Western-Star.com

Legendary guitarist John Hammond brings his brand of traditional blues and roots music to the eighth annual

Lebanon Blues Festival Saturday.

Over his more than 40-year career, Hammond has played with some of the world's most respected musicians and released dozens of albums.

He took some time out of his tour schedule this week to talk with The Western Star.

Q: You just finished five nights in Tokyo. How do you get from there to the Lebanon Blues Festival?

A: I play every kind of gig there is. There's nothing standard about the gigs I get— everything from large halls to small festivals.

Q: Does it surprise you a suburban town like Lebanon would host a blues festival?

A: I hadn't heard of it before, but it sounds great. I've played some great small festivals with a lot of spirit. It's neat when a community gets its act together and does a real inclusive thing.

Q: You live in New Jersey, but don't you have ties to the Miami Valley?

A: Yes, I was in school at Antioch College (in Yellow Springs) for a year and a half. I just played a show there a month and half ago. It was a real flash to go back.

Q: What first turned you on to blues and roots music?

A: I'd been aware of the blues since I was very young. My dad (Columbia Records A&R man John Hammond Sr.) took me to see Big Bill Broonzy (a Mississippi guitarist and "Father of the Chicago blues"). Then I got into Allen Freed's rock and roll shows in the 1950s. That led to Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. In 1957, I bought a country blues album that was a compilation of artists from the 1930s. That's when I saw where it all came from and became passionate as a fan.

Q: You've been touring since the early 1960s. How do you keep it fresh?

A: I don't know where it comes from. All I know is I love to play. This is my life. I get on stage and it comes through me.

Q: You've played with some guitar legends. Who's your favorite?

A: I have so many. It's been kind of amazing. I've worked with fantastic guitarists, (Chicago session musician) Michael Bloomfield, Robbie Robertson (of The Band) and Jimi Hendrix. There are so many great players out there.

Q: What's on your iPod?

A: We don't have a computer to start with. I like all kinds of things. My wife Marla and I travel together and we listen to whatever we feel like. Everything — jazz, rock, pop, blues.

Q: What do you have in store for Saturday?

A: I'm a blues singer. I've done some interesting stuff with (eccentric singer/songwriter) Tom Waits so I do some of his songs. I also have become somewhat of a songwriter over the years. I don't really plan a show. Anything can happen.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or cmagan@coxohio.com.