Guitarist, singer and songwriter Tom Rush is inseparable from the folk revival that took place in the mid-1960s. He made a number of records for the influential Elektra label and not only influenced James Taylor and Jackson Browne, but also helped these artists by recording their songs. The fact that his name sounds less familiar today than his protégés never seemed to bother him and he always
… continued to spot and help new talent, such as recently Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin. In short, a sympathetic man and sympathy is also what his music evokes. Rush has a warm, pleasant voice that radiates calm in a repertoire of catchy, acoustically oriented folk songs and his plucking guitar playing is also impeccable. What is missing in What I Know is adventure, which means that his combination of covers and own compositions threatens to ripple somewhat in the long run. A selection of excellent session musicians and singers Emmylou Harris and Bonnie Bramlett also stay in line behind a well-thought-out but at the same time somewhat sluggish Rush. (MR)more
