Pinetop Perkins
Pinetop Perkins & Friends
Telarc CD-S3680
At the tender age of 95, Joe "Willie "Pinetop" Perkins is showing folks what a master of the eighty-eights can still do. Not just do, but do extremely well. After a myriad of records for various labels, he has found a home once again with Telarc. Friends is a tribute album of sorts, in that several great blues people came together to show their respects and be a part of the party.
The disc starts out with Pinetop's version of "Take It Easy Baby," including Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on drums as well as with Norma Jean Bruso on back up vocals. Jimmie Vaughan plays some tasty lead guitar and Bob Stroger sits in on bass. Listen to the spirited piano of Pinetop as he calls and young cat, Eric Sardinas, answers back on the Muddy Waters tune "Got My Mojo Working." The great Willie Kent is present on bass for one of his last recording sessions on bass. Eric proves no slouch on lead guitar either, and will be playing two shows in Sept. in Frisco and Lewisville, Texas.
"Down In Mississippi" starts with a rollicking roll of the piano and the signature sound of BB King's guitar "Lucille". Pinetop and BB trade off vocals as they sing about the love of their favorite state. In "How Long Blues/Come Back Baby," Norma Jean Bruso again provides great back up vocals and Eric Clapton provides the great guitar fills and solos. The rock steady rhythm section is Bob Stroger and Willie Smith. Jimmie Vaughan provides his note perfect; searing guitar on "Look on Yonders Wall," "Hoochie Coochie Man" and the Robert Nighthawk tune "Anna Lee".
On "Barefootin", Willie Kent, Norman Jean and Eric Sardinas join Pinetop on the Louisiana dance groove penned by Robert Parker. "Sweet Home Chicago" has been recorded by many, including Robert Johnson, but Pinetop joins guitarist Krakowski, Kent, Bruso, Stroger and Smith, to make the tune his own. The final track is a traditional one called "Bad Luck Baby," and is the last track on the collection. It gives us one last chance to hear the great bass style of Willie Kent and to hammer home just how great Pinetop Perkins is on the piano and how great a vocalist he is.
With only a handful of the elder statesmen left in the blues, it is great to see this strong effort provide a blueprint for future generations. Thanks to Telarc for providing us one more opportunity to celebrate, as did his Friends, the legacy of Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins.
- Big Daddy Hal -
Southwest Blues CD Review - August 2008
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