On January 22^nd, 2003 the New York Blues & Jazz Society organized a fundraising event for the great Hubert Sumlin who needed to raise money for lung surgery. January 22^nd, 2003 was an unusually brutally cold evening, but that did not deter Hubert's fans from supporting their hero, who sold-out B.B. King's Times Square Blues Club. Additionally kind & generous fans donated for Blues memorabilia raffles that the New York Blues & Jazz Society ran throughout the star-studded evening of Blues performances.

This is the third & final of 3 installments from the 3-hour plus "Howlin' for Hubert" all-star concert.

The third portion of this segment continues with a full band that Jimmy Vivino titles as The Wolf Tribute Band; featuring Hubert Sumlin, Levon Helm, David Maxwell, Greg Piccolo, Mike Merritt, Frank Pagano & Vivino. Plus additional special guest: Shemekia Copeland, Arthur Neilson, Bob Margolin, Jon Paris, Ann Rabson, and a few others.

Here's the breakdown:

• The 3^rd portion opens with Anthony Kane (harp) and guitarist Bob Margolin joining the core Wolf Tribute Band with "I Got to Love Somebody," followed by "Got My Mojo Working."
• Ann Rabson replaces pianist David Maxwell. Rabson vocalizes a slow rendition of "Sitting on Top of the World."
• Margolin & Rabson make a quick exit as Maxwell returns on piano, as David Johansen leads the band into "Evil."
• Jon Paris joins the Wolf band, as the band exudes heat with the classic segue coupling of "Smokestack Lightning," into "Spoonful."
• Shemekia Copeland takes the microphone with Arthur Neilson's guitar and swings into "It's My Turn - To Turn the Tables On You." Shemekia follows with a lengthy Blues ballad "Pot of Gold At the End of My Rainbow."
• Shemekia & Neilson exit and Margolin reappears for "Little Red Rooster."
• Margolin exits as the core Wolf Band concludes the 3-hour "Howlin' for Hubert" festivities with "Killing Floor."
• And that's how the curtain came down near Times Square on 42^nd Street at the now defunct B.B. King's on January 22^nd, 2003. The full-house crowd happily exited the club and were still "Howlin' For Hubert." That being the one & only Hubert Sumlin.

On January 22^nd, 2003 the New York Blues & Jazz Society organized a fundraising event for the great Hubert Sumlin who needed to raise money for lung surgery. January 22^nd, 2003 was an unusually brutally cold evening, but that did not deter Hubert's fans from supporting their hero, who sold-out B.B. King's Times Square Blues Club. Additionally kind & generous fans donated for Blues memorabilia raffles that the New York Blues & Jazz Society ran throughout the star-studded evening of Blues performances.

This is the second of 3 installments from the 3-hour plus concert. This second segment opens with a "Guitar Quartet" set featuring Marc Ribot, Elliott Sharp, Michael Hill, and Hubert Sumlin, and runs for about 30 minutes.

The second portion of this segment brings on a full band that Jimmy Vivino titles as The Wolf Tribute Band; featuring Hubert Sumlin, Levon Helm, David Maxwell, Greg Piccolo, Mike Merritt, Frank Pagano & Vivino.

Here's the breakdown: Guitar Summit:

• Michael Hill sings a new tune dedicated to Hubert "Pickin' & Strummin' with Hubert Sumlin."
• Hubert leads the quartet vocally & with his guitar with "Baby How Long," and closes with "Killing Floor."
• The full band hits the stage with pianist David Maxwell leading the way with a high-paced swinging instrumental that exemplifies that musicianship of guitarist Vivino, Piccolo's sax & Maxwell's brilliant keys.
• For the next tune "Shake for Me" adds Hubert Sumlin & vocalist David Johansen.
• Followed by "Built for Comfort," "Going Down Slow," and "Crawling King Snake."
• At that point Bob Margolin & Anthony Kane are announced to join in on guitar & harp.

Bob Putignano

On January 22^nd, 2003 the New York Blues & Jazz Society organized a fundraising event for the great Hubert Sumlin who needed to raise money for his lung surgery. January 22^nd, 2003 was an unusually brutally cold night, but that did not deter Hubert's fans for supporting their hero, who sold-out B.B. King's box-office. Additionally the fans donated more with Blues memorabilia raffles that the New York Blues & Jazz Society ran throughout the star-studded evening of Blues performances.

This is the first of 3 installments from the 3-hour plus concert. The opening acts were The Fins, who had Greg Piccolo (Roomful of Blues) sitting in with them during the last portion of their set. The Fins were followed by Michael Hill's Blues Mob who had Vernon Reid (Living Colour) sitting in with the band for a few songs as well.

Here's the breakdown:

• Emcee, NY Blues & Jazz Society President and radio host Bob Putignano introduces Hubert Sumlin to the crowd, then Hubert gives a short speech of heartfelt thanks to the audience.
• The Fins open the show with an untitled instrumental, followed by "Fast Food Annie," then a slow blues titled "A Solid Mess." Ex Roomful of Blues sax-man Greg Piccolo joins the fins and delivers another instrumental that was seemingly titled "Piccolo Man." The Fins close out their show with their popular rendition of "Spiderman."
• Michael Hill's Blues Mob opened with their "Heart of the City, NY, NY," followed by "Monticello Night," "Evil in the Air," "The Blues Will Get Around to You," and closed with "Young Folks Blues." Vernon Reid of Living Colour fame sits in with Hill's Blues Mob for a few tunes.

Thank you, Bob Putignano

• Mose Allison performing "Your Mind Is On Vacation and Your Mouth is Working Overtime," and "When You Get to the City."
• Pat St. John interviews Dan Aykroyd about his book "Elwood's Blues."
• Aykroyd & St. John then introduce most of the band.
• Bettye LaVette performs "Everyday I Have the Blues."
• Hubert Sumlin performs Little Walter's "Everything Gonna Be Alright."
• David Maxwell (in a trio) setting perform an instrumental titled "Boogie To the Max"
• Michael Hill covers William Bell's & Booker T. Jones' "Born Under a Bad Sign."
• Calvin Owens delivers a slow Blues Instrumental.
• Rob Paparozzi, Bettye LaVette & Nikki Armstrong cover Chris Kenner's "Something You Got."
• Dan Akroyd/Elwood Blues close the night with the classic "Sweet Home Chicago" that Robert Johnson recorded.
• Bob Putignano adds some (recent/sour grapes) observations with closing comments about this 2004 Blues show featuring "The Sirius Special Blues Band," a band title given by Aykroyd.

Two other points to observe at the end of this interview: Longtime WFDU listeners will recall the top-of the-hour Paul's Motors Volvo ads that ran for decades at WFDU, plus I had forgotten about our NY Blues Society ads that also ran alongside Paul's Motors. The NY Blues Society ad with Across the Tracks Program Director Dave Grogan. & I trying to sell the merits of our non-profit Blues Society; good memories here too.

Lastly, I just added a favorite Bloomfield track of mine from Barry Goldberg's 1969 Buddah LP "Two Jews Blues" a slow Blues track titled "Blues for Barry and... (dedicated to Big John's." where Bloomfield was a guest artists on a few tracks though I recall Bloomfield was uncredited due to contractual issues. Another noteworthy item (that I don't play here) is: Duane Allman also appeared on this "Two Jews Blues" recording too, but Allman & Bloomfield were not on the same track "It Hurts Me Too."