Pinetop Perkins – Ladies Man

I play fantasy baseball.  Every year around April I join a public Yahoo! League where you choose your fantasy team from all active players regardless of league. I am in competition with 14 other team owners.  I pick a player for every position plus a few bench players, starting pitchers and relief pitchers A team’s final placement is determined by performance-based statistics over the season.

My strategy is to pick an All-Star Team roster of 20 players based on past performance. However, once the season starts anything can happen.  There is always the chance the team’s performance will far exceeds my expectations or the players’ individual statistics.

What about a Blues Artist fantasy league? I have wondered about it.  Team owners could pick a cadre of artists in competition against other teams. Could an elite group of blues artists come together just for one album and produce a masterpiece wildly exceeding all expectations?

Here is one line up I would not bet against and it exists on Pinetop Perkins’ 2004 MC Records release Ladies Man:

            Guitarists and vocalists: Deborah Coleman, (the winner of the 2001 Orville Gibson Award for Best Blues Guitarist, Female); Jazz singer Madeliene Peyroux;  The wonderful blues and soul artist Susan Tedeschi; Blues guitarist and singer Carmen Getit; Rhythm and blues legend Ruth Brown; The “First Lady of Texas Blues” Angela Strehli; Blues singer and piano player Marcia Ball; The “Voice of the Civil Rights Movement” Odetta; Tonight Show guitarist Jimmy Vivino; and the legendary Elvin Bishop on slide;

            Bassists: Otis Rush’s bassist, the amazing Bob Stroger; Susan Tedeschi’s bassist Ron Perry; and Brad Vickers (who has backed everyone from Chuck Berry to Lightnin’ Hopkins).

            Drummers and Harmonica:  Master drummer and harmonica player Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, his son Kenny Smith and M.C. Records founder Mark Carpentieri.

            Saxophonist:  Jerry Vivino, known for his work with Bruce Springsteen, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Bon Jovi and Hubert Sumlin (I know, I know – he also blew on the Olson Twins album “I Am The Cute One,” but even bluesmen are entitled to a big payday once in awhile.)

            Pianists: In addition to Marcia Ball, Arizona Blues Hall of Fame member Lisa Otey; eight time Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year nominee Ann Rabson; and, also as the bandleader, the incomparable Muddy Waters’ pianist Pinetop Perkins.

At the time the album was produced Mr. Perkins was 91 years old. The album explores classic blues compositions including “Since I Lost My Baby” (Ivory Joe Hunter); “Kansas City” (Leiber and Stoller); “How Long” (Leroy Carr); “Trouble In Mind” (Bill Broonzy); and “Chicken Shack” (Walter Jacobs.)  The album contends renditions of a number of other blues classics, one tribute song to Mr. Perkins written by Angela Strehl, (“Hey Mr. Pinetop Perkins”); and a new take on Pinetop’s immortal “Pinetop Boogie” called “Pinetop’s New Boogie Woogie.”   

Produced by Mark Carpentieri, this is a superior blues tribute album.  Mr. Perkins’ voice is stellar and gives nothing up to his age.  Each female vocalist sings to Pinetop with passion and great affection.  The musicians play from the heart.  Many of the performances are live in small venues attended by loving audiences.

The best blues are those fueled by emotion and there is no question that that is what you hear in the performances on Ladies Man.  This is a very special album  - an industry's thanks to a living legend. 

Mr. Perkins can play for, and manage, my fantasy Blues League team any time

- Old School

Buy here: Ladies Man



Listen to Ladies Man:  http://popup.lala.com/popup/937030249061322405