Lucky Peterson: Move

Multi-instrumentalist Lucky Peterson is back with plenty of good time grooves, nasty guitar licks, funky clavinet and pumping Hammond B-3 organ on Move (Verve 314 537 897-2; 54: 01). Accompanied by the great Chicago blues session man Johnny B. Gayden on bass, Butch Bonner on rhythm guitar and Dennis Chambers on drums, Peterson goes deep on his fourth Verve outing. His version of Robert Cray’s “Don’t You Even Care” is far earthier than Cray’s own work while his rendition of “Tin Pan Alley” resounds with more depth of feeling than Stevie Ray Vaughan’s take on that classic slow blues. Lucky revives Ashford & Simpson’s anthemic “Let’s Go Get Stoned” with soul-searing intensity. He puts a Memphis styled soul stamp on Prince’s “Purple Rain” and funks up the place on the Isley Brothers’ classic “It’s Your Thing.” Chambers’ P-Funk roots are put to good use here as he lays it solidly in the pocket on the rock-ish title track, the heavy duty boogie blues “I’m Back Again” and the gospel-flavored “Play Dirty.” Dennis also shuffles the band into bad health on the jumped-up opener “You’re The One For Me” and the driving “Pickin’,” a sizzling homage to the late, great master of the Telecaster, Albert Collins. Peterson has been in the spotlight since he played organ and sang “1, 2, 3, 4, 5” on the Ed Sullivan Show at the ripe old age of five. At age 33, he has established himself as a major player on the blues scene on the strength of such great albums as this one, his finest since 1990’s Triple Play.

Originally Published June 1, 1998