Gerry Hundt – Since Way Back – Blue Bella Records BBCD 1009

With high excitement I look for the regular Facebook posts of bluesman Gerry Hundt, as the majority of them find him performing in his one-man band format, playing guitar, singing, blowing harmonica, and perhaps even providing himself a solid rhythmic beat with some device he has fashioned.  Also, Hundt often posts clips from tour performances, and some recent ones from an overseas visit showcasing his numerous competencies with foreign blues bands.  For many years I have been highly impressed with Hundt’s dedication to the blues, and find myself joyful to see how he has gotten even more gifted over time.

A recent artist profile here in this blog focused on early blues mandolin pioneer Yank Rachel, and perhaps that is why I have Hundt’s exemplary 2007 release on my radar this week.  As the Rachel artist profile noted, the mandolin has long existed in the time line of the blues, but today, while a bluesman such as Billy Flynn has also focused his energies on the obscure instrument to the tune of an entire CD worth of mandolin material, the musical implement remains to most blues fans resigned to the bluesmen of decades ago; folks such as papa Charlie McCoy Carl Martin, and Howard Armstrong.  Hence, the mandolin in the todays’ blues realm still enjoys a certain curiousness.

This sterling effort aimed, and highly succeeds, at turning that curiosity into full-blown appreciation for the modest mandolin and its specialist, in this case, Hundt.

The entirety of this collection is about the mandolin and its place in modern blues, and in the hands of the lauded multi-instrumentalist Hundt, its place is affirmed and confirmed as being highly relevant and exciting.

Here, Hundt’s blues mandolin visions are framed in both duets with piano accompaniment, and via full band groupings.  Though Hundt is a blues contemporary with plenty of big city Chicago in him, this writer challenges the listener to adjudge any lack of country feel here.  Yet, Hundt brings a unique sensibility all his own to this set, with his insistent vocals coalescing ideally with his easy-going mandolin bravura, bringing the opposing cues together into one rousing whole.  While the sound of the mandolin with its dual sets of strings produces a very singular resonance, in Hundt’s hands it seems fresh due to his forceful vocals.

This collection enjoys a genuine who’s-who of the blues at the time of recording, including blues guitar star Nick Moss offering his acoustic guitar and bass capacities, this writer’s dear departed friend and blues piano titan Barrelhouse Chuck plying his keyboard dexterities, fellow blues piano man Willie O’Shawny also weighing-in on piano, the fine Josh Stimmel lending lead guitar parts, Bill Lupkin supplementing the proceedings with strong harmonica, and again, one of this writer’s dear late friends Bob Carter meticulously keeping time on the drums.

Hundt simply seems driven to offer a textbook on how blues mandolin should be played via this release.  He offers all tints of the instrument, confident and proficient whether he be deploying cascading harmonic passages, single-note runs that would make B.B. King smile, and blended notes that fuse to heighten the blues coherence.

Hundt’s vocals both seethe and contradictorily are relaxed, based upon the tenor of the cut, uniformly across the totality of this project.

Instrumental interplay is respectful, thrilling, balanced, and inspiring, with the collection’s tunes profiling the varied moods that speak to the many hues of the human circumstance. 

I first became aware of Hundt and his musical flairs years ago, and then a performance one evening at Mishawaka, Indiana’s famed Midway Tavern & Dancehall by Nick Moss & The Flip Tops, of which Hundt was then a member, cemented my interest in his broad skill set.

This is a remarkable outing by a bluesman whose 45 years of age still labels him as a youngster in the blues realm.  It will be a delight to witness Hundt’s highly promising musical career continue to unfold.

For now, this astounding collection belongs in your holdings.  Essential?  No.  Highly recommended?  Most certainly!  Get on board Hundt’s blues train now!