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San Antonio Bluesman's Heart Is In The Mississippi Delta

Despite being from San Antonio, Rick Barroso is steeped in the sounds of the Mississippi Delta. The electricity’s there—but you can hear the roots and soul of the music from his harmonica, and the almost folksy tinge to some of the arrangements.

In this episode of “Live At Jazz, TX,” you’ll hear his take on several Robert Johnson tunes, some original Texas blues, and a stomping version of “My Babe,” originally written by Willie Dixon for Little Walter.

You may also be wondering, how did his band, the Big Nasty Juke Joint Experience get its name? Juke joint, of course, refers to the small dance halls that once dotted the southeastern United States. But “Big Nasty?” There was this party, you see…

“I [had] decided to make my first pot of menudo,” Barroso remembers. “Then at 5:00 in the morning when you're trying to feed a bunch of drunk people, it ends up on your floor. And then at 7:30 in the morning when you're walking on the floor barefoot and you step in it, and you go, 'dang, that's nasty!’ I said, ‘that's BIG nasty!’”

At that moment, he said, “If I ever start another band I'm going call it the Big Nasty.” 

Tune in to "Live At Jazz, TX" Saturday nights at 7:00 on Texas Public Radio, or listen to this week's show in the player below. This episode is sponsored by Whole Earth Provision Company.