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.

WATCH: At The Center ~ Mark Hummel on his 23rd Blues Harmonica Blowout

Watch as Mark Hummel runs through his 23rd annual Blues Harmonica Blowout, coming to the SFJAZZ Center on January 9-12, 2014! A Bay Area resident for four decades, Hummel has defined the West Coast blues sound, leading the Blues Survivors. Joining Hummel for this highly-anticipated series of performances is British blues legend John Mayall; guitarist Charlie Baty and the singing harp player Rick Estrin, of Little Charlie and the Nightcats; and the soulful singer and harmonica blower Curtis Salgado. This will be their only Bay Area appearance in 2014. Hop on BART on come to stomp and groove at the Center!

For more info on Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowout, visit sfjazz.org. For more videos, subscribe to the SFJAZZ YouTube Channel.