Arts & Entertainment
Duke Island Park Sings the Blues (With Photos and Video)
The weather was gorgeous, and the turnout even better, when legendary blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin jammed with the Michael Hill's Blues Mob.
For its seventh Summer in the Park Concert, Duke Island Park featured Hubert Sumlin, a nimble-fingered blues legend whose career has spanned five decades and included well known legends such as James Cotton, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters.
The concert opened with New York City-style blues and storytelling band, Michael Hill's Blues Mob. Band frontman Michael Hill, told the crowd that it was a great pleasure to support Hubert Sumlin. He then took the crowd on a blues journey through his "Backyard in Brooklyn," a song from the band's second album, "Have Mercy," with record label Alligator Records.
For Sumlin, who is almost 80 years old, this was the first time he had played at Duke Island Park, and Karren Newman, recreation manager for the Somerset County Park Commission, estimated that about 1,000 people were set to show up for the evening's concert.
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Bob Dolan, of Bridgewater, who saw Sumlin play at Carnegie Hall in 1977, said he heard about the concert and wanted to attend. He showed up early and got a spot close to the stage.
"Blues is all truth," said Dolan, who has dealt with his own ups and downs as an ex Marine and a cancer survivor. "It comes from the heart, been up the mountain and came back down."
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Not just locals came to enjoy the concert, as Jim Donohue and Chris Jennings, both of New York City, attended to listen to the music and spend time with their friend, Jim Wood, of Clinton.
Wood, an avid collector of rhythmn and blues, said he has more than 5,000 records, and considers himself to be an R&B historian. He said he enjoys listening to 78's [78 rpm records] of Sumlin on his Dual turntable, and is electrified by post-war R&B.
"That's where it all started," he said. "It's the greatest music, along with disco."
The 2010 Summer Concert Series in Duke Island Park will continue next week with the much anticipated B-Street Band, a six-piece tribute and party band that will perform a Springsteen tribute.
Somerville Television broadcasts these concerts and other past events. Visit the website for more information at www.somervilletv.com/about.html.
