Jason Ricci

Jason is a three-time instructor for Jon Gindick's Jam Camp and four-time instructor at S.P.A.H. (Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica). Jason has held numerous private seminars all over the country and has taught along side: Mark Hummel, Dennis Gruenling, Joe Filisko, Michael Peloquin, amoung others. Ricci has also taught internationally at various seminars, most recently in 2006 at the Harmonica su Cher Festival in France. Jason has instructed private students for the last 15 years, including international students flying in from as far away as Brazil.

In just a few short years, Jason Ricci has compiled a musical resume and Blues credibility that most musicians don't achieve in a lifetime.  By the time he was 21, he had won the Sonny Boy Blues Society contest, had performed on the main stage at the King Biscuit Blues Festival, been featured on the Memphis evening news, and had worked with Susan Tedeschi, Billy Gibson, and Bobby Little.

Before you knew it,  Jason was gigging with Jr. Kimbrough's son, David, and frequently performed with Junior himself as well as with R.L Burnside in clubs throughout the South. During this period Jason recorded Down at the Juke with Kinney Kimbrough.

After Junior's death, Jason returned home to Portland, Me. and formed a band with Nick Curran (now with Blind Pig Records). A year later, Jason won the Mars National Harmonica Contest, beating out over 1,000 contestants, and earned himself the opportunity to perform with the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Hohner harmonicas quickly signed Jason on as an endorsee.

After touring nationally with Big Al and the Heavyweights, Jason released  a solo album, Feel Good Funk, , but he needed new blood to take his music where he wanted it to go.  Jason joined with young guitar phenom Shawn Starski, flamboyant Argentine drummer Maki Bergara, and veteran 1st call Beale St. bassist Slim Louis to form, appropriately, Jason Ricci and New Blood.

JRNB has been on a rigorous, 300 gig-a-year schedule for a couple years now, thrilling audiences, defying musical genre labeling, and constantly evolving. No two JRNB shows are alike. After one deportation and one retirement, Steve Johnson now supplies an infectious swing on drums, and Todd "Buckweed" Edmunds brings a jazzy funky groove on bass that adds a whole new dimension to the band's sound.

The band has recently released two albums - Live at Checkers and Blood on the Road, and the awards and accolades have flowed in - including the coveted "Muddy Waters Award" for most promising new talent.

What the press says about Jason Ricci:
"As a lover of live music, a JRNB show is absolutely exhilarating. Imagine the best virtuoso-filled "jam band" you've ever seen (think early '90's Phish, old Fleck tones, Allmans, Robert Randolph, Derek Trucks, etc.) and then double the energy and stage presence." -Blake Taylor (Writer for Cincinnati City Beat in response to Brad Kava's story for the Mercury News San Francisco/L.A./San Jose see full story at MercuryNews.com.

"Ricci links the jazz mastery of Howard Levy, with the blues precision of Jerry Portnoy and hits speeds that make John Popper look like he's standing still." -Brad Kava (Mercury News)

"Instead of trying to be the next Little Walter via Estrin/Piazza/Wilson or blowing high-end speed harp like John Popper or Sugar Blue, Ricci relies on an individualistic style that has touches of his heroes, but more often is all Ricci." -Art Tipaldi (writer for Blues Revue Magazine and author of Sons of the Blues)

Visit Jason's website to learn more: www.JasonRicci.com

Chris Michalek

Chris Michalek has been playing the diatonic harmonica since 1988. His styles range from Jazz to world music to progressive rock fusion, free improv jazz and blues. Critics describe his music as other-worldly. Michalek's sound is truly original and is something close to mixing Miles Davis with Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Chris Michalek is the executive producer of the global harmonica summit where he orchestrated a series of concerts and workshops by the world's most legendary harmonica players like Toots Thielemans, Howard Levy, Kim Wilson etc.

You can read more about Chris at TheBuddhasGroove.com

Michael Rubin

Michael Rubin has been playing and teaching harmonica for over twenty years.

His performance credentials include being the original harmonica player for the Tony nominated Broadway show "The Civil War" and playing with such nationally known acts as Ruthie Foster, Roy Hargrove, Anders Osborne, John Popper, Linda Eder, John Mooney, Paul Oscher and the late Luther Tucker.

His teaching credentials include SPAH (Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica) as a member of Joe Filisko's Mob, Jon Gindick's Jam Camp and over 10 years with the University of Texas' Informal Classes. He also has taught hundreds of students privately.

Although Rubin's style in steeped in the blues tradition, he has garnered a reputation as the player with his hand in all of the styles. His sampler CD "Call of My Harp" features his recordings with 15 of Austin's best musicians, each one of them showcasing something different, from country to classical. Rubin is able to play the diatonic harmonica fully chromatically and likes to play in all twelve positions. He is also a professional chromatic player and is learning the bass harmonica.

What Michael Rubin says about teaching:
"I love it as much as playing. My intentions as a teacher are to help you gain comfort with your musicality and your musicianhood. I will help you strengthen all of the basic techniques on the harp. I will give you a solid foundation on chord and scale theory with simple, step by step methods that can make clear most questions you might have. I will not leave you behind if you cannot play overblows (or if you can play them, but choose not to.) I will help you get more comfortable about your role as a player whether as a sideman or leading the group. I intend to do all of this while coming from a patient, supportive space. I also intend to make this weekend one of the most fun times you have ever had."

What students say about Michael Rubin:
"I soon learned that if you have the patience to learn, Rubin has the patience to teach you. He lets you know the parts you have mastered and is able to spot and then give you guidance on the parts you are struggling with. He doesn't push you but inspires you to learn and play better. I leave each lesson knowing I am a better musician than when I arrived" -TC

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You are not only teaching me so much about playing the harmonica, you are also opening up the world of music for me."- Cookie "Rubin's ability to convey his passion and his knowledge of harmonica is second to none. He truly inspires me and his dedication to music separates him from the pack." -Ronnie Shellist, You Tube harmonica hero and three year student of Michael Rubin

You can read more testimonials and information about Michael Rubin at MichaelRubinharmonica.com