"I actually think that my new album, ‘Move,’ is one of the best records I’ve ever done, period," said Lucky when the project was completed. "I wanted to go deep. I listened to some of the old greats like Albert King, Albert Collins, Freddie King, T-Bone Walker, and Jimmy Reed. Man, those cats to me is what blues is all about, and to them we owe everything. I wanted to go back to my roots and do something without half-steppin’."

One thing about Lucky is that he’s not one to rest on his laurels. He’s been one of the most prolific blues artists this decade. During the week of November 16th he was back in the studio down in Memphis, Tennessee, recording what he called a soul/blues record. "It’s gonna be a real good album," he said when I asked him about it. "I can just feel it in my bones." Whereas "Move" was your classic Chicago Blues record, this new one should appeal to fans of Al Green or even Curtis Mayfield. It will also complete Lucky’s long-term contract with Verve Records. "I’m going to be a free agent," he said with a laugh.

On Friday night, January 22nd, Lucky Peterson and his band will be coming to town to celebrate the 100th issue of Sound Waves Magazine. The party will be at Burke’s Tavern in Niantic and Lucky has guaranteed us that he’s going to blow the roof off the place. I believe him, too, because this is the one thing that Sound Waves Editor/Publisher David Pottie and I agree on. After seeing more concerts than we could possibly remember, after doing dozens of interviews and literally thousands of new CD’s, it’s this: Lucky Peterson is our guy. He is the most dynamic, most electrifying, most exciting blues musician in the world. He’s a great keyboardist and an even greater guitarist. He’s a bluesman at heart, but at the same time he’s been strongly influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Ike Turner. And when it came time to honor someone with our 100th issue and hire someone to play the party, Lucky was the only choice. If you think we’re exaggerating, come see for yourself on the 22nd.

We first interviewed Lucky Peterson back on June 16th, 1995, at the Arch Street Tavern in Hartford. At the time Lucky had just finished recording his blues/funk album called "Lifetime." He collaborated with funkmeister Bootsy Collins on that one. I remember Arch Street being as packed as can be for that show. Lucky coming to Connecticut was a rare occurrence then. Now he’s a regular to the area having been to the Roadhouse, Burke’s, Maple Street Cafe, and Black-Eyed Sally’s since then. (No need to thank me!)

Lucky is known for allowing musicians in the audience to come on up and jam with him. At the Arch Street Tavern, it was Jaimoe of the Allman Brothers Band and Jeff Pitchell of Texas Flood who took the stage with him. At the Roadhouse it was Karl Kelly of the Loco-Motives along with local singer Tony Brennan and singer/guitarist Dan Stevens who got the chance to share the spotlight. At Burke’s Tavern it was East Coast Johnny MacCleod playing a good portion of the second set with Lucky. And at Black-Eyed Sally’s earlier this year Lucky graciously welcomed harmonica ace Jeff Mercer and guitarist Paul Merson of the Mojo Riders to play in front of a packed Friday night Hartford crowd.

Lucky’s willingness to share the spotlight with other musicians may have something to do with how many other musicians want to share their spotlight with him. According to Lucky, he’s played the keyboards on over a hundred different blues records. He may be stretching the truth a little bit, but probably by not that much. In my own personal collection, he appears on CD’s by Bobby Bland, James Cotton, Etta James, Jimmy Johnson, Big Daddy Kinsey, Little Milton, Kenny Neal, Otis Rush, Mavis Staples, Melvin Taylor, Joe Louis Walker, and Junior Wells. (I have a great collection!) He also appears on "Paint It, Blue: Songs Of The Rolling Stones" released in 1997 on the House of Blues label. Lucky did a blistering version of "Under My Thumb." Also B.B. King plugged him in his recent autobiography "Blues All Around Me."

"Hey, I’m honored," said Lucky when told he was going to be on the cover of Sound Waves’ 100th issue. Thanks, Lucky, but the reality is that we’re the ones honored to have him. His shows are so much fun, and not just because of the music either. Lucky likes to have a good time and it’s always a blast having him around. So, join us at Burke’s Tavern on January 22nd and see for yourself why this guy is regarded as the leading young bluesman of his generation. This is a party celebrating our 100th issue and you’re all invited.

Bill Harriman