Search - Lucky Peterson :: Triple Play

Blues to the power of three...

Bete Noire | Vancouver, Canada | 02/24/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lucky Peterson is the Prince of blues,a multi-instrumentalist,equally converse with piano,guitar and organ,besides being an excellent vocalist.Released in 1990,this album exhibits a contemporary take on the blues,with touches of gospel and jazz.Definitely a collector's item!"

A reliably energetic release

Tim Holek | 11/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"LUCKY PETERSON

Triple Play

Alligator ALCD 4789



Lucky Peterson is a natural born musician and entertainer. He first exposed his bewildering talent during session work for Florida's King Snake Records. Then, he progressed to holding stints with Little Milton and Bobby `Blue' Bland. Given the number of artists and CDs that I see and hear annually, Lucky Peterson consistently rates at the top. Unlike the name of this 42-minute album, Peterson is more than a triple threat. He is an exhilarating multi-instrumentalist (capable of playing organ, guitar, bass, drums and trumpet), flamboyant songwriter, passionate singer, and a radiant live entertainer. If you haven't had the pleasure of experiencing his multiple talents, check out "Let The Chips Fall Where They May" with its slick and funky arrangement. Here, and throughout Peterson plays explosive lead guitar while backed by his sleek organ and vocals. Just 27-years-old at the time this album was released, Peterson shows infinite potential.



Listeners may be familiar with some of these songs from Alligator's 20th and 25th Anniversary Collections and Genuine Houserockin' Music IV. On "Your Lies", the tempo lightens enough for Peterson to get snazzy on piano, followed by thick as cream organ fills. If there is a finer contemporary keyboard player, let me know who that is. The bursting organ keeps rolling along on "Six O'Clock Blues" where Peterson doesn't need Oprah to tell him to love through pain. The "Repo Man" sets out to repossess his woman's heart. Here, Peterson's warm vocals are welcoming and comforting, but they can't seem to completely let go. Wilson Pickett's classic "I Found A Love" is performed as a remarkable vocal duet with Lester Chambers along with Roy Buchanan-like guitar and Las Vegas show band keyboards. Lucky continues his organ prowess on the deep grooving "Jammin' In The Jungle". During "Locked Out Of Love", his guitar becomes screeching, but it is always used within the context of the song. Peterson proclaims he is ("free as a bird but still locked up in a cage") on "I'm Free". Its words and rhythms have a dramatic effect while presided over by forceful horns. The organ freely soars along and into wild abandon while horns punch out and knock Lucky along. "Funky Ray" is a great, greasy instrumental, but it doesn't fit the style of music that Lucky performs the best. "Don't Could Up On Me" contains assaulting rhythm and lightening fast guitar. It is exactly what Lucky sounds like in concert now. The song is loud, inspired by Jimi Hendrix, and sits on the verge of hard rock.



These ten, mostly original, up-tempo songs feature tightly locked horns, guitar, and organ. The mighty music takes you by surprise and begs for attention. Lucky Peterson is a self-proclaimed hurricane, who is always ready to tear it up. If I had my own blues awards, Peterson would annually win Performer Of The Year based on reliably energetic releases like Triple Play.



-- Tim Holek

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