Birthday Present of the Blues

For my 56th birthday, I asked for only one present; tickets for last night's John Hammond blues concert at the gorgeous South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. I got my wish, and as a result I was present for one of the truly great live performances of my life... Although John Hammond was nominated for a 2010 Grammy for his latest album "Rough and Tough", his career has spanned 50 years. He has "paid his dues" by playing with many of the country's veteran blues performers including the likes of Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Bukka White and Sonny Boy Williamson... During his long and storied career he has collaborated with Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, Little Charlie and the Nightcats and Michael Bloomfield who John credits for introducing him to the Chicago Blues scene as well as the legends that put Chicago Blues on the map.
This was my second time seeing Mr. Hammond in a live setting... He came to Milwaukee several years ago with his good friend Charlie Musselwhite along with Otis Taylor and Eric Bibb. That concert was memorable but did not afford each of the performers with enough of the spotlight to stand out. Last night was different as Mr. Hammond sat alone on stage with his favorite acoustic guitar, his favorite resonator to show off his amazing slide work, a collection of harmonicas which were nestled into a neck harness allowing him to alternate between tasty harp chops and mad vocals.
His concert started in a very energetic way due to his frenetic playing, animated foot stomping and intense harmonica riffs. However, as soon as he started his verbal musings of his life and 50-year career, he seemed to channel the mellow vibe of some of his mentors such as Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf. He recounted how he acquired his very first guitar, learning to play the blues by visiting his favorite New York City record store and his life-altering decision to move to Los Angeles as a teenager to follow his dream.
He reminisced about working hard at an LA gas station where he happened to meet up with a local musical legend that got him his first LA gig. That led to several more gigs and when he spotted the first "love of his life", a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria, he made a promise that his music would be the means to his dream. Soon he was driving the LA streets in his dreamy Crown Vic.
As he recounted the blues legends he came to know, he paid homage to them by deftly playing one of their iconic blues songs. This kept the night moving at a pleasant pace. Ninety minutes later, he thanked the audience for their indulgence and exited the stage to a raucus, and well deserved, standing ovation. He came back for one last crowd-pleasing song, thanked the audience again and exited while the lights came on signaling the end of his performance. Then he did something so rare among his contemporaries. He appeared in the lobby minutes later and stayed for over an hour signing autographs and talking with the lucky fans who wanted a chance to meet a true legend. I was one of those lucky fans. He autographed two of my blues harps joining the signatures of Charlie Musselwhite and Rick Estrin, leader of the Nightcats. He was a gracious gentleman to all without any commercial trappings.. He had no CD's for sale and he wasn't promoting any upcoming shows.
I came away in awe from witnessing an extremely talented person truly comfortable in his skin who has honed his craft to the point where he is respected by the traditional blues masters as well as the more contemporary and progressive artists. I am left with the sincere wish that more of today's musical artists would consider following John Hammond in walking the walk before talking the talk.
Here is a link to a review of Mr. Hammond's Grammy-nominated release: http://www.rosebudus.com/hammond/RoughTough.html