Pinetop Perkins - Heaven (2012)

Tracklist

01. 44 Blues
02. 4 O'Clock In The Morning
03. Relaxin'
04. Sitting On Top Of The World
05. Just Keep On Drinking
06. Since I Fell For You
07. Pinetop's Boogie Woogie
08. Ida B
09. Sweet Home Chicago
10. Pinetop's Blues
11. Willow Weep For Me
12. That's All Right

Pinetop Perkins was a three time Grammy Award winner and the dean of blues piano players when he passed away last year, just four months shy of his 98th birthday. Perkins played piano until he was 97 years old, so this previously unreleased set featuring Perkins relaxed and nimble in both solo and small-combo studio sessions in 1986, when he was a young 73 years old, is really just a drop in the bucket of his long career (which began in 1969 when he replaced Otis Spann as Muddy Waters’ piano player). But it is indeed a heavenly drop at that, since Perkins is so obviously comfortable here. Among the highlights are versions of “Sitting on Top of the World,” with longtime friend Willie “Big Eyes” Smith on vocals, and “Since I Fell for You,” featuring the soulful voice of Otis Clay.
On “44 Blues,” his rough, almost incomprehensible vocals are the perfect counterpoint to his smooth, gliding piano style, punctuated here and there by a few left handed shots to make sure you’re paying attention. “Sittin’ On Top Of The World” is Willie Big Eyes Smith’s last known recording, with Perkins rolling along behind, tossing out graceful, but muscular trills. Even if you’ve heard him do his signature tune, “Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie,” on earlier recordings, this rollicking solo version is one of his best, with ‘Top obviously enjoying himself, talking a mile a minute as he gallops along. Ironically, even though Perkins is associated with the song, the tune was written by another Pinetop, Clarence “Pinetop” Smith, in 1928.
Perkins sounds relaxed and comfortable throughout this session, roaring through a bouncy version of “Sweet Home Chicago,” making up lyrics as he goes, enticing his darlin’ to come along to his adopted home town for a throwdown. The pianist trots out his crooning skills for “Pinetop’s Blues,” sounding like a much younger man. He turns the jazz standard “Willow Weep For Me” upside down, gently nudging it along in a boogie-woogie gait that sounds like it was custom fitted by his personal tailor. Heaven is a fitting epitaph for Perkins, who died in March of last year at the age of 97. Even though he’s no longer with us, his notes are still trickling down in a heavenly shower. All you have to do is listen.

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