Blues Harmonica Blowout on Sunday at Coach House

Mark Hummel, John Mayall and friends will pay tribute to late blues harp innovator Little Walter during a concert in San Juan Capistrano.

Though Little Walter is the only blues harmonica player inducted into Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, few outside the blues genre know much about the late Louisiana-born artist considered to be the Jimi Hendrix of his instrument.

But with this year's Blues Harmonica Blowout tour, which arrives Sunday (January 22) at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, modern-day blues harp master Mark Hummel has gathered some of the world's best harmonica players to pay tribute to Little Walter and introduce his music to a new audience.

Little Walter, who was 37 when he died in 1968, introduced the technique of cupping his hands around a microphone while blowing on his blues harp. It continues to be the standard method for those who play the instrument today.
In addition to Hummel, the Coach House concert will feature John Mayall, Little Charlie Baty, Billy Boy Arnold, Curtis Salgado (former frontman for the Robert Cray Band) and Sugar Ray Norcia.
Hummel will feature selections from his recently released CD Blue and Lonesome: Tribute to Little Walter, a limited-edition collection that will be available at the show.

MARK HUMMEL'S BLUES HARMONICA BLOWOUT
Who: Mark Hummel, John Mayall, Little Charlie Baty, Billy Boy Arnold, Curtis Salgado, Sugar Ray Norcia
Where: The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano
When: 7 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 22, 2012)
How much: $28
Information: 949-496-8930