At one time, Paul Oscher was probably best known for breaking the race barrier to become the first white member of Muddy Waters's regular band. Today, although he keeps a relatively low profile - he is acknowledged by cognoscenti, and by anyone within earshot, as one of the deepest and most talented active blues artists today. His latest album, “Bet On The Blues”, includes 15 "rough" versions of songs recorded live and in the studio that speak to Oscher's thorough mastery of the blues and spiritual idioms. Spirituals from the catalogs of Mississippi John Hurt, Lightnin' Hopkins, and the Carter Family enrich a set of blues that draws on Freddie King ("Slideaway") and J.B. Lenoir (the haunting "What Have I Done"). Not surprisingly given Oscher's personal history, the playlist is concentrated on songs by Muddy Waters ("Sad Sad Day"and "Rock Me") and his circle: Little Walter's "Mean Ole World" and 'Juke," and a loose limbed reading of George "Harmonica" Smith's "Blues ln The Dark." The'50s Chicago school likewi