Pinetop Perkins

"Ladies Man"

MC Records

This CD has been a long time in the making, and, nearly became a posthumous release. To quote Mark Carpentieri, one of the drummers, and the producer of this project in his liner notes, "You'll notice on several songs, Pinetop is not playing piano. During the recording project Pinetop had a car accident with a train and fractured his arm. We weren't sure if we should record the rest of the CD but Pinetop really wanted to finish the project and assured me that his singing would be even better if he wasn't playing piano." And so it was! His voice was more clear and confident than I've ever heard, and I've known and followed him since the mid-1970s. Cuts # 3, 6, 9 and 12 were recorded live with Lisa Otey doing far more than stand-by quality on the piano. This woman sounds like she studied at Pinetop's feet all her life. On the other cuts, Pinetop plays piano articulately and shares the spot-light with many guests, most of them female. (he is the "Ladies Man" after all!) Among them are Ruth Brown, Deborah Coleman, and Odetta. On two cuts he doubles up with fellow keyboardists Marcia Ball and Ann Rabson playing "Pinetop's New Boogie Woogie" and "Careless Love" respectively. These songs are a testament to Pinetop's fexability and creativity. It's not easy to play with another pianist the way he does on this recording. Angela Strehli wrote and sang an ode to Pinetop's prowess with his instrument and women called "Hey Mr. Pinetop Perkins." This song would made anyone smile. Among the other guests is fellow Muddy Waters veteran Wiliie "Big Eyes" Smith who played some fine harmonica as well as drums. Willie's son Kenny Smith also did drum duty. Elvin Bishop played a haunting slide guitar on "How Long" and Bob Stroger and Brad Vickers offered a solid foundation on bass throughout this recording. Deborah Coleman opens the CD singing and playing guitar on "Meanest Woman" written by Muddy Waters. Ruth Brown was her usual playfull self singing "Chains of Love" with Deborah Coleman doing her thing on guitar. Susan Tedeschi sang the old "Ivory" Joe Hunter tune "Since I Lost My Baby" with Ron Perry on bass. (the only song he plays on this recording) The live cuts previously mentioned also feature Ms Carmen Getit on guitar. I had never heard of her, but, she can stand up there with the best of them...male or female, and hold her own! Madeleine Peyroux, who was on loan from Rounder Records, sang and played guitar on "He's Got Me Goin." For those of you who've never heard her, she has a sultry style much like Peggy Lee. Odetta was stunning with her version of Big Bill Broonzy's "Trouble in Mind" with Mark Carpentieri playing drums with both Madeleine and Odetta. Cuts #4 and 5 were garnished with some fine guitar work by Jimmy Vivino, and cuts #2 and 5, Jerry Vivino adds his touch on saxaphone.

What can one say about Pinetop himself? Pinetop is a national treasure and proves it on this recording. He hits the keys with the stamina and imagination of a man a fraction of his age. He's almost 91 years young and may not be as spry as he once was, but, once he sits down to do his thing, it's as though he were twenty! His hands are a blurr when he plays, and I have the photos to prove it! When I saw him at The Huntington Arts Fest June 27th and he handed me his new CD I asked him, "If only the good die young, Pinetop, why are you still here?" His answere was simple, "I guess the good lord just saw fit to keep me here, I just try not to get him too mad at me." Mark Carpentieri's comment at the end of the liner notes say alot. He said, "He is to the blues piano what B.B. King is to the blues guitar. Oh, by the way, he is one of the nicest people I know!

- Ms Marci Chevian-Hooper

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