Norton Buffalo Will Fill Davenport With His Music

The harmonica is a humble instrument, more often the tool of basement blues bashers than concert-hall virtuosi.

That’s a wild generalization, of course, and a handful of exceptional musicians have elevated the campfire instrument to grand heights.

Norton Buffalo is one of them. He’ll play the Davenport Hotel lobby Saturday night.

Buffalo, who has become a frequent and favorite visitor to these parts, is a blues musician with great credentials and a master’s touch. He plays ballads that will break your heart or drive you to your feet with a rocking R&B number.

Buffalo’s most recent Spokane date was an acoustic show at The Met with guitarist and sometimes-partner Roy Rogers. He helped send Elvin Bishop’s Masonic Temple show into the stratosphere (and late into the night) a couple years back, joining Bishop’s band after performing his own strong, show-opening set.

Buffalo even starred at The Gorge this year - twice. First, he showed up in a familiar role, playing harp in Steve Miller’s band, as he has for many years. Then, the next day, as a guest player in Rod Stewart’s outfit.

Buffalo has lent his talents to some 70 LPs and CDs over the years, playing with people like Miller, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash and the Doobie Brothers.

The Northern California native also has performed on several soundtracks. He played on the soundtrack for Oliver Stone’s film “The Doors,” and performed in “The Rose” and “Heaven’s Gate.”

Buffalo and his band, the Knockouts, are one of a handful of groups to be invited to play for a full hour on public television’s “Austin City Limits” and he has made television appearances with Kris Kristofferson, Steve Miller, America, Bonnie Raitt and Willie Dixon.

Buffalo sings well, too, as proved when he sang the theme for “Garfield and Friends.”

Buffalo released two excellent albums under his own name in the late 1970s and he and Rogers teamed for two acoustic records, receiving a Grammy nomination for “Song for Jessica” from the 1991 CD, “R&B.”

Onstage, Buffalo cuts a colorful, sometimes outlandish figure, in his trademark beret, cummerbund and parachute pants. He fronts an outstanding band, the Knockouts, in shows that are famous for going way past closing time.

In an era of ersatz musical experiences, Buffalo is the real thing.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: NORTON BUFFALO & THE KNOCKOUTS Location and time: The Davenport Hotel, Saturday, 8:30 p.m. Tickets: $11 ($12 at the door)