Lucky Peterson: new album 'Tribute to Jimmy Smith

Lucky Peterson was born in Buffalo (in the state of New York) in 1964, and began his musical career very early on. His father was a singer and a guitarist and managed a blues club (the Governer’s Inn) and the young Lucky learned blues as a boy through meeting great bluesmen like Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and Willie Dixon. He learned the organ at the age of five and when he was older, his teachers included no less than Jimmy Smith, Bill Doggett and Dr. Lonnie Smith! And it was only later that he learned the guitar, strongly influenced by the three kings – B.B., Albert and Freddie.

It’s music with a groove, which could be described as ‘jazz’n’blues’ just like the Blue Note LPs from the good old days. Indeed, from 1956 to 1963, Jimmy Smith was a real powerhouse for the label, rolling out swinging tracklistings played with power and style, which brought to mind trains trundling along through the night.