Search - Mark Hummel :: Heart of Chicago

Hummel is amazing . . . .

Stephen Kampa | Northfield, MN United States | 04/16/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mark Hummel is simply one of the finest harmonica players alive, period. His tone is extremely deep and his phrasing is both articulate and interesting. While his vocals are not very engaging, they're not horrid either--I've definitely heard worse.This album is chock full o' good stuff: "Rockin' at the Riverside" is a four-minute lesson in blues harmonica soloing (will Hummel ever run out of ideas?), "Love Shock" is a good chromatic work-out, and "Living with the Blues" features great acoustic harp and an interesting chord structure.While "Low Down to Uptown" might feature a more diverse setlist and equally jaw-dropping playing, "Heart of Chicago" shouldn't be ignored, especially by would-be blues harpists--this is a feast as far as harmonica is concerned!"

Not his best

misjapudlo | Eindhoven, NL | 08/15/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"While, in my opinion, Mark Hummel is among the best harmonicaplayers around the world, this cd is solid, but brings nothing new... The main reason for that, in my view, is that the guitarplayers on this cd are in no way renewing...they play solidly traditional style but that's all, while on other cd's Hummel is playing with guys like Junior Watson and Rusty Zinn... for beginning harmonicaplayers it is a good cd to start with... other people who want to buy a Hummel-cd: buy 'Hard Lovin' 90's', 'Lowdown to Uptown' or 'Married to the blues'.... ...a blues fan and harmonica/guitar-player from Eindhoven."