like a partyin your head; The greatest bluesman of his generation is

WHAT would you say if you met a bluesman who had played with BB King, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry and Eric Clapton amongst many others? You'd say: "Hello, Robert Cray, welcome to Glasgow. Please play for us."

And he will. He is coming to the Old Fruitmarket with his band, and there will be soulful good times that night. There will also be R'n'B good times, not to mention bluesy good times and every possible combination of the three, because Mr Cray does them all and he does them all good.

Since this guitarist, singer and songwriter popped into public consciousness in the early 1980s, his fusion of classic soul and modern blues and R'n'B has created a whole new style of music. When Cray tackles a tune, the tune gets stretchered off exhausted.

Cray is a showman from his shoes to his shades and when he opens his throat his voice stirs memories of Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and every soul singer who showed you their heart. He is sensitive and he is sweet and this, together with his I'm-just-in-off-the-street style of songwriting, makes an effective and affecting combination.

Listen to his guitar chops on What About Me if you want to hear blinding talent. He calls the tune "a good-natured party song" - probably because a party starts up in your head whenever you hear it. He has won double handfuls of platinum and gold awards, and is genuinely the leading bluesman of his generation. With Jim Pugh on keyboards, Karl Sevareid on bass and Kevin Hayes on drums, you will be sucked straight into that funky groove thang and transported to a new and soulful place.

Robert Cray, Fruitmarket, July 2, 9.30pm

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