PHOTO: Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout at SFJAZZ Center

Local blues maestro Mark Hummel wailed on harmonica last night to open his annual Blues Harmonica Blowout, immediately getting the audience up stomping and hollering. For his 23rd installment, Hummel assembled quite a band—British blues legend John Mayall, guitarist Charlie Baty, singing harp player Rick Estrin and soulful singer and harmonica blower Curtis Salgado, backed by guitarist-pianist Bob Welsh, bassist RW Grigsby and drummer June Core—all paying tribute to blues legend Sonny Boy Williamson II, who Mayall played with and learned from directly. Below are a few photos from the first of four nights of the Blues Harmonica Blowout at the SFJAZZ Center.

Mark Hummel blows on harmonica, with Charlie Baty, Bob Welsh, RW Grigsby and June Core

Rick Estrin

John Mayall

John Mayall, Charlie Baty and Bob Welsh

Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout goes all weekend long at the Center. For more info, visit sfjazz.org. Check out more photos, including shots from last night's Django Reinhardt Hotplate at SFJAZZ Flickr.