Customer Reviews

Otis Rush: Live Part One

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This dvd was recorded 12-16-99 in San Francisco. Overall quality is excellent, both in sound and pictures. Otis plays lead (lefty) guitar and sings, accompanied by rhythm section and four horns. Band swings hard. Tracks performed: I Wonder Why; All Your Love; It's My Own Fault; 717; I Can't Quit You Baby; I Got My Mojo Working. Extra features include some short interview segments and photo gallery (12 photos?) with commentary by Otis.

Two drawbacks keep me from giving this dvd 5 stars: 1) it's pretty short - performance only about 47 minutes; 2) Otis is not very energetic in his performance. This could be due to his age or health. Had the performance run 70 minutes or more, would have given 5 stars.

Well worth owning and viewing.

I think Otis Rush ranks near the top if not the top in ratio of talent to lack of commercial success or recognition. As noted by others, I struggled to not give this 5 stars. His leads are still a work of art. The disc isn't that long though and he does appear a bit tired. Hey, I hope I have that much gas when I am 65 (O.R. when this was recorded). I saw him perform with more fire than this before his '04 stroke. The interview segment was better than most also, a very honest, down to earth, humble seeming guy. Check him on the ABFB dvds! Do rant and rave also if you find a better DVD of him than this one too. Hoping he can one day get back on the road again!

I am an Otis Rush fan from way back, this is a great DVD it's great to see him live. Picture & sound are excellent, the only draw back is the time, less than one hour. And he looks tired, but still plays those stinging leads the band is also very tight, overall he is great for his age.

This review was originally written, in the main, for an Otis Rush DVD performance at his Chicago haunt, "The Wise Fool Club". Most of the points made for that review apply here as well

Okay, okay I have been talking about doing a review of the legendary electric blues guitarist Otis Rush ever since I saw him on some DVDs in the "American Folk Blues "series from the 1960's that I have reviewed elsewhere in this space. Arguably, the 1950's and 1960's were the heroic age of electric blues guitar with the likes of Muddy Waters, Hubert Sumlin (from Howlin' Wolf's band), Elmore James, the incredible T-Bone Walker and Brother Rush. What makes the case for his inclusion here is some very rippling solos where he runs the board.

Sometimes the quality of live performances especially in the days before better sound production technology was developed, as here at the famous blues club the "Wise Fool Club", diminishes the quality of the sound. However, for a performer like Rush, having that live audience in front is the spark that takes them to flights of ....musical fancy. Put that together with Rush's deep, powerful voice to match the intensity of the riffs and a self-selected back up band and you have the blues when they are dos.

You don't believe me? Well, listen to a smoking "Sweet Little Angel" or the pathos of "Feel So Bad". Or the pain of "You're Breaking My Heart" or the frenetic longing of the title song "All Your Love I Miss Loving". Case closed.

Included here in "Otis Rush Live" is extra footage, interviews and other added material. I would say however that if you are going to get a good feel for Otis at work while he wa a master of his art then the DVD " Otis and Friends- Live at Montreaux 1986" is for you. This is strictly your primer.

bien, otis rush es uno de mis bluesman de cabecera y es todo un placer verlo, lástima que la actuación sea tan corta, unos 45 minutos y otis se muestre un poco cansino, pero bueno si te gusta el blues y concretamente este monstruo merece la pena