Getting into music was easy for singer/guitarist/songwriter Bernard Allison – after all, his father is the late blues legend Luther Allison. However, setting himself apart from his dad and forming his own identity in the music world was Allison’s biggest challenge. But it’s a challenge he accepted, and, in his eyes, conquered. “Most people will say `look, Bernard Allison,’ and automatically link it with my father and expect me to be more bluesy,” Allison says. “But Bernard Allison is going to do what he wants to do.” The Chicago-born Allison has stemmed away from the traditional blues sound and fuses a variety of influences into his music. “It’s mixed. We don’t play or lean towards just one direction,” Allison says. “We try to show the public what we’re capable of. That’s why we’re called basically the Bernard Allison group.” “I don’t use the title of blues at all,” he adds. “That comes from my dad, early on he was always saying `don’t let them label you like they labeled me.'” Since the beginning of his career, Allison has focused on varying his sound. His latest album, “Across the Water,” demonstrates clearly the amount of musical influence he puts into records. “It’s always been a couple rock tunes, a couple funk tunes, a couple ballads and a couple straight ahead 12 bar blues as well,” Allison says. He even adds some R&B flavor to his latest album. Allison also says part of his talent is in arranging. The guitarist tries to concentrate on the strengths of the areas he can actually write different songs in. Categorized with such blues artists as Johnny Lang and Susan Tedeschi, Allison is noted as part of a group that is helping reshape blues music and bring it to new ears. “Hopefully we will be able to cross that market and to widen our audience as well,” Allison says. “I just like to play what I know how to play, I love all styles of music, and I think that’s the way the blues is going is trying to re-create it in a different way rather than rely on the old standard 12 bar.” “Across the Water,” Allison’s second U.S. release, was also the second time he used producer Jim Gaines, who has worked with innovative guitarists Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughan. “It’s great for him to take us on and help us out with his technique,” Allison says. “Hearing things that we don’t necessarily hear and trying to help us select the right tunes and make sure we can pull them off.” Though Allison has only released two albums in the U.S., he has been living in Paris and touring Europe for 11 years. He has been consistently using the same touring pattern his whole career – touring January through March, taking a month off, then touring for two more months, a cycle he repeats through November. At the moment Allison is wrapping up some summer shows, finishing off with festivals and club shows. The supporting tour for “Across the Water” won’t officially begin until later this month, when Allison tours with Johnny Lang. “We tour quite often together actually. We have the same manager, they kind of link us together,” Allison says. “It’ll be cool to get back with him again.” Throughout his decade-long career, Allison has traveled to places such as Australia and Japan and is amazed at how easily his music translates to other cultures. “It’s everywhere. I think blues is in the best position or any blues related music,” Allison says excitedly. “There is a big chance for blues to make this big explosion.” Allison recognizes how lucky he is to have grown up around a number of legendary musicians, and notes that he has always wanted to meet and possibly play with Eric Clapton. But his main focus is put into his live shows and performing for his fans. Allison says he is very happy with the pace of his life. Nothing is going too fast, and he feels all of his hard work and the hectic touring schedule are paying off. “That’s what I always ask for,” Allison explains. “Give the people a chance to see me once, and then I’m sure they’ll come back and then even possibly go and buy the record. So as long as the Lord gives me strength to continue doing it, we’re gonna keep hitting that road.” Allison hits the Maintenance Shop tonight at 8.