Jason Ricci

Jason Ricci (February 3, 1974) is an American harmonica player and singer
Born 2/3/74 and raised in Portland, Maine, Jason Ricci is the son of the controversial businessman/politician/activist Joe Ricci. Ricci started playing music in punk bands at the age of 14. [3]After discovering a love of the harmonica and Blues music, he turned his attention in that direction. In 1995, Ricci moved from Portland to Memphis, TN, where shortly there after he placed first in the Sonny Boy Blues Society contest at 21 years of age. Later that same year Ricci recorded his first album, Jason Ricci (Self titled).
In Memphis, Ricci began playing with David Malone Kimbrough, son of blues great Junior Kimbrough, and soon was a part of the bands of both Kimbroughs and was sitting in with R.L. Burnside.This also marked a dark period for Ricci, as drug addiction led to a one-year stint in jail. Ricci claims to have been sober ever since.
In 1999, Ricci won the Mars National Harmonica Contest, and began playing with Keith Brown, later recording with him as well. In 2000, he received a two page write up in Blues Access magazine by Adam Gussow (harmonica player for Satan and Adam) saying:
"I am convinced he along with New Jersey's Dennis Gruenling is one of the best harmonica players of his generation."
After 15 months with Big Al and the Heavyweights, Ricci started his own band, Jason Ricci & New Blood, in 2002. This band features Shawn Starski, who, in June 2008, was named by Guitar Player Magazine as one of the "Top Ten Hottest New Guitarists." In 2005, Ricci was honored with the Muddy Waters Most Promising New Blues Artist award.
In 2007  Ricci and New Blood were signed to Eclecto Groove, a new subdivision of Delta Groove Records. His first album with the label, titled "Rocket Number Nine," was released October 23, 2007. Later in 2009 the band recorded "Done With The Devil" for the same Label. The band as a whole has been nominated for Blues Band of the year three times by Blues Wax magazine. Ricci won the Blues Critic Award for Harmonica player of the year (2008) and was nominated for Harmonica Player of the year by the B.M.A. awards as well in 2009 and 2010.
Today, Jason Ricci and New Blood can be found playing almost 300 days per year in cities all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. Ricci has also accompanied guitarist Walter Trout on his recent European tours.