I was very fortunate to hear Pinetop Perkins at Antone’s. I was planning on going to his concert at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in September. But Antone’s is a small intimate blues club. (photoes by by Jack O’Diamonds). For those who don’t know Pinetop Perkins, he is a 95 yr. old blues piano player. He originally was a blues guitarist but early in his career he injured his arm due to a fight with a choir girl and he switched to piano. His official website lists him as “one of the last great Mississippi bluesmen”, but others consider him part of the Chicago school of blues. He played with the great Muddy Waters Band starting in 1969. That’s my short summary of his remarkable career. He was joined at Antone’s by other great names in blues including Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (played 18 yrs. with the Muddy Waters Band), bassist Bob Stroger (both, I believe in their 70s) and several other sidemen. I was totally blown away by this concert. They played the songs they made famous: Got my mojo working, Down in Mississippi, Take it easy baby, Big fat mama, and others. They clearly enjoyed playing with each other. I don’t know—blues players seem to smile and laugh a lot more than jazz players. They were rocking. The piano (an electric Yamaha of some older vintage) was not amplified particularly well, but you could still hear Pinetop’s incredible playing. Willie Smith was singing, dancing, gyrating, and laying down some great blues harp lines. I feel so fortunate in hearing these guys. Check him out on YouTube (For example, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJnqcQmPAMo) The photos I have here are by Jack O’Diamonds on Flickr – Creative Commons License)
