Bobby Rush is known for a slick, and usually risque, stage show. He looks a lot younger than his actual mid-60s age, and performs with impressive bands that he assembles and leads, often with a sexy dancer or two, shaking some booty. But his latest album "Raw" is a return to his rural roots and country blues. Mostly solo, and all acoustic, he plays some fine harmonica, as we would expect from his stage shows, but he also reminds us that he can get some deep blues out of the guitar as well. His foot provides percusssion. Bobby Rush was born Emmett Ellis, Jr. in Homer LA. Emmit Ellis Sr was a preacher not favorably disposed to the blues, so junior changed his name in deference to his father. The family moved to Chicago when Bobby was a teenager, where he started performing-- soon realizing the importance of controlling all aspects of the show, from leading the band to owning the equipment. His well-polished, precisely executed shows were usually fairly risque-- and they fit in better in clubs in the South along the so-called chittlin circuit than in Chicago. Bobby is based in Jackson MS now and is a leading figure in southern soul blues. "Raw" may surprise some of his fans and win him some new ones too. This show also fetaures a couple of tracks from Joe Zawinul's final album, a live double CD of performances in his own club in Vienna, the place of both his birth and death (on September 11, 2007). We've also got new Joni Mitchell, and classic Muddy Waters, in this hour of the Blues & Beyond.

Bobby Rush is known for a slick, and usually risque, stage show. He looks a lot younger than his actual mid-60s age, and performs with impressive bands that he assembles and leads, often with a sexy dancer or two, shaking some booty. But his latest album "Raw" is a return to his rural roots and country blues. Mostly solo, and all acoustic, he plays some fine harmonica, as we would expect from his stage shows, but he also reminds us that he can get some deep blues out of the guitar as well. His foot provides percusssion. Bobby Rush was born Emmett Ellis, Jr. in Homer LA. Emmit Ellis Sr was a preacher not favorably disposed to the blues, so junior changed his name in deference to his father. The family moved to Chicago when Bobby was a teenager, where he started performing-- soon realizing the importance of controlling all aspects of the show, from leading the band to owning the equipment. His well-polished, precisely executed shows were usually fairly risque-- and they fit in better in clubs in the South along the so-called chittlin circuit than in Chicago. Bobby is based in Jackson MS now and is a leading figure in southern soul blues. "Raw" may surprise some of his fans and win him some new ones too. This show also fetaures a couple of tracks from Joe Zawinul's final album, a live double CD of performances in his own club in Vienna, the place of both his birth and death (on September 11, 2007). We've also got new Joni Mitchell, and classic Muddy Waters, in this hour of the Blues & Beyond.