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JOHN MAYALL

In his nearly 50-year career, pioneering British bluesman, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist John Mayall has introduced the world to a stunning succession of musicians who defined their artistic roots under his leadership. Mayall's band, The Bluesbreakers, has functioned as a veritable finishing school for blues rockers, including Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce (who left to form Cream); Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac); Andy Fraser (Free); and Mick Taylor, who left to join the Rolling Stones. More recent graduates include Harvey Mandell, Walter Trout (who will perform at Waterfront with his own band this year), Coco Montoya, and Buddy Whittington.

Mayall's newest version of the Bluesbreakers includes his latest discovery, Texas guitar slinger Rocky Athas, a highschool buddy and bandmate of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. By age 23, Athas was honored as one of the ten best guitarists in Texas, as an inductee to Buddy Magazine's Texas Tornadoes, an honor held by such noted guitarists as Eric Johnson, Johnny Winter, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, and the Vaughan brothers (Stevie Ray was inducted two years after Athas).

John Mayall's current touring band is rounded out with a hard-hitting blues rhythm section from Chicago: Greg Rzab on bass and Jay Davenport on drums; Tom Canning on organ and piano; and, of course, John Mayall on keyboards, organ, harmonica, guitar and vocals.