Hazmat Modine

Settled in New York in the late 1990s around singer, harmonica player and songwriter Wade Schuman, Hazmat Modine developed a repertoire at the crossroads of blues, folk, jazz and world music. Their writing blends American tradition with marching‑band brass, reeds, strings and vocal harmonies. The collective initially formed with a rotating lineup, notably featuring tuba player Joseph Daley and harmonica player Randy Weinstein, before settling into a more stable configuration over the years. Hazmat Modine released Bahamut in 2006 and Cicada in 2011, two albums that established a sound where blues forms converse with calypso, swing, gospel and influences from Central Asia. In 2013, the arrival of guitarist and co‑writer Erik Della Penna ushered in a move toward more two‑voice singing and a tighter, song‑focused approach. They followed with Hazmat Modine Live (2014), Extra-Deluxe-Supreme (2015) and Bonfire (2023). Throughout their trajectory, Hazmat Modine have also collaborated with Huun‑Huur‑Tu, Alash, Natalie Merchant, Kronos Quartet and the Gangbé Brass Band, in an exchange between blues, folk and transnational traditions.