Bass player Russell Jackson worked with the legendary blues guitarist B.B. King for seven years before he knew he was ready to step out into the world and perform.
The Russell Jackson Band, presented by Blues Underground, perform the Kinsmen Community Complex Saturday at 8 p.m.
Jackson, who has played on more than 30 albums for artists like B.B. King, Otis Clay and Long John Baldry, is no stranger to Prince George and started appearing here in the '90s.
"I started the Russell Jackson Band in 1992 and I just started playing all over B.C., all over Canada, because I really had to use Canada as a proving ground to get my feel together as a bass player, fronting the band and singing," said Jackson, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee.
Jackson moved to Chicago when he was 20 and joined the Otis Clay Band in '76. During his time in the Windy City he played with the likes of Buddy Guy, Arctic Blues Box White, Little Howling Wolfe, Abbe Locke, Bobby Rush, Willie Clayton and Johnny Dollar. After parting from the Otis Clay Band he began touring with B.B. King.
Now, Jackson performs as the lead vocals and bass in his own band.
"As a bass player I do a couple of solos on electric and acoustic bass but my main thing is I give you a nine-year history of the blues during the show," Jackson explained. "I go back to the old Delta stuff with the stand-up bass and then I make it current with the electric bass and the Chicago stuff and some of the funkier blues. I kind of touch all the bases."
Jackson says he loves to perform and will continue to do so for many years to come.
"Just let everyone in P.G. know that they should put on their dancin' shoes and their boogie clothes and be ready to have some fun," said Jackson. "It's blues but it's high energy blues and I like to get the audience entwined with what I do because what I do is a show. I don't get up there and just play a bunch of songs. I do a show where people always walk away well entertained and they can't wait for me to come back the next time."
Tickets are $25 each, $20 for members and are available at Books & Company, 1685 Third Avenue.
