By: David Schultz

One of the most accomplished interpreters of the blues, guitarist John Hammond has racked up some serious credentials, releasing more than two dozen albums and sharing the stage with luminaries like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf in addition to classic rock icons as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and the Allman Brothers Band. His estimable back catalog provides ample evidence of his ability to capture the essence of the blues in all of its derivations. Hammond's even shown the foresight to beat Scarlett Johansson to the punch, his album of Tom Waits covers, Wicked Grin, beating the buxom beauty's rumored collection to the stores by about six years. On Push Comes To Shove, his latest, Hammond not only freshens up his traditional blues sound by bringing Philadelphia "hip-hop blues" star G-Love into the mix, he offers up five originals songs of his own.

On the release date of his 31st album, Hammond joined Cajun-style pianist Marcia Ball at the B.B King Blues Club & Grill as part of a potent double bill. To the surprise of some of the staff, The Hammond Quartet, which included bassist Marty Ballou, drummer Steven Hodges and keyboardist Bruce Katz, took the stage in the opening slot, beginning the evening with an hour long set of polished blues.

B.B. King's Times Square monument to the blues couldn't differ more from the juke houses that spawned Hammond's blues. But, its dinner-theater atmosphere provided the perfect scene for the Hammond Quartet, which added a fifth, David Hansen, for a good portion of the set. Hammond's audience skews towards an older demographic that, for the most part, has lost their desire to stand elbow-to-elbow in a funky Lower East Side club in order to catch a show. In that respect, the crowd matched Hammond's unwavering love of the blues, sitting with reverent silence while a master bluesman practiced his craft

At 64 years of age, Hammond doesn't bring many new tricks into his stage show. However, his inclusion of his originals from Push Comes To Shove may qualify. In addition to his new material, Hammond peppered his set with the traditional blues numbers that his fans have come to expect, punctuating the old and the new songs with his crisp guitar licks. Hammond will continue to deliver those classic blues licks as he continues to tour the United States throughout the winter.

[Photographer: Jessica Chornesky; Copyright: EMI Music]

Labels: John Hammond