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James Cotton
song sample
James Cotton The Creeper
song sample
Hubert Sumlin She's Into Something
artist personnel
james cotton harmonica slam allen vocals, guitar tom holland vocals, guitar noel neal bass kenny neal, jr. drums hubert sumlin guitar
James Cotton
Superharp Band with Hubert Sumlin saturday, october 31, 8PM herbst theatre
Non-Members: $25| $45| $65 Premium seat map buy tickets
Members: $19| $34| $49 Premium seat map buy tickets

Chicago blues legend James Cotton’s name is synonymous with scorching harmonica solos, hence his enduring nickname “Superharp.” Trained by the harp master and electric blues pioneer Sonny Boy Williamson II, Cotton started working with Howlin’ Wolf in the early 1950s, and by the end of the decade he had replaced Little Walter in Muddy Waters’ band. Already leading one of the most potent bands on the blues scene, Superharp gets a shot of unadulterated soul from special guest and fellow Wolf alumnus Hubert Sumlin, whose jagged, searing lines laid the guitar groundwork for the ‘60s British Invasion. Ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the “100 greatest guitarists of all time,” Sumlin provided essential inspiration for many of the other players listed, including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Page. With his compressed power and blistering tone, Sumlin offers a potent reminder of why the Chicago blues conquered the world. And the rarified combo of Cotton and Sumlin makes for a blues-lover’s event of the highest order.

“One of the all-time greats of the blues harmonica…and one of the last of the original Chicago musicians” AllAboutJazz.com on James Cotton “Sumlin hasn’t lost his strange and soulful touch…with a peculiar assortment of rubbery note bends, skittish triplets, stinging slides and vibrato-ringing tones.” the washington post