Pinetop Perkins
The Pinetop Perkins Story
– Born In The Honey
Vizztone – SB-101
Sagebrush Productions
501 625-3199
visit Pinetop's official website
also available on amazon
This is an approximately 60 minute DVD and a bonus CD that is just shy of 50 minutes. These are two very different projects and need to be talked about separately, so we’ll do the DVD first. This traces Pinetop Perkins life with many stills. place shots, interviews with friends and fellow musicians and follow the story of his life in a pretty straightforward manner. There are a number of times when they have the, then 93 year old discussing his life and the choices he made. It is good honest reporting and not much is glossed over he is quite frank about what he has to say about life and his music. The interviews with people that he has played with, influenced, and known as friends are sharp and insightful; Ann Rabson, Bobby Rush, Ike Turner, and Koko Taylor among many others, share their respect for and stories about him that shed light on the man and his music. The main glitch with this DVD is the sound quality, which varies greatly, going from good to, well poor, puts it nicely. This is a shame because at times the listener is distracted by having to crank up or down the volume or strain to make out what is being said. But it is a good and informative look at the life of
this fantastic musician who has had such an influence on so much of the Blues music listened to today. The story line is interesting for the light shed on this master of the blues piano, and the photography at times is superb.
The, as they title it, bonus CD is pretty good; the first 9 tracks are recorded live in Chicago, at a date and venue that is not disclosed. The band for that includes Pinetop on the piano, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith drums (I’ll guess he does the vocals also though they no one gets credit for them), Robert “Bob” Stroger – bass, “Little” Frank Krokowski – guitar. The 10th track is an unreleased studio recording done in 1997 in Arizona with that bit cleaner sound that comes from a studio recording. Pinetop of course is on the piano, Bob Corritore – harp, Johnny Rapp – guitar, Paul Thomas – bass and Chico Chism – Drums. A good listen and as valuable, though in a different way, as the DVD.