Anyone who’s heard Howlin’ Wolf has heard his work and anyone who’s heard Keith Richards or Marc Ribot via post-Swordfishtrombones Tom Waits has heard his influence. So that’s everyone, right? Either way, sad news today, as the great blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin passed away at 80, leaving behind a legacy that will endure in rock, blues, and beyond. I’ve been revisiting a number of notable recordings since hearing word of the loss this morning, but this one — “Spoonful” — has been best at cutting to the chase of Sumlin’s skill: a restrained 6-string voice getting behind/between the main vocal while honoring the tune’s spirit and making an indelible mark on the moment.
