, fascinated with the styles of Jimmy Rogers, Eddie Taylor, Robert Jr. Lockwood and Luther Tucker (a groundbreaking Chicago and San Francisco-based guitarist famed for his work with James Cotton, Little Walter, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rogers and Muddy Waters).  Tucker played a pivotal role in Rusty’s burgeoning career when he invited an 18-year-old Zinn to jam during a gig near Santa Cruz.  Zinn’s enthusiasm and intensity made such a big impact on Tucker that he took the young guitarist under his wing and shared musical ideas and years of road-tested experience with him.

Zinn quickly made a name for himself playing in several Bay Area blues bands.  As his reputation grew, he backed up touring blues luminaries Snooky Pryor and Jimmy Rogers.  From there he went on the road with Bay Area harp veteran Mark Hummel, logging in countless touring miles while honing his chops.  One of the many gigs Rusty played was a special package show with Jimmy Rogers and Billy Boy Arnold at the San Francisco Blues Festival, where Zinn met Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

Wilson was so impressed with Rusty’s playing he invited  him to Austin for the recording of his 1993 album, Tigerman. Wilson then asked Zinn to join his band. Soon afterwards, Wilson brought Rusty to the attention of Black Top Records, who signed Rusty to the label and released two critically acclaimed solo albums.  Zinn earned a 1996 Blues Music Award nomination for "Best New Blues Artist."  Zinn toured extensively and won fans all over the country with his blazing live performances and exceptional guitar playing at events like The Monterey Jazz Festival, The Long Beach Blues Festival, Blues By The Bay and The Russian River Blues Festival.  His 1999 appearance at The San Francisco Blues Festival drew rave reviews and wildly enthusiastic ovations from the overflow crowd of seasoned blues fans.

Rusty Zinn is the genuine article,” said Blues Revue. “A young guitarist who is a piece of the blues future.” “He sounds like a future master,” agreed OffBeat. Indeed, Zinn’s future is very bright.  From the minute he strikes the first chord to the last note wrenched from his exhausted strings, Rusty Zinn leaves audiences everywhere amazed, knowing they’ve just witnessed one of the brightest young blues stars to emerge in years. And with THE CHILL, Zinn will send shivers down the spines of listeners all over the world.