“I musta done somebody wrong,” sang veteran bluesman Charlie Musselwhite in between blistering bursts of his harmonica playing at One Longfellow Square on Sunday night. With spirited shouts and applause, most in the capacity crowd seemed to recognize that he was doing right by them.

The 71-year-old Mississippi native, who years ago moved north to immerse himself in the sounds of the great blues musicians of Memphis and Chicago, spent just under two hours reconfirming his status as one of the best of his generation.

With his briefcase full of harmonicas open in front of him and the three members of his hard-driving touring band gathered around, Musselwhite featured originals and standards, with an emphasis on tunes from his latest album “I Ain’t Lyin’…”

“River Hip Mama” was an early favorite. The piece started out near full-tilt with a boogieing vamp that powered the leader’s distinctive baritone. Storytelling vocals about special women were featured throughout the evening. “Long Leg Woman” and “Long Lean Lanky Mama” would add to the theme as the show progressed.

But a “Bad Boy” also made an appearance, lamenting the fact that he’s “a long, long way from home” but promising to “be in your town tonight.” Technically masterful and emotionally compelling harmonica solos highlighted this and all but one of the evening’s other numbers.

The leader’s classic “Stranger in a Strange Land,” while musically telling the story of his arrival in Chicago as a young man looking for work, also offered a standout instrumental moment as electric guitarist Matt Stubbs and Musselwhite engaged in a stellar duet.

Stubbs, a standout throughout the performance, constructed his solo work to accentuate the connections in Musselwhite’s music between rural and urban blues. “My Kinda Gal,” for instance, had a shuffle beat upon which Stubbs offered numerous thematic variations that would not be out of place at a country music concert.

Musselwhite talked about starting out playing guitar on street corners and collecting donations in a cigar box. To the particular delight of longtime fans recognizing a rare treat, he then played some sinuous slide guitar on the mournful “Cryin’ Won’t Help You.”

“Good Blues Tonight,” with a Latin tinge, moved things into an upbeat mode. Though his slicked-back hair may now be gray and thinner than when he first appeared on the scene 50-plus years ago, the smiling bluesman forcefully sang that “I ain’t no doctor … but I’ll ease your pain.”

Called back for an encore, Musselwhite offered a soulful take on the classic “Cristo Redentor,” likely suggesting, in a more meditative manner, his understanding of the power of the blues.

Steve Feeney is a freelance writer who lives in Portland.

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