Celebrating 60 years

 St Louis, Mo. SPAH is pleased to announce exciting new headliners & performers at the 2023 SPAH Convention, to be held in St Louis, MO from August 15 to 19, 2023.

Yes, it is official, Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind will be joining our headliners for the Convention as a closing act on Thursday night, August 17th. Jason is joining other amazing headliners, including Grammy award-winner Peter “Madcat” Ruth and C. A. R. Ma, and Tom Stryker’s Band playing the American Songbook! Many SPAH attendees will remember Jason’s unique skills in performance and teaching, both of which we will experience in St Louis. SPAH is also pleased to confirm that James Conway, Greg Hommert, and more great artists will join us this year to perform and teach. Some will be a surprise for when you arrive in St Louis!

About Jason Ricci 
Multiple award-winning jazz, funk and blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter Jason Ricci has played, toured and recorded with some of the world's most esteemed blues, jazz, rock and New Orleans musical legends. Those awards include the 2017 Bernie Bray Harmonica Player of the Year from SPAH, as well as being a three-time winner of the Blues Music Award  for Best Harmonica.

Jason is included in nearly every top ten and top twenty list of harmonica players in magazines and all over the internet. His fascinating career and life have led him up to the highest musical mountain tops, such as performing at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recording a Grammy-winning record with Johnny Winter, winning three Blues Music Awards and numerous nominations from The Blues Foundation only to fall all the way down to the lowest valleys of addiction, homelessness, jails - and back up again. Today his sincere recordings, shows, songs and incendiary harmonica playing continue to tell the story of life and garner new fans to add to an emotionally devoted following of dedicated music lovers. 

Back in New Orleans, Jason started his own band again Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind with guitarist John Lisi, a five-piece blues, jazz, rock, funk and jam band featuring his wife, Kaitlin Dibble. Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind have recorded two records for the EllerSoul label, the dark and critically acclaimed release: Approved by Snakes and the fun and lighthearted New Orleans-influenced release My Chops are Rolling. Jason Ricci and John Lisi also appeared and wrote music for the TV show CSI New Orleans. 

Jason was the featured artist on the 2015 Grammy winning record Step Back by Johnny Winter. Jason's latest record is Ricci/Krown, City Country City, a retro soul-infused outing that features Jason’s gutsy vocals and stellar harmonica, overlaid with Joe Krown's (Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s keyboardist) melodic and earthy organ playing. City Country City brings back the sound and feel of early 1960s jazz/blues with an original sound all its own.
 Today Jason is busy playing locally and internationally with his band The Bad Kind and the Ricci/Joe Krown Trio. He recently recorded on The Blues Music Award Nominated album by The Altered Five Blues Bands: Holler if you hear me. 

The 2023 SPAH Convention – Celebrating 60 years of harmonicas, music and friends

From SPAH Platinum Sponsor, Hohner, about Jason Ricci:
“Hohner is excited for Jason Ricci to share his world class expertise at SPAH’s 60th Anniversary Celebration in St Louis. Ricci’s performance and engagement will make this event one harmonica players and enthusiasts will not want to miss!”

Thank you, 

SPAH