Carey Bell has been called "one of the best living blues harmonica players" by The Down Home Guide to the Blues. But Bell, a modest man, wouldn't go quite that far.

"I don't brag on myself," he said softly. "I'm just doing the best I can . . . I like the blues, I like playing my harp, but I'm still learning."

Now a highly respected bluesman, Bell was more a fan of country-western music when he started.

"I didn't want to play the blues," Bell said quietly. "I played it for fun. I guess I wound up making a living at it," he added, laughing.

Along with guitarist Louisiana Red, Bell will be trying to make a living tonight at The Saloon, 101 Hiester St.

Bell has maintained a longtime friendship with Red. Tonight's show marks the first time in more than a decade that Red has played in the United States after living in Europe for 15 years.

Both Bell and Red have played with some of the legends of the blues during their careers including B.B. King, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.

Mark Ross, guitarist for local blues band Queen Bee and the Blue Hornet Band, was glad to hear Bell and Red were coming.

"These guys are a real, living slice of American blues music," Ross said. "They're not a revival band . . . they are it. Go see the band you see every other Friday night, every other Friday night -- go see these guys, it's important."

Ross, a fan of Bell's, explained that Bell uses a chromatic harmonica instead of a normal diatonic harmonica. A chromatic harmonica is a larger and more complex harmonica that allows the player to change keys without changing harmonicas.

"He's probably one of the best chromatic harmonica players alive," Ross said. "He's unbelievable."

David Wells, director of operations for Dante's Restaurants Inc., said people just don't realize how big this show is.

"To blues enthusiasts, these guys are real stand-outs," Wells said, adding that they were brought "to try to give people that are true blues enthusiasts what they want."

Although Bell isn't exactly sure of the format the show will follow, he said he and Red will play at least one set together with no backup band. Following that, Bell will play with his own backup band, and the show will end with Red, Bell and his band playing together.

For the show tonight, Bell has made a promise in his normal, understated manner.

"I'm going to do the best I can to play the blues for everybody in State College, Pennsylvania," he said.