Jason Ricci & New Blood

When Jason Ricci isn't on the road, perfecting and performing his blend of blues-rock, the raspy-voiced singer and harmonica player enjoys chilling out to the sweet sounds of Paganini and other classical composers. "I like music that doesn't make me think of what I would do with it," he says. On his latest CD, Rocket Number 9, Ricci moves seamlessly from funk to rock to jazz to blues and back again. His three-piece band, New Blood, matches him lick for lick. Pay close attention to guitarist Shawn Stachurske at the group's live shows. "There are many who come just to hear him," says Ricci. Onstage, Ricci plays his harmonica through an old guitar amp, which gives it a bit of an overdrive . . . and a whole lotta muscle. "It's an old practice," he says, "dating from way back."