JASON RICCI & NEW BLOOD Source: Topeka Capital Journal Date: 03/2008 Writer: Bill Blankenship

What happens when a punk rock vocalist masters the harmonica can defy description.

One reviewer called Jason Ricci, who with his New Blood band plays Wednesday night at the College Hill-area Varsity Blues Bar & Bar-B-Que, "the harmonica-playing demon spawn of Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix."

similarly themed categorization came from another critic who said Ricci has pushed "the once-lowly 'Mississippi saxophone' to Hendrix-like dimensions, combining blues, psychedelia, hard rock and jazz in dynamic, colorful directions that are guaranteed to blow the roof off."

After growing up in Portland, Maine, the fine-voiced Ricci decided his vocals might not be good enough, so he decided to branch out by learning the mouth harp.

By the time he was 21, Ricci had won the Sonny Boy Blues Society contest, had performed on the main stage at the King Biscuit Blues Festival, and had worked with Susan Tedeschi, Billy Gibson and Bobby Little.

He later won the Mars National Harmonica Contest, beating out more than 1,000 other contestants and earning him an opportunity to perform with the Fabulous Thundebirds.

After touring nationally with Nashville-based blues band Big Al & The Heavyweights, Ricci recorded a solo album and then organized his own band, New Blood. Its current lineup includes young guitar whiz Shawn Starski, bassist Todd "Buckweed" Edmunds and drummer Ron Sutton.

After selling more than 12,000 copies of its self-released 2006 CD "Blood on the Road," the 33-year-old Jason Ricci & New Blood are touring in support of their first label release, "Rocket Number 9" (Eclecto Groove Records), which was released Oct. 23.

That CD has been on both the blues and jam band online charts since November.

Listeners can preview the sound of Jason Ricci & New Blood by going to their Web site at www.jasonricci.com, which includes a link to vote for the band as an opening act for the Dave Matthews Band.

Those who like what they hear can catch the act live at 9 p.m. Wednesday at the bar and eatery across from Washburn University at 1616 S.W. 17th. Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the door.

As one of the most downloaded jam bands around, tapers are welcome at the Varsity Blues gig. So perhaps the show could find its way onto www.archives.org, where thousands have downloaded other live show recordings.