Archive: Arts & Entertainment

For those who have not clued into Buffalo, New York’s brightest blues star several decades running, allow me to introduce Lucky Peterson.  This installment reviews his latest release, one of many in my blues collection.  Let me simply say that if you get the chance to see Lucky live – do it! I’ve seen him twice (once at the Haunt) and the musicianship and show were simply phenomenal.

Lucky Peterson was born in 1964 in Buffalo and focuses on a fusion of contemporary blues mixed variously with soul, gospel, and rock.  He is an accomplished vocalist, guitarist, and keyboard impresario who also plays several other instruments.  Interestingly, he started his music career well before the age of 5, learning from his Father James Peterson, a blues musician and the owner of a blues nightclub in Buffalo called The Governor’s Inn. The club was a regular stop for blues artists such as Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor and Willie Dixon. Anyway, as the story goes, Dixon saw Lucky Peterson performing at the age of 3 and liked what he saw. However, when Dixon saw Lucky playing live at the club at the age of 5, he took Lucky on as a student prodigy. At the tender age of 5, Lucky was playing live on television on the The Tonight Show and The Ed Sullivan Show, among other TV appearances. The age of 5 was also when his first album was released, literally to some acclaim.

Lucky later attended the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. While there he honed his existing skills and broadened his horizons by learning to play the horns and studying symphonic music and composition. While his career path was not smooth sailing all the way, after the Academy Lucky played guitar and keyboards for blues masters such as Etta James, Otis Rush, Bobby Blue Bland, Little Milton, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Jimmy Reed.  Not a bad resume to be sure.

The 1980s and 1990s saw Lucky focus upon his solo career. Again, while there were bumps and setbacks, his solo career really launched forward with releases under Alligator Records, Blue Thumb Records, and Verve Records of masterpiece albums like “Lucky Strikes!”, “Triple Play”, “Double Dealin’”, and the more recent “Beyond Cool” and “Move.” These are listed among the 20 or so releases as they are not only my personal favorites, but were widely recognized as significant albums. Lucky’s musical influences are many, but atop the list would have to be Willie Dixon, Bobby Blue Bland, Bill Doggett, Buddy Guy and Jimmy Smith. His vocal stylings bring to mind images of Robert Johnson, Rev. Gary Davis, and even Blind Willie.

During this time Lucky also collaborated with many other artists. He played organ to backup Mavis Staples in a tribute to Mahalia Jackson, and has played and collaborated with a literal list of who’s who in the blues. Beyond the above list, these include Albert Collins, B.B. King, Kenny Neal, and Levon Helm. His 2012 live blues album was nominated for Album of the Year and Lucky is widely regarded as a top international performer - with serious guitar chops, a phenomenal hand on the keys, and excellence as a vocal performer. Given the whole list of musical instruments and styles he has mastered in a 30+ year musical career would take too much time and space here, but as some commentators note “it is mind-boggling.” In fact, some saw the young Lucky performing on a Hammond B-3 and assumed the organ was rigged – they simply could not believe what they were seeing and hearing. …And that pretty well sums up my experience seeing Lucky live.

So, rather than ramble on about this musical prodigy who blessed us by playing his own blend of fusion blues, let’s get to this killer 2013 release.

As Lucky often does, he includes some blues standards in his releases, mixed with impressive original works. “I’m Ready” opens with the Willie Dixon title song I’m Ready. I love this swinging version that shows off Lucky’s guitar prowess while remaining true to the original tone and feel of the song. Second on the list is Little Walter’s classic It Ain’t Right. In this song Lucky shows off some of his piano and organ skills in a peppy version with good horn backups.  The interplay of piano work over the top of hopping organ chords is simply well done. The third offering is Willie Dixon’s You Shook Me, which most will recall was well covered in the rock world by Zeppelin. This version is horn driven and has its rhythm stepped down into a classic blues beat. The Uptown Horns shine on this version, which is capped off with a smooth and classic guitar riff midway through the song that reminds me a bit of the style of Chris Thomas King in the way it borrows from B.B. and Johnny Copeland.

From this point, Lucky soars through 8 original songs, starting with a song called Junk Yard. This song is a swing-based instrumental tune that will be a favorite for those that love the old Hammond organ sound. Who’s Been Talking follows next and is a slower, introspective song with a clear jazz influence - fusing organs and vocals with an almost Latin rhythm.  I Lost Faith Last Night then kicks the speed and tempo back up a notch, with strong guitar work, vocals, and change-ups. Tribute to the King follows and is an organ driven instrumental piece with great guitar work. The rhythm and drum line will remind you of SRV -- even though the soulful guitar notes and tones make clear that this is a tribute to B.B. King (who, incidentally, is coming to Ithaca for a show next March). I cannot say, but perhaps Lucky was honoring more than one King of the blues here….

On the Sea of Love arrives next and is a classic Lucky composition. Full of pep, this song is also interspersed with tasty horns, a great guitar solo, and solid vocal works.  As is typical of many Lucky songs, the lyrics have meaning and at times even poke some fun at the subject matter.  For example, the reference to being “seasick” on the “Sea of Love” is no accidental turn of phrase. Nothing But Smoke follows and it is one of my favorites on the entire release.  It has everything: a solid, steady pace, nice guitar works, and meaningful and expertly sung lyrics; all nestled in a solid R&B base. Spankin’ Leroy follows and morphs the listener back into a faster paced organ-driven work that is just plain fun to listen to. I find that I inevitably tap my toes to the rhythm of this song. Three guitars work atop a Hammond organ, with staccato added by percussion and a solid horn section. Especially tasty is Lucky’s guitar solo about 1:50 into the song.

The last original in the set is named Don’t Could Up On Me. It has a full-forward power-playing style that is simply a great listen.  Yet, at the same time, it has an overall composition with a throwback or tribute feel and tone.  The guitar work is characterized by driving chords, interspersed with runs, and demands to be turned up in volume. In all it is reminiscent of a train barreling down the tracks while the music just flies by.  Finishing up this 2013 offering is tribute song called Precious Lord Take My Hand. This Tommy Dorsey song is also imbued with a throwback feel; but this time it is with a very smooth gospel edge.  The organ work is just inspiring in its climbing major chords and woven textures.  The only issue I have here is that this song is way, way too short.

In all, this is a cd worth owning. There are very few artists who, even before their teens, were considered the next up and coming prodigy. Fewer still have lived up to such billing.  Sure, we can list Jonny Lang, Joe Bonamassa, and others as child prodigies who really went somewhere, but Lucky did it without the level of consumer recognition he deserves. And he did it not by focusing upon one instrument, but with an ability to play drums, bass, guitar, organ, piano, saxophone, French horn, etc.  

Indeed, this is a rare talent for any age. So do yourself a favor and put this cd under the Tree this year.  If you do, it is a certainty that your Lucky collection will only expand.

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