Mick Martin’s Big Blues Band

Most  people in Northern California know Mick Martin as the host/producer of "The Blues Party" on KZAP Radio and as the leader of Mick Martin's Big Blues Band/Blues Rockers for more than 40 years. An award-winning harmonica player and singer-songwriter, his accomplishments include over 20 CDs (four in Europe), recording the CD "Sum Serious Blues" with jazz organist Jimmy Smith and appearing with him at Carnegie Hall's "Blues in Jazz" event. His 15-year association with guitar innovator Harvey Mandel (Canned Heat, the Chicago Blues Reunion) led to them playing at the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. Mick has backed up Mick Taylor, Freddie King, Bo Diddley, Tommy Castro, Peter Green. John Mayall, Elvin Bishop, Ronnie Montrose, Jimmy Rogers, Cafe R&B  and many others in concert. For the Big Band, he has assembled a group of accomplished musicians: Danny Sandoval (saxophone), Andrew Little (guitar), Steve Utstein (organ/piano), Aj Joyce (bass), David D. Johnson (trumpet/trombone) and Jim Caselli (drums). All of these men have played and recorded with a list of world-famous artists that can be considered the Who's Who of the music business. According to Mick, "This is my dream band; a group of gifted musicians I have long admired and never thought I would be able to assemble into a band. And, man, do we have a great time when we play."

Joining the band for Mick's special 76th birthday concert will be singer-guitarist Tim Barnes, vocalists Annie Sampson and Marcel Smith. Laughs Barnes, who also turns 76 this May, "We're calling it 152 years of the blues."