ONLY among fellow musicians and serious blues fans does Otis Rush enjoy the status of a living legend. It was of little surprise, therefore, to see Rush's headlining Temple Bar Blues Festival gig last night packed with prominent people in the blues business.
Rush's performance, which owed so much to his west side Chicago blues roots (the same school as the likes of Buddy Guy and Magic Sam), left few in any doubt about this artist's arresting talents. There was just so much to enjoy in Rush's guitar and vocal work: whether it was the lazy and alluring sound of a slow blues standard or a swinging touch of soul and funk in some blazing R&B numbers. An educated ear could also hear an echo of the great B.B. King in some of his guitar outlays.
There were many highlights in a long performance. On Stormy Monday Rush skilfully suspended his notes to create a lazy and longing soundscape which beautifully complemented the direction and emphasis of his vocals. The audience, however, saved most of their applause for Rush's long guitar runs on a host of R&B tunes that had feet tapping and heads swinging in accompaniment.
Rush's band, which included a fine keyboard player, a fatback drummer and a competent rhythm guitarist and bassist, was also worthy of high praise. They opened the performance with a fantastic and funky cover of B.B. King's classic Rock Me Baby which really whetted the appetite.
Considering his talents, Otis Rush is one of the most under recorded bluesmen of his era. As his recordings are so few and far between, one hopes it won't be too long before he decides to visit us again.