💿 ALBUM REVIEW: Mark Hummel Allstars - Road Dog

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 Born in Connecticut but raised on the gritty, sun-drenched sounds of Los Angeles, Hummel has spent the last four decades establishing himself as one of the ultimate torchbearers of West Coast blues—a killer style that seamlessly collapses the distance between traditional raw blues and swinging jazz. Since the late '70s, he has fronted his legendary band, The Blues Survivors, and since 1991, he’s been the mastermind behind the annual Blues Harmonica Blowout tours, sharing stages and trading licks with titans like James Cotton and Charlie Musselwhite. He’s got the institutional respect to match the street cred, too, including a Grammy nomination for his 2014 tribute to Little Walter. But if you think a guy with that kind of resume is ready to sit back and coast on past glories, his newest project drops the hammer and reminds us exactly why he's still the master blaster of the blues harp. 

 

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The Deep Dive
Mark Hummel’s newest release, Road Dog, kicks off with Black Nights, a well-paced, low-loping track featuring Hummel on lead vocals alongside Junior Watson and Anson Funderburgh on guitars. A stinging guitar solo by Funderburgh, followed by Hummel on harmonica and excellent fretwork by Watson, makes this a incredibly strong opener—all held together by Wes Starr on drums, Bob Welsh on piano, Kedar Roy on bass, and Eric Spaulding on sax.
The shuffle Jugglin' locks into a fantastic groove where Hummel is right on the money with his lead vocals. His distinct harmonica sound coupled with Funderburgh's guitar work sets a remarkably high bar.
For fans of deep Chicago blues, I Got To Find My Baby delivers solid vocals and sharp harmonica lines on top while Watson runs wild on guitar underneath. Hummel breaks completely loose on the harmonica here, laying out a terrific run, while Brett Brandstatt adds perfect balance on the piano.
The band delivers a great take on Watch Yourself, featuring Funderburgh and Charlie Baty on guitars. Hummel really amps up the energy on this one, and backed by a driving rhythm section of R.W. Grigsby on bass and Wes Starr on drums, it turns into a real foot-stomper.

Funderburgh plays a classic guitar intro on Say You Will, with Watson trading fiery riffs alongside Welsh on piano. Hummel takes a masterful stroll on the harmonica while handling the lead vocal with complete authority, and a superb guitar closer gives the track a fantastic final kick.
Another cool shuffle, You Are Right, finds Hummel telling his story and blowing a rich, expressive harmonica solo, beautifully interwoven with Welsh’s piano lines and the guitar duo of Funderburgh and Watson.
Hummel really winds it out on the low-loping groove of She's My Baby, trading hot riffs with his own vocals while Baty and Funderburgh lay it down in classic T-Bone Walker style, making this one of the absolute highlights of the entire album.
Wrapping up the project is Gadjo's Swing, a cool, European-flavored track featuring Hummel playing it gypsy-style, accompanied by Randy Rattray on guitar. This unexpected acoustic treat serves as an excellent closer for a solidly cool release.
📋 Album Credits & Production Info Click to Expand
🎼 Track Listing & Personnel Click to Expand

Album Personnel: Mark Hummel (Harmonica / Vocals), Anson Funderburgh (Guitar), Junior Watson (Guitar), Bob Welsh (Piano), Kedar Roy (Bass), Wes Starr (Drums)

  1. Flim Flam
  2. Hello Stranger
  3. So Much Trouble
  4. Cut That Out
  5. Road Dog
  6. Play with Your Poodle
  7. Breathtaking Blues
  8. Crazy About You
  9. Pepper Mama
  10. Gillum's Windy Blues
  11. Rag Mama Rag
  12. Good Gal
  13. Reefer Head Woman
  14. Five Long Years
  15. Say You Will
  16. Mean Old Frisco
🎵 Studio Albums (2010 - 2026) Click to Expand
Public Concerts & Harmonica Blowouts Click to Expand
💿 Special Collections, Tributes & Anthologies Click to Expand

 

                                   Watch: Mark Hummel plays


Mark Hummel's newest release delivers a masterclass in Chicago blues with deep, hard hitting rhythmic shuffles and authoritative harmonica phrasing from start to finish. Backed by an all-star lineup of veteran musicians, the record travels through raw electric tracks before wrapping with an unexpected Euro twist.

Bman's Verdict

Road Dog is a masterclass in Chicago blues, combining authoritative phrasing and fiery instrumentation into a polished and satisfying release. 

Label: Rockinitus Records

Released: August 28, 2026

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