Hot Blues from a Cold Place

Pinetop Perkins is one of the last of the great Mississippi Bluesmen still performing today. He began playing Blues around 1927 and is a certified piano playing legend. He can unequivocally be classified in the same category as B.B. King, Willie Dixon and John Lee Hooker as one of the true pioneers of the Delta-to-Chicago Blues genre.

He performed with B.B. King, Robert Nighthawk, and Sonny Boy Williamson, but is best known for playing with Muddy Waters for twelve years during the highpoint of Waters' career. Perkins helped shape the Waters sound and with his brilliant piano solos anchored Muddy's memorable combo throughout the seventies.

Pinetop, who had been labeled a sideman throughout most of his life, eventually embarked on a solo career. He has reaped three Grammy nominations since, as well as being presented with a lifetime achievement award at the Grammy's in 2005.

"Hot Blues From a Cold Place," is a live-in-the-studio album recorded by Pinetop Perkins in 1991, in Reykjavik, Iceland - of all places. The pianist is as delightful and effervescent as ever on this live / studio outing. The album is an interesting collaboration of cultures. The Icelandic musicians provide an energetic and respectful backdrop for the legendary pianist. Thankfully they do not attempt to duplicate the Chicago Blues sound, but they are brilliantly supportive while projecting their own cultural depth and feelings. Some of the tracks are live and the audience's enthusiasm shines through nicely. Chicago Beau's harmonica work is at its most effective on "Got My Mojo Workin' " and "Just Keep on Drinking".