Hubert Sumlin

Hubert Sumlin is not self conscious about being a bit frail and stooped. Helped to his seat at BB King's, his guitar placed in his hands and his jaunty hat replaced on his head, he is unaffectedly poised, confident and charming. And he is a talented and passionate guitar player. His style is subtle, skilled yet spare, devoid of the razzle dazzle that verges on synthesized effects. The music comes from the heart and the head, from practiced hands and the patience of living a full life, and from the newness that carries the music when it's really music. Hubert Sumlin was, if I recall right, a guitarist with the Howlin' Wolf's band. He's got his own crew now, and they are very good indeed, and very devoted to the blues and to Hubert. Here a suggestion to BB King's: how about a scorecard of the band and the music? Sure we went for the joy of it, but the blues carries a legacy without which there would simply not be an American sound, and Hubert is an integral part of it. Hubert's vocalist and harmonica player has a more than passing similarity to you-know-who of the Stones; and he carries that with minimal posture, with relish and with affection. The other person from blues and from Stones legacy he reminds me of: the late Jack Nitsche, their weathered seasoned master arranger, son of Chicago, the blues' nesting grounds. He is also a good blues singer and harmonica player. The drummer is a solid syncopation machine, the bass player got a noteworthy break, the other guitarist, on bottleneck, delivered solid licks. And the crew laced into a list of standards and rendered them with relish and chops and skill.

Great Show, Started by 8:15, 2 sets , 1st one some classics like Spoonful, 2nd set absolutely cooked! show over by 10:30 , Could have been longer , but remember he was celebrating his 78th Birthday! They brought out a cake in the shape of a guitar & we all sang Happy Birthday to Hubert. All the band members were great, some excellent slide work & Harmonica also. a lot of Howling Wolf classics! My friends & my 24 yr old daughter all enjoyed it! Great for Blues fans of ALL AGES!!

Hubert played two unbelievable sets last night. Great songs, great band with David Johansen growling out some vocals. The house was packed and rockin'...all night long. I met Hubert while working on the upcoming film, THE PERFECT AGE OF ROCK AND ROLL, along with Sugar Blue, Pinetop Perkins and Robert Strober. Great talents and wonderful gentlemen. Hubert was the blues showman last night, taking you down to the original musical places and memories that have etched their place in American music history.