music clip of the day

The notes are easy enough to replicate—the touch impossible.

Pinetop Perkins (piano, vocals), July 7, 1913-March 21, 2011

“Grindin’ Man” (with Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, harmonica), live, New Jersey (New Brunswick), 2008

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“How Long Blues,” live

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lagniappe

He was one of the last great Mississippi Bluesmen. He had such a distinctive voice, and he sure could play the piano. He will be missed not only by me, but by lovers of music all over the world.

—B.B. King

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If you don’t want to die, don’t be born.

—Red Paden, owner of Red’s Blues Club, Clarksdale, Mississippi

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my back pages

Many years ago I had the pleasure of working with him, co-producing his tracks on Living Chicago Blues, Vol. 2 (Alligator 1978). Warm, amiable, unassuming—he was easy to like.

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listening room: what’s playing

• Ornette Coleman, Town Hall 1962

• Mos Def, The Ecstatic

• Lupe Fiasco, Lasers

• Steve Reich, Double Sextet, 2×5

• Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green, Apex

• Nneka, Concrete Jungle

• Theo Parrish, Sound Sculptures, Vol. 1

• Powerhouse Gospel On Independent Labels, 1946-1959

• WFMU-FM: Sinner’s Crossroads (Kevin Nutt), Mudd Up! (DJ/rupture)

• WKCR-FM: Bird Flight (Phil Schapp), Jazz Alternatives (various), Out To Lunch (various), Western Swing Festival (various)