Music at the Library: Early Blues with Cherry & Jerry

St. Louis piano/percussion duo Cherry and Jerry will take the stage with stories behind some of the songs and composers that put blues on the map. They'll perform landmark songs such as "St. Louis Blues" and "Crazy Blues" and also look at some lesser-known tunes, from the ragtime-influenced freewheeling songs of the 1910s to the later songs that looked forward to today's music. Pianist Jerry Rabushka performs the original sheet music, while Isaac Cherry, playing a setup of cajon, cymbal, and bell tree, adds a beat born of many influences.

The pair has performed around the Midwest as a duo and as part of the six-piece Ragged Blade Band, capturing the spirit of some longtime familiar songs and reviving rarely heard but wonderful tunes.