Rushing Through the Blues Still Standing
Jimmy Rushing, Earl Hines, and a small band make blues-based jazz that feels relaxed and unhurried.
Blues and Things was recorded in 1968, a period when Jimmy Rushing had long since moved beyond the big band setting that made him famous. The session brought him together with a small group in which pianist Earl Hines, a giant of the instrument whose career stretched back to the 1920s, was a central presence. Bill Pemberton anchored the rhythm on bass, while Oliver Jackson kept time on drums. Budd Johnson added saxophone, giving the arrangements a warm, conversational texture. The setting is intimate, and it lets Rushing's voice sit close to the listener rather than riding above a full orchestra.
What you hear is Rushing doing what he always did best: singing the blues with easy authority and a sense of humor. His voice is big but never forced, and he has a gift for phrasing that makes even familiar material feel lived-in. Hines plays with his usual inventiveness, slipping in runs and rhythmic surprises that keep the music from settling into routine. The band swings without strain, and the mood is loose and good-natured rather than solemn.
This is not the place to start with Rushing. Listeners new to his work should begin with his big band recordings with Count Basie, where his voice first became famous. Blues and Things is for those who already enjoy him and want to hear him in a smaller, more relaxed context. It is a pleasant, solid record rather than a landmark, and its appeal lies in the company Rushing keeps and the easy warmth of the playing.
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